Army recruitment takes a nosedive

I guess 18-year-old men, faced with the reality that they will not only have to fight a war in addition to getting a free ride to college, have decided to only register with the Selective Service and not join up with the Army. Or maybe they are all signing up with the Marines...?

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WASHINGTON, D.C.
Army falling short of recruitment goals
3/24/2005

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army expects to miss its recruiting goals this month and next and is working on a revised sales pitch appealing to the patriotism of parents, Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey said Wednesday.

Whether that boosts enlistment numbers or not, Harvey said he sees no chance of a military draft.

Because of the military manpower strains caused by simultaneous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some in Congress have raised the possibility of re-instituting the draft, although there is a strong consensus against it among Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and military chiefs.

The Army missed its recruiting goal for February by 27 percent, and that was the first time it had missed a monthly goal since May 2000. The last time it missed its full-year goal was 1999.

The Army is forecasting that all three elements - active, National Guard and Reserve - will fall short of their targets for March and April.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050324/3039114.asp

The Patriot Act Lives In Case You Thought It Was Dead

N.J. man indicted under Patriot Act
By JEFFREY GOLD
Associated Press
3/24/2005

NEWARK, N.J. - A man accused of pointing a green laser beam at a small passenger jet, temporarily blinding the pilot and co-pilot, was indicted Wednesday under the federal anti-terror Patriot Act.

David W. Banach, who claimed he was looking at stars with his daughter, also was accused of lying to the FBI about the Dec. 29 incident in which the jet's windshield and cabin were hit three times with a beam as the plane approached Teterboro Airport.

The charges in the federal indictment were similar to those filed against Banach in an FBI complaint in January; the indictment replaces the complaint.

Attorney Gina Mendola-Longarzo said Banach was using the laser for stargazing when the plane was hit by the beam.

"I think it's an absolute abuse of prosecutorial discretion to charge my client under the Patriot Act for non-purposeful conduct," she said.

U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said in a statement officials took the actions "very seriously, and we will not condone lying to federal agents."

Banach, 38, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of interference with pilots of an aircraft "with reckless disregard for the safety of human life," a provision of the USA Patriot Act passed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050324/1019889.asp

Rice will NOT run for president

Rice Says She Won't Run for President
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Reiterates That She Won't Run for President

WASHINGTON Mar 13, 2005 — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday ruled out running for president, responding to speculation fueled by a recent poll showing support for a Rice candidacy.

Rice told The Washington Times last week, "I have never wanted to run for anything," although she seemed to leave the door open to the possibility.

She closed the door in appearances on Sunday talk shows, telling NBC's "Meet the Press," "I will not run for president of the United States."

"I won't run," she told ABC's "This Week." "I won't. How's that? Is that categorical enough?"

In a poll conducted in February, 42 percent of voters said Rice should run for the White House.

The survey, conducted by the Siena College Research Institute and sponsored by Hearst Newspapers, found that 81 percent of people would vote for a woman for president; 53 percent thought Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., should try for the job.

From ABC News

What Condi DIDN'T say

Lately the news surrounding the 2008 presidential candidates has all been speculation. It's all about what Hillary didn't say or how Hillary is trying to pander to the moderates and centrists.

Now it's Condi's turn.
In an interview with The Washington Times, Condi protests that she never dreamt of becoming an elected official but Mr. Sammon can't help but point out that the current Secretary of State did not deny a possible 2008 run.

Bottom line to Republicans: Don't get your hopes up in a female match-up against Hillary.

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2008 run, abortion engage her politically
By Bill Sammon
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday pointedly declined to rule out running for president in 2008, and gave her most detailed explanation of a "mildly pro-choice" stance on abortion.
In an interview with editors and reporters in the office of the editor in chief at The Washington Times, she said she would not want the government "forcing its views" on abortion.
She seemed bemused by speculation that a Rice candidacy could set up an unprecedented all-woman matchup with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat, who is widely expected to seek the presidency.

Read the rest of the Washington Times article

Journalism Groups Seek Government Openness

Mar 10, 1:23 PM EST
Journalism Groups Seek Government Openness
From the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin

By SIOBHAN McDONOUGH
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seven groups interested in journalism are joining with The Associated Press and other news organizations to promote accessible, accountable and open government.

The Sunshine in Government Initiative seeks to combat what the groups see as increased government secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues.

"National security depends on public trust," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. "The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. We must be vigilant at explaining and fighting for accountable government in every jurisdiction."

The initiative was announced ahead of "Sunshine Week," a weeklong campaign for government openness spearheaded by the AP and more than 50 news outlets, journalism groups, universities and the American Library Association.

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A bill sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., proposes creation of a 16-member advisory commission that would conduct a study to determine ways to speed the release of records under the Freedom of Information Act. Cornyn and Leahy planned to introduce the measure Thursday.

Under the act, government agencies must give the public access to government information unless the information falls under certain exemptions. However, the agencies can decide on their own to disclose the exempted information.

Cornyn was responsible for enforcing open government laws as attorney general in Texas. There, government information is public, unless specifically exempted by law and must be delivered within specific deadlines. "In Washington there is almost an opposite attitude. You are not entitled to it," he told members of the National Newspaper Association Thursday.

Cornyn also said Washington lacks an independent observer to ensure that government isn't inflating fees, purposely delaying or using other excuses to withhold information. He said he is mindful of concerns about security following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but said those concerns can be addressed.

"Right now, it's all in favor of secrecy and hunkering down," Cornyn said. "I believe the default position should be: it's open."

Another bill sponsored by Cornyn and Leahy, called the OPEN Government Act of 2005, seeks to speed release of information sought in FOIA requests, which now can take months or years.

It's been endorsed by the Sunshine Initiative and dozens of interest groups in journalism and across the political spectrum, from the liberal American Civil Liberties Union to the conservative Heritage Foundation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on terrorism, technology and homeland security plans a hearing on the bill Tuesday.

Witnesses include: Walter Mears, former AP executive editor and Washington bureau chief and Pulitzer prize-winning political writer; Katherine M. "Missy" Cary, assistant attorney general of Texas; Mark Tapscott, director of the Center for Media and Public Policy at the Heritage Foundation; Meredith Fuchs, general counsel of the National Security Archive at George Washington University; and Thomas Susman of the law firm Ropes & Gray.

Andy Alexander, chairman of the American Society of Newspaper Editors' Freedom of Information Committee, said he was pleased the Senate is taking up the issue.

"One of the reasons that we initiated 'Sunshine Week' was to prompt a public discussion on the importance of Freedom of Information," said Alexander. "The fact that there's actually a hearing on the subject after decades of congressional silence is a heartening step."

The seven media organizations involved in the Sunshine Initiative are the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, Coalition of Journalists for Open Government, National Newspaper Association, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Radio-Television News Directors Association and the Newspaper Association of America.