Sunteți pe pagina 1din 14

Special Edition

Today, clouds part, more


“All the News sunshine, recent gloom pass-
We Hope to Print” es. Tonight, strong leftward
winds. Tomorrow, a new day.
Weather map throughout.

VOL. CLVIV . . No. 54,631 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 FREE

Nation Sets Its Sights on


Building Sane Economy
True Cost Tax, Salary Caps, Trust-Busting Top List
IRAQ WAR ENDS
By T. VEBLEN Troops to Return
The President has called for
swift passage of the Safeguards
leader and our religion. No won-
der the median standard of living
Immediately
for a New Economy (S.A.N.E.) bill. has been declining so much for so By JUDE SHINBIN
The omnibus economic package long.”
includes a federal maximum wage, Krugman said that the new WASHINGTON — Operation
mandatory “True Cost Account- Treasury bill seeks to ensure the Iraqi Freedom and Operation En-
ing,” a phased withdrawal from prosperity of all citizens, rather during Freedom were brought to
complex financial instruments, than simply supporting large cor- an unceremonious close today
and other measures intended to porations and the wealthy. “The with a quiet announcement by the
improve life for ordinary Ameri- market is supposed to serve us. Department of Defense that troops
cans. (See highlights box on Page Unfortunately, we have ended up would be home within weeks.
A10.) He also repeated earlier calls serving the market. That’s very “This is the best face we can put
for passage of the “Ban on Lobby- bad.” on the most unfortunate adven-
ing” bill currently making its way Much as Roosevelt, after the ture in modern American history,”
through Congress. Great Depression, put the brakes Defense spokesman Kevin Sites
Treasury Secretary Paul Krug- on C.E.O. wages and irresponsible said at a special joint session of
man stressed the importance of banking practices, administration Congress. “Today, we can finally
the bill. “Markets make great ser- officials claim that today we need enjoy peace — not the peace of
vants, terrible leaders, and absurd to rein in the industry that has the brave, perhaps, but at least
religions,” said Krugman, quoting caused such chaos and misery. peace.”
Paul Hawken, an advocate of cor- “The building blocks of post- As U.S. and coalition troops
porate responsibility and author World War II American middle- withdraw from Iraq and Afghani-
of “Blessed Unrest, How the Larg- class prosperity have all been stan, the United Nations will move
est Movement in the World Came swept away,” said House Speaker in to perform peacekeeping duties
into Being and Why No One Saw It Nancy Pelosi, who initially op-
and aid in rebuilding. The U.N. will
Coming.”
be responsible for keeping the two
“At this point, the market is our Continued on Page A10
countries stable; coordinating the
rebuilding of hospitals, schools,

Maximum Wage Treasury


highways, and other infrastruc-
ture; and overseeing upcoming
elections.
Law Succeeds Announces U.S. Army helicopters begin moving troops and equipment from Saddam Hussein’s former Baghdad palace.
COURTESY Army.mil The Department of the Treasury
confirmed that all U.N. dues owed
by the U.S. were paid as of this
Salary Caps Will Help “True Cost” Recruiters Train for New Life
As a ban is imposed on recruiting
USA Patriot Act Repealed
Eight years later, a shamefaced Ex-Secretary
morning, and that moneys previ-
ously earmarked for the war would
Stabilize Economy
By J.K. MALONE
Tax PLAN minors, ex-recruiters nationwide
look for new work. The Times fol-
Congress quietly repeals the
much-maligned USA Patriot Act, Apologizes for
be sent directly to the U.N.’s Iraq
Oversight Body.
The president noted that the

WASHINGTON — After long and


By MARCUS S. DRIGGS
lows one on his job-hunt odyssey
through Manhattan and surround-
unanimously… or almost.
By SYBIL LUDINGTON, Page A8 W.M.D. Scare Iraq War had resulted in the burn-
ing of many bridges. “Yet our his-
often bitter debate, Congress has ing areas.
The long-awaited “True Cost” tory with our allies runs deep,” he
passed legislation, fiercely fought
for by labor and progressive
plan, which requires product pric- By BARRY GLOAD, PAGE A12 Evangelicals Open Homes to 300,000 Troops Never Faced said, “and we all know that friends
es to reflect their cost to society, Refugees forgive friends for anything. Or
groups, that will limit top salaries has been signed into law. Up to a million Iraqi exiles — Risk of Instant Obliteration nearly.” A spokesperson for the
to fifteen times the minimum wage. Beginning next month, throw- nearly half of the total — will find
Tying the bill to a plan of overall French Ministry of Defense con-
away items like plastic water sanctuary in Christian homes By FRANK LARIMORE
reform of the U.S. economy, the firmed that France would assist
bottles and other items which are across the U.S., vows the National the U.S. withdrawal. “The U.S.
bill echoes a similar effort enacted Ex-Secretary of State Condolee-
wasteful or damaging to the envi- Association of Evangelicals. Other
by President Franklin Roosevelt in za Rice reassured soldiers that the helped the Soviet Union defeat
ronment will be heavily taxed, as in denominations are expected to
1942, which was followed by the many developed countries. Steep Bush Administration had known Hitler. We do recognize that.”
longest period of growth for the follow. well before the invasion that Sadd- In conflict zones worldwide,
taxes will also apply to large cars
middle class in U.S. history. and gasoline.
By W. WILBERFORCE, Page A7 am Hussein lacked weapons of leaders and rebels pledged peace.
“When C.E.O. salaries remain The new plan calls for a 200 per- mass destruction. (See ”In Conflict Zones Worldwide,
stable thanks to high taxation of Last to Die Public Relations Industry “Now that all of you brave Peace Moves,” on Page A4.)
cent tax on gasoline, comparable
Two proportional monuments — servicemen and women are re-
high salaries, there’s little incentive to the one long in effect in most Eu- Starts to Shut Down On Wall Street, reactions were
to take big risks with shareholders’ ropean countries. Companies and one to the Iraqi dead, 300 feet turning, it’s important to us to mixed, with the Dow Jones Indus-
The public relations industry has
money, and the economy remains consumers are already switching high, and one to the American reassure you, and the American trial Average up 84 points, to close
been criticized for misleading
in a steady growth mode,” said Sen- in droves from inefficient gas vehi- dead, 15 feet high — are unveiled people, that we were certain Hus-
the American people, corrupting at 4,212. While KBR stock was
ator Barney Frank, one of the bill’s cles to new electric cars. “We sud- in Baghdad, and a five-year-old sein had no W.M.D.s and that he
politicians, and even helping to quickly downgraded to a “junk”
co-sponsors. “But when C.E.O. sala- denly have a waiting list 200 names boy whose lifespan coincided would never launch a first strike
start wars. Now, it’s beginning rating of BBB-, defense contrac-
ries can fly through the roof, there’s long for the EV1,” said Jake Cluber, with that of the Iraq War is against the U.S.,” Ms. Rice told a
the process of shutting down for group of wounded soldiers at a tors such as Lockheed Martin and
a very strong incentive for C.E.O.s the owner of Cluber Chevrolet in remembered.
good. Veterans’ Administration hospital Northrop Grummon started up.
By J. FINISTERRA, PAGE A5
Continued on Page A10 Continued on Page A10 By LOUIS BECK, PAGE A10 yesterday.
“I want you to know that if we Continued on Page A5
had had the slightest suspicion

Popular Pressure Ushers that Saddam could use W.M.D.s


against you, we never would have
sent hundreds of thousands of
Nationalized Oil
Recent Progressive Tilt you to be sitting ducks on the Iraqi
border for several months.” To Fund Climate
Mr. Rice was referring to the fact
that by August 2002, eight months Change Efforts
Study Cites Movements for Massive Shift in DC before the ground invasion, the US
had over 100,000 troops stationed By Marion K. Hubbert
By SAMUEL FIELDEN in countries throughout the Gulf, a
number that grew to over 300,000 Congress has voted to place
The spate of reform initiatives The report includes extensive in- shortly before the 2003 attack on ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, and
undertaken by the Administration terviews with House and Senate Baghdad. Most of these were with- other major oil companies under
and both houses of Congress can staff, who speak of “unimaginable in range of the Scud missiles used public stewardship, with the bulk
be attributed directly to grass- change,” a “dramatic policy shift,” by Mr. Hussein in the 1991 Gulf of the companies’ profits put in
roots advocacy, according to a and “a new era of accountability” War, that could easily have been a public trust administered by
comprehensive study due out this since the elections. fitted with chemical or biological the United Nations, and used for
month. “Not since the Great Depression weapons if they had existed. alternative energy research and
“In education and health care, has the interaction between popu- Rice noted that in the 1991 Gulf development in order to solve the
most notably, but also in housing, lar movements and public leaders War, Hussein had used missiles to global climate crisis.
banking, and the environment, we been so robust,” said Jorge La- launch attacks on Israel, which While unusual, this is not the
have documented unprecedented zaro, head of the U.S. Government made him popular with Arab citi- first time the government has cho-
responsiveness on the part of Accountability Office. Lazaro cit- zens throughout the Middle East. sen to take control of large corpo-
political leaders,” said Dr. Joyce ed, in particular, the Wagner Act, “Do you really think we would rations. From 1942 to 1944, U.S. car
Wellmon, director of the Plains In- also known as the National Labor have given Saddam a major pub- factories were retooled in order to
stitute for Policy Analysis, a New Relations Act of 1935, which rec- lic relations coup by allowing him produce tanks for the war effort.
York-based think tank. “Our data ognized the right of workers to to annihilate tens of thousands of And Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
show a direct correlation between organize and bargain collectively you right there on holy territory?” were both created as “government
the level of activity of particular with their employers. KC Ivey/THE NEW YORK TIMES asked Ms. Rice. sponsored enterprises” with a sig-
coalitions, on the one hand, and “Roosevelt showed no interest Protests organized by Witness Against Torture helped pave the way Former Secretary of State Henry nificant amount of government
specific legislative action, on the in the Wagner Act until it became for the close of the Guantánamo facility. A. Kissinger responded to Ms. oversight.
other. It’s popular pressure that is clear the unions were going to Rice’s revelation without surprise. “We can do what needs to
responsible for the swiftness and force it through regardless,” Mr. “Of course this was the case. be done,” said Senator Charles
scope of legislation emerging from Lazaro noted. “At that point he measures that granted relief from movements that made them have
debt caused by low crop prices. to.” When Israel believed Iraq had nu- Schumer, Democrat of New York.
the White House and Congress.” jumped on it and helped push it clear weapons in 1981, they didn’t “Our planet’s survival is at stake.
The institute’s report shows into law.” “The similarities between the The Plains report, due out next
two periods are remarkable, and month, cites the work of groups attack on the ground — they Plus, public pressure hasn’t given
a three-fold increase in the inci- Mr. Lazaro also pointed to the bombed from the air. That’s a pre- us much of a choice.”
dence of letters, phone calls, fax- Depression-era organizing of the the lesson that emerges is simple: associated with United for Peace
if you want change, keep our feet and Justice, an umbrella for anti- emptive attack. If you believe de- Not everyone felt the move was
es, and email received by congres- Farmers’ Holiday Association, terrence will not prevent an attack a good idea. “The climate crisis
sional offices, 88 percent of which when farmers refused to sell or bid to the fire.” war groups, for galvanizing public
Dr. Wellmon agrees. “The only support for ending the war, and and that your enemy has W.M.D.s, may or may not be real,” declared
were from people who identified on crops, blockaded roads, and then the last thing you do is sta- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Re-
themselves as new members of even once used a torpedo to halt a reason the current President and for pushing the Administration to
Congress have been able to imple- resist the oil lobby and other inter- tion your troops right next door.” publican of Texas. “I’m an agnostic
particular activist organizations. train carrying livestock into Iowa. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and I’m staying that way. But sea
Such direct actions helped push ment all these changes, was be- est groups. It also cites the work
See nytimes-se.com for more courts and legislatures to adopt cause of pressure from popular Continued on Page A5
Continued on Page A6 Continued on Page A5

INTERNATIONAL A4-5 leaving their companies, and public ance Act, which finally brings the U.S. NEW YORK A12 EDITORIAL A13
officials from accepting management up to par with other developed nations, A Lobbyist Defends Lobbying
Gitmo, Other Centers Closed positions at large corporations for the representatives of Kaiser, Cigna and other
The notorious Guantánamo Bay, Cuba The Ban on Lobbying bill is not with-
same period. Coupled with the Ban on health insurance companies are vowing out victims. PAGE A13
detention camp will be closed, along with Lobbying bill, the bill will reduce the to “fight tooth and nail” to protect their
a network of secret C.I.A.-run facilities influence of large corporations on public interests. PAGE A7
in Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and else- policy. PAGE B1 Thomas L. Friedman
where. PAGE A24 The columnist resigns, and will put
Bush to Face Charges
Most observers weren’t surprised by the down his pen to take up a screwdriver.
PAGE A13
Iraqi Refugees Worldwide high treason indictment itself, but rather
Celebrate Withdrawal by the party that brought it. The case
Two million Iraqi exiles, and three million could also provide an unexpected boost A Baboon Troop’s Experience
internal refugees, celebrated the end of to the International Criminal Court, pav- A particularly peaceful baboon troop
hostilities and began making plans to ing the way for more indictments. PAGE A5 may have lessons to teach us. PAGE A13
return to their homes. PAGE A4
BUSINESS A10-11 More Inside The Times.
Corporate Personhood Gets Real PAGE A2 ➤
NATIONAL A6-9
An initiative to abolish limited liabil- Bicycle Lanes Inaugurated HELP MAKE THE NEWS, TODAY

Conflict of Interest Law Will Stop ity will make shareholders pay for the With the completion of the 9th Avenue
Revolving Door bike lane and groundbreaking on other
Health Insurance Act Clears House crimes their corporations commit —
The “Revolving Door” bill will prohibit avenues, New York is on the (bike) path
While almost all are celebrating the even if they only own one or two shares
high-ranking corporate officers from to becoming as livable as other world
passage of the National Health Insur- in a mutual fund. PAGE A11
holding public office for ten years upon cities. PAGE A12
A2 THE NEW YORK TIMES SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

INSIDE THE TIMES: July 4th, 2009


INTERNATIONAL place in a democracy for secret BUSINESS
programs costing billions of
Peace Spreads to War Zones dollars annually, and announces Harvard Business School
Around the world, leaders and that all “black budget” items will Closes Doors
warlords in conflict zones are either be eliminated or made America’s oldest business school
taking the U.S. example to heart. public. Assuring transparency shuts its doors, citing the desire
“We finally see what civilization remains a challenge. PAGE A7 of America’s youth to better the
can mean,” said one rebel in a world, not extract maximum
country that wished to remain returns from it. PAGE A10
“America’s Army” Game
anonymous. “Now we know it’s Goes Diplomatic
what we want.” PAGE A4 NEW YORK
The popular recruiting game is
NATIONAL
being beaten into a digital plow- Voting Machine Standards Military To Be Banned from
share. “We’re training the next Implemented New York High Schools
generation of diplomats now,” The Election Assistance Com- The New York City Council is
said a developer of the renamed mission, the federal agency that scheduled to vote on a measure
“America’s Diplomat.” PAGE A8 oversees voting, is mandating a to close the doors on the City’s
uniform national format, a verifi- Junior Reserve Officer Train-
Broadcast Reforms Launched able and anonymous paper trail, ing Corps, following complaints
B 6 3  B 7 ; 3  7 A  < =E New regulations are on the way and stronger software security by parents and teachers, and a
at the F.C.C., with the centerpiece measures. The new standards recent spate of student walkouts.
being an independent media must be fully implemented at PAGE A12
trust, funded by a tax on advertis- least six months before the
Rebuilding Infrastructure ing sales, which could enable a congressional elections of 2010.
New Police Crowd-Control
Brings Opportunities truly independent public broad- PAGE B1
Guidelines To Be Tested
The state of America’s infra- casting system, the first of its kind
As hundreds of thousands take to
structure, crumbling after years in the country. PAGE C25 Equality of Marriage Bill the streets to celebrate the end of
of neglect, is in for a $1.6 trillion Passes Senate hostilities, police will implement
overhaul. But it won’t simply pay RU-486 Sales Approved With broad popular support, their new “People-Priority” policy.
for new highways. Instead, the The F.D.A. announced approval the “Equality of Marriage” bill “Our streets belong first and fore-
reign of the automobile will begin of RU-486, also known as the is expected to pass the Senate most to pedestrians, especially
to be brought to a close. PAGE A6 Morning After Pill, as an over-the- and move to the House later this those putting their bodies on the
counter medication. In a terse week. The new legislation will line to make change happen,”
End of the Secret Programs statement, the agency said, “The allow anyone to marry the person said Police Commissioner Kelly.
Under pressure from Congress, F.D.A. is in the business of safety, he or she loves — or needs the PAGE A12
the Pentagon admits there is no not politics.” PAGE B14 insurance of. PAGE B18

corrections: For the record


“Special Interests” Advertising portunities” that “meet advertis- violent deaths since the 2003
The Times has in the past used The Times acknowledges that ers’ demands.” As the effect of invasion vary from 100,000 to
the term “special interests” to de- accepting money from the very automobiles on the global climate well over one million. The Times
scribe unions, environmentalists corporations whose activities crisis becomes evident, The apologizes for consistently using
and even whole ethnic groups, we are responsible for reporting Times acknowledges it made a only the low end of this spectrum
and has used the word “pander- on — running ads from Exxon- serious error in expanding this of estimates.)
ing” when politicians take these Mobil while reporting on climate section by three and a half pages
groups’ concerns into account. change, for example, or from in the past two years. Develop- Media Monopoly
We have typically not, however, weapons manufacturers while ments in the automobile industry The Times apologizes for under-
used “pandering” to refer to politi- reporting on the Iraq War — will from now on be covered in reporting the effects and dangers
cians catering to the interests of represents an obvious conflict of our business and technology sec- of media consolidation, perhaps
corporations. The Times regrets interest. The Times is considering tions, and only when newsworthy. due to our own efforts at media
that our use of such language two alternative revenue models. There will be no more reviews of consolidation: The Times owns al-
may have given the impression In one, similar to that of National cars. most two dozen regional newspa-
that the interests of corporations Public Radio, subsidies and con- pers, a number of television and
are more important than those of tributions will make up the bal- Portraits of Grief radio stations, and partial shares
citizens. ance of the budget not covered by From September 14 to December in the Red Sox and the Discovery
subscriptions. The other involves 31, 2001, the New York Times Channel. We now recognize this
establishing exacting standards conflict of interest. No newspaper
Environment published “Portraits of Grief,”
for advertisers, similar to those daily obituaries of the victims of should concern itself with maxi-
We apologize for so often framing
of the Christian Science Monitor, mizing profits, and the paper of
our environmental coverage from the September 11 attacks. We are
or the Guardian in the U.K. Please record should be held to an even
a business perspective; for over- proud of this coverage, which
also see the Business section for higher standard than the rest of
estimating the costs of solutions, won several awards. Tomorrow,
a report on the end of publicly the publishing industry. Over the
which has made problems seem the Times begins part two of the
next two months, The Times will
insurmountable; and for belittling traded NYT stock. series with obituaries of the civil-
voluntarily trust-bust itself, thus
the efforts of activists and local ians and soldiers killed between
contributing to the independence
government. Future coverage will Automobiles 2001 and today in Afghanistan
of American journalism.
acknowledge the importance of In past issues the New York and Iraq. Two soldiers, and one
creating laws to better regulate Times featured an entire section hundred civilians, will be very
industry, and readers can look on automobiles. Our senior vice briefly memorialized each day, Errors and Comments:
forward to a new Environment president of advertising, Alex adding a full fold-out page to each comments@nytimes-se.com
section every Thursday, begin- Buryk, once described this sec- edition. The series will continue
ning this week. tion as providing “well-integrated for thirty years. (Estimates of the Public Editor
print and online advertising op- number of Iraqis who have died omsbuddy@nytimes-se.com

THE NEW YORK TIMES New York, N.Y., U.S.A.


This special edition of The New York Times comes the crushing guilt of knowing what our tax dollars are If you want to protect our civil liberties, civil on Homelessness & Poverty (nlchp.org), National
from a future in which we are accomplishing what we doing abroad. rights and human rights: Center for Constitutional Alliance to End Homelessness (endhomelessness.org),
know today to be possible. Following are just a few of the many, many groups Rights (ccrjustice.org), ACLU (aclu.org), National Coalition for the Homeless (coalitionforthehomeless.
The dozens of volunteer citizens who produced working for change. Join them, support them, or start Lawyers Guild (nlg.org), National Association for the org), Picture the Homeless (picturethehomeless.org),
this paper spent the last eight years dreaming of a your own, and we can begin to make the news in this Advancement of Colored People (naacp.org), Global Housing Works (housingworks.org), Metropolitan
better world for themselves, their friends, and any paper the news in every paper. Exchange (globalexchange.org), PEN American Center Council on Housing (metcouncil.net)
descendants they might end up having. Today, that If you want to end the war in Iraq and prevent new (pen.org), Human Rights Watch (hrw.org), Defending If you want to fight for a more democratic
better world, though still very far away, is finally pos- wars: United for Peace and Justice (unitedforpeace. Dissent Foundation (defendingdissent.org) media: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (fair.org),
sible — but only if millions of us demand it, and finally org), a coalition of that includes CODEPINK (code- If you want to end torture: Witness Against FreePress (freepress.net), Democracy Now! (democ-
force our government to do its job. pink4peace.org), Iraq Veterans Against the War (ivaw. Torture (witnesstorture.org), Amnesty International racynow.org), Reporters Without Borders (rsf.org),
It certainly won’t be easy. Even now, corporate org), Peace Action (peace-action.org), War Resisters (amnestyusa.org), Act Against Torture (actagainst- Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org)
representatives are swarming over Washington to get League (warresisters.org), and hundreds of others. torture.org), The Quaker Initiative to End Torture If you want to create a more democratic media:
their agendas passed. The energy giants are demand- If you want to fight for health care: Healthcare- (quit-torture-now.org). MediaChannel (mediachannel.org), The Indypendent
ing “clean coal,” nuclear power and offshore drilling. NOW (healthcare-now.org), Physicians for a National If you want to defend the rights of immigrants: (indypendent.org), Common Dreams (commondreams.
Military contractors are pushing the wars in Iraq Health Care Program (pnhp.org), California Nurses New York Immigration Coalition (thenyic.org), org), AlterNet (alternet.org), Cultures of Resistance
and Afghanistan. H.M.O.s and insurance companies Association (calnurse.org), Private Health Insurance National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (culturesofresistance.org), Indymedia (indymedia.org),
are promoting bogus “reforms” so they can forestall Must Go Coalition (phimg.org), Single Payer New York (nnirr.org), Desis Rising Up and Moving (drumnation. Video Activist Network (videoactivism.org)
universal health care. And they’re not about to take If you want to save the environment: Climate Crisis org), New York United for Immigrant Rights (nyunited- If you want to fight for women’s rights: National
no for an answer. Coalition (climatecrisiscoalition.org), 350 (350.org), forimmigrantrights.blogspot.com) Organization For Women (now.org), A.C.L.U. Women’s
But things are different this time. This time, we Greenpeace (greenpeace.org), Earth Policy Institute If you want to help eliminate worker exploitation: Rights Project (aclu.org/womensrights), H.R.W.
can hold accountable the politicians we put into (earth-policy.org), Rainforest Action Network (ran. United Students Against Sweatshops (usas.org), Women’s Rights (hrw.org/women), Feminist Majority
office. And because everyone can now see that the org), Earth First! (earthfirst.org), Earthjustice (earth- Sweatshop Watch (sweatshopwatch.org), Wake Up (feminist.org).
“free market” has nothing to do with freedom, there justice.org), Friends of the Earth (foe.org), Natural Wal-Mart (wakeupwalmart.com) If you want to defend LGBTQ rights: FIERCE
is a huge opening to pass policies that can benefit all Resources Defense Council (nrdc.org) If you want to end homelessness and promote (fiercenyc.org), Radical Homosexual Agenda (radical-
Americans, and that can make us truly free — free If you want economic justice: United for a Fair affordable housing: National Coalition for the Home- homosexualagenda.org), Sylvia Rivera Law Project
to pursue an education without debt, go on vacation Economy (faireconomy.org), Too Much (toomuchon- less (nationalhomeless.org), National Low Income (srlp.org), AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (actupny.
every once in a while, keep healthy, and live without line.org), Jobs with Justice (jwj.org) Housing Coalition (nlihc.org), National Law Center org), Audre Lorde Project (alp.org)

DIAM O NDS 1.) The Challenge IMPORTANT


Urgent Recall Information
You know it… we know it.
These vehicles have been found to be dangerous. If you own a
vehicle that looks like this, please bring it to a dealership

Comply with HR 2566, immediately for replacement.

the new organic food mandate, which prohibits AUTOMOTIVE


VEHICLE
pesticides and rewards local production.

Description:
1. Made of metal
2. 4 wheels on bottom
3. Uses combustion mechanism to convert fuel into smoke, freeing energy

2.) The Solution UNITS: Approximately 241,000,000 (U.S.)

INCIDENTS AND INJURIES:


- At least 43,000 highway - Widespread asthma,cancer,
deaths per year and other illnesses tied to
air pollution
- Military deaths to keep oil
prices low - Climate change

REMEDY:
Consumers should stop using these recalled vehicles immediately and
contact dealers to receive an EPA-sponsored electric retrofit, or redeem
their vehicle for a 10-year unlimited train and public transit pass, along
Zpvs!qvsdibtf!pg!b!ejbnpoe!cfuxffo!opx!
boe!3137!xjmm!ifmq!gvoe!uif!dsfbujpo-!gjuujoh-!
Ladybugs for pest control. with a coupon for a hybrid bicycle of their choice (under $2000).

A ladybug can eat up to 50 pests every day, without


boe!nbjoufobodf!pg!b!qsptuifujd!gps!bo!Bgsjdbo!
harming plants - making this little insect as effective
xiptf!iboe!xbt!mptu!jo!pof!pg!uibu!dpoujofou(t! as any pesticide. Now shipping to all of our farmers.
csvubm!dpogmjdut!pwfs!ejbnpoet/
CALL 1-202-366-4000
From her fingers, to his. www.AllCarRecall.gov

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:
Wouldn’t you love to receive news like this every day? You can, but you can’t buy it — you have to make it happen.
See the fine print above for more details.
THE NEW YORK TIMES SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A3

We at Exxon are committed to meeting


the new Congressional guidelines for
socially, economically, & environmentally
responsible energy.

That’s why
we applaud the
end of the war
The invasion of
in Iraq.
Iraq was supposed to mean

access to oil without the costly interfer-

ence of national sovereignty, and lower prices

at the pump for you and your family. Projections

and reality differed, but now we've learned:

PEACE can also be lucrative.

Times have changed. Oil fields have reverted back to a It's also an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. As

newly independent Iraq, and Congress has mandated Exxon finds itself under federal oversight, we are more

“Fair Trade,” in which most profits go not to brokers, than happy to use our profits to develop sustainable,

stockholders, and a small management circle, but flow decentralized energy production. This will help fight

directly to those who produce. Exxon is excited about further climate change, and prevent costly new wars over

helping do things better — not just because it's the law, energy in the future. After all, if everyone can turn the sun

but because Exxon has always been about innovation. or wind into power, what’s there to fight about?

Peace. An idea the world can profit from.

Brought to you by Exxon. Finding decent ways to deliver the energy you need.
International
A4

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

After Withdrawal Peace Spreads United Nations Unanimously Passes Weapons Ban
to Conflict Zones Worldwide By HELEN PREJEAN

NEW YORK – A spontaneous


Leaders Worldwide Scramble to Follow American Lead celebration erupted in the U.N.
General Assembly after represen-
tatives of 192 member states unan-
By F. NANSEN Democratic Republic of Congo.
imously ratified the Comprehen-
“Now that the U.S. is facing its
sive Arms Ban Treaty. The treaty
In the wake of the U.S. withdraw- responsibilities in Iraq, what if
outlaws possession, production
al from Iraq and Afghanistan, gov- Americans start doing that here in
and trade of military equipment
ernment leaders and warlords in the Congo? We’d better clean up
ranging from small arms to nucle-
conflict zones worldwide seemed our act.”
ar warheads.
to be falling over themselves to In Sri Lanka, Somalia, Columbia,
“This is watershed moment in
pledge peace. the Kashmir, Chad, and elsewhere,
the security of people and the
The President of Sudan declared fighters on all sides of the con-
security of the planet itself,” said
an end to hostilities in Darfur. “We flicts there pledged to take the U.S.
U.S. President Barack Obama.
are modern, or at least we live in a withdrawal to heart. “We cannot
“With weapons off the table, we
modern world, near modern coun- continue this way,” said one tribal
can finally focus on the world’s
tries like the U.S. And like the U.S., leader in Somalia, who wished to
real threats: global poverty, pollu-
we understand that blood cannot remain anonymous. “The time has
tion, and climate change.”
be the path to benefit, whereas come to learn foreign policy just
The Comprehensive Arms Ban Telstar Logistics
peace can be.” like the Americans.”
Treaty is an initiative of the U.N.’s The U.S.’s stockpile of W.M.D.s, which includes arms like the one above, will soon be a relic of the past.
In the Congo, where 45,000 peo- In Belgium, Walloons and Flems
new Global Security Protocol,
ple continue to die every month, promised to cooperate. “We’ve
which identifies environmental
dwarfing the toll in Darfur, reac- been idiots, like pinheads from labor-intensive task of local distri- percent of them women and chil- televised by members of the now
sustainability as its prime direc-
tions were more muted. “If the outer space,” said Filip Dewinter, bution. dren. A survey conducted last May defunct Olympic Games Commit-
tive.
strongest country on earth can leader of the secessionist Vlaams Impetus for the C.A.B.T. devel- showed fewer than one-tenth of tee. The Olympic Games were
“We cannot have any kind of se-
face not getting everything that Belang. “If America is a real coun- oped after the 1998 European one percent in favor of continuing canceled in December after most
curity unless our planet remains
it wants, I guess we can too,” said try, so is Belgium. They’ve shown Union Code of Conduct, which these deaths. In addition to man- member nations realized that con-
livable,” said Secretary-General
Laurent Kabila, President of the us how to behave.” prohibits selling weapons to dating the immediate cessation of tests to see who could do useless
Ban Ki-moon. “The tens of trillions
countries that may use them for production, the C.A.B.T. includes things in the name of archaic na-
of dollars freed by disarmament
external aggression or internal op- a buyback program to repossess tional boundaries are not helping
makes it easier to focus on the big-
picture issues.” pression, went largely unheeded. most of the 640 million small arms anyone.
The weapons ban includes ex- In one contravention of the code, already in circulation, and melt Ailing leader Kim Jong Il made
tensive subsidiies for the retool- Europe did not cease trade with them down in small mobile smelt-
a rare appearance to comment.
ing of arms manufacturers. Hours the United States and Britain de- ers which will recycle the steel
“Finally, we have rid ourselves
after the agreement was reached, spite their unprovoked invasion of into agricultural tools and equip-
of the Olympics. Our best ath-
German weapons giant Heckler & Iraq in 2003. ment to be distributed locally.
letes will do useful and strenuous
Koch announced its first contract In Britain, massive public As for the 20,350 nuclear war-
heads known to exist, they will things. And we are very pleased to
to take advantage of the incen- protests, including a sit-in that
blocked exit from the British Par- be destroyed using monitoring no longer need bombs to protect
tive packages by refitting its P11
liament for two weeks, convinced procedures developed under the ourselves from Americans with
assault pistol factory to produce
the government to reverse course Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. more bombs. We can now focus on
an improved “life straw,” an indi-
vidual water filtration system that and uphold the E.U. Code of Con- The last country to sign off on the avoiding the collapse of our plan-
greatly reduces waterborne dis- duct, as well as to support pas- new plan was North Korea, who et’s ecosystem, and on other pur-
ease. The company’s plan will use sage of the C.A.B.T. agreed to dismantle their last war- suits the Great Leader would have
former weapons brokers to deliv- One of the primary focuses of head simultaneously with that of applauded. The people of North
er the straws, and they will train the C.A.B.T. is small arms, which the U.S. The disarmament will take Korea will enjoy this challenging,
FRED WOLFF former child soldiers to handle the kill one person every minute, 75 place in a ceremony organized and bright future immensely.”

Iraqis Around the World Celebrate U.S. Withdrawal, Rebuilding Plan


By F. WUNDERLICH to return to Baghdad. He is one
of only 2000 or so Iraqis to have
JORDAN — With the news that made it to the U.S. “Two of my
U.S. forces were withdrawing from Air Force colleagues were assas-
Iraq, nearly five million Iraqi refu- sinated. I spent 14 months and
gees learned that the nightmare all my savings in Syria. Now, I am
that started in 2003 was over. barely surviving.” Despite exten-
However, most are convinced that
sive experience as a technician for
going back to a pre-sanctions or
the Iraqi Air Force, Saeed has been
even pre-war Iraq is a mere pipe-
dream. unable to find a job paying more
“All Iraqis wanted the war to than minimum wage. He is now
be over, but the Iraq that existed dreaming of going back and seeing
before has disappeared from the his wife and two children. “I have
face of the earth, and no one has no idea what will happen now, but
any idea how living in the new one for the first time in many years, I
am hopeful.”
When Timur Barzani, 47, heard
For two million the news, he thought of his chil-
exiles, tempered dren. “Life in Damascus is hard,
and my wife and I have had to send
hope of return to a our sons to work. My sons now say
shattered land. they will be too embarrassed to go
to school, they think they are too
old to learn the ABCs. But I think
will feel,” said Malik Abdul-Razzaq,
in Najaf we will find many children
a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee now liv-
in the same situation, and they will
ing in Amman, Jordan. Abdul-Raz-
zaq left Baghdad, where he had not be embarrassed,” Barzani ex-
lived all his life, in early 2006, after plained.
being threatened by an “unknown Until the U.S. withdrawal, Iraqi
armed group” due to his relation- refugees usually had only two op-
ship with a human rights organiza- tions. Either they could face the
tion. humiliation of living as refugees
“Politically what will happen? without rights or hope for a bet-
The country is destroyed, the mi- ter future, or they could face likely
litias are everywhere,” said Abdul- death if they returned to their
Razzaq, whose feelings of bewil- shattered country. The common
derment were a common theme feeling among Iraqi refugees today
among refugees. is of hope for their country, for
Of the 4.7 million people that are their friends and relatives, and for
estimated to have been uprooted
their lives.
since 2003, half of them remain
They know that the social fabric
in the country, but far from their
RASHID HAMASHANI/REUTERS of the county has been destroyed
towns and cities and separated
from family and friends. Approxi- by the war and the occupation,
Iraqi teens participate in team-building exercises organized by aid workers in a Jordan area refugee camp.
mately two million have spilled and that the challenges are huge.
into Syria and Jordan, where they But as Abdul-Razzaq says, “The
Europe. In most cases, Iraqi refu- Askari Mosque was destroyed by elry, and I still needed to borrow is not planning to go back either. withdrawal is only the first step.
have been living in what human
gees are not allowed to work and bombs], my parents have been $10,000. I’m sleeping on a rela- “I’ve lost most of my family and I At least now, we Iraqis will be free
rights organization Amnesty Inter-
national calls “ramshackle camps must depend on the black market. locked in their neighborhood, tive’s couch, but I’m not sure what don’t think I’d be able to find my to choose our own future.”
and struggling to meet basic Amira al-Fadl, 31, now living away from my sisters.” Al-Fadl is I have to go back to.” friends. As promising as people
needs, like food and medicine.” in Stockholm, says that “since doubtful that she will return. “To Leyla Jarrah, 33, also in Stock- say it now is, I can’t see myself Iraqi journalists for The New York
About 200,000 have made it be- the Samarra bombing in Febru- leave, I had to peddle my house, holm, can’t keep tears of joy from starting all over again.” Times contributed reporting from
yond the Middle East, mainly to ary 2006 [when a dome of the Al- my furniture and the family jew- coming down her cheeks. But she Harun Saeed, 45, is planning Damacas, Amman, and Stockholm.

Times Reporter to Embed with Peace Groups What the Future Holds for Afghanistan
By EMIL LEDERER Afghani leaders are hopeful that
By DARLA ZIMBALIST whom the protests were aimed. Against the War, who stage simu-
future powerful states will finally
Veteran Times reporter John lated military operations in Ameri- A 400-page plan, written by Af- attend to the lessons learned by
Recent studies have shown that Hess noted that during his 24 can cities in order to “make the ghani leaders under U.N. supervi-
embedded reporters lose per- truth of this war visible”; United previous imperial powers, in-
years of service at the paper he
sion, outlines the final stages of cluding Britain, Russia, and now
spective and objectivity. Thrust “never saw a foreign intervention for Peace and Justice, a coalition
U.S. and NATO withdrawal, and de- the U.S. Mikhail Gorbachev, in a
into high-tension situations of that the Times did not support, of 1400 peace groups nationwide;
tails a rebuilding effort on a scale recently-published book on the
dangerous conflict, and surround- never saw a fare increase or a rent and CODEPINK, a group singled
not seen since World War Two. collapse of the Soviet Union, has
ed by a corps of strong personali- increase or a utility rate increase out by former President Bush as Nick Tucker
Core to the plan is the presence revealed that he warned President
ties devoted to a single objective, that it did not endorse, never saw
of the U.N. peacekeeping and hu- was toppled by U.S.-backed Muja- George W. Bush against attempting
journalists almost inevitably write it take the side of labor in a strike
manitarian forces in order to guar- hedeen in 1992. “An abundance of to occupy Afghanistan. Mr. Bush’s
subjectively and sympathetically or lockout, or advocate a raise for To right a longstanding antee the quality of life of all citi- research has shown that individu- response: “Hey, Gorby, lighten up.
of situations that are best ad- underpaid workers.” When anti-
dressed analytically. war protesters are covered, the bias, a focus on those zens through assurances of peace, als worldwide who are literate are The Taliban and the Mujahedeen
Yet there are other subjects Times has regularly undercounted a means to earn a living, and basic less likely to address problems may have brought you down, but
fighting for change food and health care. “Afghani with non-diplomatic means” the it was we who provided the fund-
that might be better served by a the numbers and glossed over
more sympathetic approach— violent acts by riot police. It has warlords and the Taliban use ac- report states, adding that this is ing. They’re in our pocket and
like the cause of those who work never given the demonstrators cess to resources as a source of also true for U.S. political leaders. they know it.”
to correct injustices done by our editorial support. setting a “dangerous, radical agen- power. When these resources are One Taliban official, who was “I wonder what he thinks now
country abroad. Yet The Times’ After returning stateside from da” for American politics. readily available, their authority in a minority opposing the plans, that U.S. missiles are bringing
coverage of protesters has often 16 weeks embedded with the Beginning next week, embed- will be neutralized or minimized,” explained that his group was be- down U.S. drones, and the U.S.
been anything but sympathetic. 101st Airborne division in Iraq, ded reports from this movement the report states. ing supported by Baptist groups had to nationalize banks because
This paper has belittled the move- this reporter decided to right this will be featured every week in this The plan focuses heavily on in the U.S. which “understand the Americans wanted control of the
ment, marked its participants as imbalance herself, beginning with space. You, like The Times, will rebuilding schools and retrain- need for men to rule women and means of production and not just
wingnuts, and all in all written as if some of the most interesting anti- come to see these organizations ing teachers who have not taught the legitimacy of martyrdom as a blank checks for the financiers,”
it were beholden to those against war protest groups: Iraq Veterans in an entirely different light. since the Soviet-backed regime political strategy.” Mr. Gorbachev said.
THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A5

Global Problem Last to Die in Battle Remembered, American and Iraqi


Turned Into By J. FINISTERRA cumbed early the next morning

Global Solution
to internal injuries, and was either
BAGHDAD — Secretary of De- the 93,067th, the 755,265th or the
fense Scott Ritter was joined by 1,233,657th Iraqi civilian casualty
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki of the war. (No accurate records
From Page A1 and representatives of the former were kept, and estimates from dif-
“Coalition of the Willing” in Bagh- ferent sources conflict wildly.)
level rise has been overblown.
And one thing I’m sure of, is that dad this afternoon for the ground- “Ahmed’s life coincided with the
nationalizing private industry is breaking of a monument to the last absolute worst episode in the his-
just another name for theft.” to die during the allies’ occupation
“The private oil interests have of Iraq.
been involved in theft for de- An enormous granite obelisk to An American repre-
cades,” responded Deputy Un- the Iraqi dead, 300 feet high, will
der Secretary of the E.P.A. Gavin stand in Firdos Square, where co- sentative tells the
Newsom. “They’ve stolen our air, alition troops famously attempted Iraqis that some
our oceans, our health, and our to topple a 40-foot-tall statue of
land. They’ve proven they can’t Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein in Americans tried, to
run their business without mas- April 2003. A 15-foot-high obelisk polite applause.
sive theft.” will stand nearby, honoring the
“If we’re going to give corpora- coalition casualties.
tions the same rights as people,” The difference in size between tory of the Middle East,” Mr. Maliki
the two obelisks will represent said of the boy, who was born just
the different numbers of casual- after the Iraq War started. “May
‘They’ve stolen our ties. For the Iraqi dead, the most his life and death represent the
air, our oceans, our conservative estimate of 93,067 importance of never again see-
was chosen to avoid the coalition ing such catastrophe rain on our
health, and our land. monument being absurdly small heads, whether for false pretences
They’ve proven they or the Iraqi monument prohibi- or even real ones.”
tively large. “I stand before you as a repre-
can’t run their busi- On the side of the allies, the sentative of the American people
ness without massive last to die was Corporal William to tell you that some of us tried,”
Whitman, age 28, of Quinnesec, Mr. Ritter told an audience of main-
theft.’ Michigan. Just as fighting began to ly Iraqi veterans and their families.
Photo By Telstar Logistics. Photo caption vestibulum nec ligula et lorem consequat ullamcorper. Nulla facilisi.
Fusce magna sem, gravida in, feugiat ac, molestie eget, wisi. Vivamus urna.
wane, he took up an exposed posi- “We may have failed to stop this in
said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, tion while on a foot patrol and was time, but at least we did try. It only
“then we need to hold them ac- struck by a sniper’s bullet. He died remains for us, the heirs of our vic-
countable like people. When instantly, the 4,314th American ca- tims’ legacy, to have the courage
parents abuse their children, the sualty of the war. In retaliation, a and the character to make sure it
government takes over. When oil U.S. attack helicopter fired rockets never happens again.”
companies abuse the planet, the into a nearby apartment building, Ritter’s statements were met
government needs to take over killing the sniper and six Iraqi civil- with polite applause.
too.”
ians. Moments later, U.S. soldiers
Arco C.E.O. Rex W. Tillerson was
received word that they were to
philosophical. “We fought this ONLINE EXCLUSIVE TIMES
cease fire immediately and pre-
long and hard. We did everything
pare to return home. 3D INTERACTIVE MODEL
we could do. But do we want more
blood in the streets? Or do we Mr. Al-Maliki commemorated To explore the interactive, full-
want to move on?” Ahmed Yahya, a 5-year-old boy color, virtual monument in a
“You can’t fight the street,” said who was inside the building digital 3D architectural rendering,
Mr. Newsom. “The people are go- the sniper had fired from. Res- featuring zooming and panning
ing to do what the people are go- cue workers dug him out of the capabilities, see: MIKE ERNST/THE NEW YORK TIMES
ing to do. And the oil companies rubble from the rocket blast. The nytimes-se.com/world/virtual/~3D.html The last American and Iraqi to die during the war will be commemorated by obelisks in downtown Baghdad.
are just going to have live with it.” boy survived overnight but suc-

Court Indicts A friend of Mr. Bush, speak-


ing on condition of anonymity, With War Over,
Bush on High
revealed that Mr. Bush would at-
tempt to move the case to the In- Troops Return
ternational Criminal Court, which
Treason Charge does not have a death penalty, and
was quietly pressing Secretary of
From Page A1
“Now that the war’s over, we’re
State Naomi Klein to bring the U.S.
By BART GARZON going to get to go back to devel-
under the court’s jurisdiction. In
2002, then-Secretary of Defense oping exciting new weapon sys-
WASHINGTON (AP) — George tems, instead of just trotting out
W. Bush, the 43rd President of the Donald Rumsfeld rejected the
I.C.C.’s jurisdiction, saying it was the ones that are proven to work,”
United States, was indicted Mon- said a visibly excited Robert Ste-
day on charges of high treason. The “unaccountable to the American
people.” vens, Lockheed C.E.O., before a
charges, filed by Attorney General reporter informed him of the Sen-
Russ Feingold late in the evening, Mr. Bush maintained his charac-
teristically jovial manner through- ate moratorium on new weapons
allege that Mr. Bush, knowing full systems development.
well that Iraq possessed no weap- out the proceedings. “I could be ex-
ecuted, but what good would that “Oh,” said Stevens, looking
ons of mass destruction, falsified
information in order to pursue do anybody? Especially me. I think
the disastrous Iraq War. (See “U.S. the nation would rather I spend a
Knew No W.M.D.s in Iraq,” on Page good long while considering what A general learns
A1.) happened — not only the tragic his difficult history
Federal District Judge Michael end of hundreds of thousands
of lives, but the end of American lessons late.
Ratner denied Mr. Bush’s request GAVIN BELLOWS/BOSTON GLOBE
to represent himself. Ratner is the The former President appeared perturbed by his own charges against him. capitalism, that I liked, I sincerely
former president of the Center for liked,” Mr. Bush said. (See also “An
Exclusive Interview With George flushed, and quickly excused him-
Constitutional Rights. million Iraqis, for essentially in- Jesus Christ. A new conversation. lapse that resulted has been com- self.
High treason is usually defined W. Bush,” on Page A9.)
sane ends,” said Vincent Bugliosi, And I’ve been very blessed to have pletely devastating to our nation The treason charge does not General David Petraeus had
as participation in a war against a former federal prosecutor whom been born again, again. This time, and, most of all, to me,” read Mr. a distinctly ashen look as he at-
address compensation for the
Feingold named lead special for real,” Mr. Bush read in a pre- Bush’s indictment. “I want to make hundreds of thousands of Iraqis tempted to put a good face on the
prosecutor in the case. “In effect, pared statement to half a dozen amends, and it is for this reason killed in the war. It is expected situation. “I’ve been trying to make
the Iraq War amounted to a war stunned reporters. that I am requesting that I be in- that surviving family members of sense of all this, and I have to say
A move to avoid the against America,” added Bugliosi, “It’s taken a lot of soul search- dicted for high treason. I thank the fallen American soldiers will file that in perspective, we did pretty
death penalty brings who is also the author of the book, ing, or more like deep-soul diving, court for allowing me to right my thousands of civil lawsuits alleg- well,” Petraeus told reporters.
The Prosecution of George Bush I think is the term. But now I see grave wrongs. Bring it on!” ing wrongful death. “It turns out that in 1917, the
its own risks. for Murder. that it was wrong to lead our na- Some analysts suggest that British made exactly the same
Although the treason indict- tion to war under false pretenses. Mr. Bush’s self-indictment is part mistakes we did,” Petraeus noted.
ment came as no surprise to most Millions have suffered for my sins, of a strategy to avoid the death
What’s Fair? “They told the Iraqis they had
observers, what was completely and I see now that it is only fitting penalty. Although treason carries Americans favor life in prison come ‘not as conquerors but as
one’s own country; attempting to unexpected was the party who that I should suffer as well.” a potential death sentence, Mr. over death penalty. liberators, to free you from gen-
overthrow its government; spying brought it. Mr. Bush’s self-accusation Bush and his team of attorneys erations of tyranny.’ Like us, they
on its military, its diplomats, or its Life In
“The case is highly unusual in seems largely to have been pla- are seeking a triple life sentence 64% were surprised the Iraqis didn’t
secret services for a hostile and Prison
a number of ways,” said Bugliosi, giarized from years of accusations without possibility of parole. feel quite the same. The insurgen-
foreign power; or attempting to “not the least of which is that the made against him in the press. It “We don’t want to be too cynical cy against the British started in
Death
kill its head of state. defendant is actually accusing refers to his “political propaganda about Mr. Bush’s motives,” said a
31%
Fallujah too, and like us, the Brit-
Penalty
“In this case, high treason has himself.” campaign to sell the war to the spokesperson for AfterDowning- ish Prime Minister warned against
been interpreted to include pursu- In a press conference held American people,” and describes Street.org, one of the main groups leaving Iraq on the grounds that
3% Charges
ing an illegal and devastating war close to midnight yesterday at how he and his team attempted that had been pursuing Mr. Bush’s Dropped there would be civil war.”
that has cost hundreds of billions his Crawford, Texas ranch, former to make the “W.M.D. threat and indictment. “But even if it doesn’t Petraeus smiled wearily. “I guess
of dollars and the lives of over President Bush cited his renewed the Iraqi connection to terrorism get moved to the I.C.C., requesting Community it’s never too late to learn.”
4,000 Americans and perhaps a 2%
Christian faith as the catalyst for appear certain, whereas in fact we his own conviction is so unusual it Service
this unprecedented action. “Last knew there wasn’t one at all.” could move some jurors, or even A number of mothers contributed
Ari Fleischer contributed reporting. month, I had a conversation with “The death and economic col- help with an insanity plea.” Source: New York Times/CBS News poll reporting.

Rice: Troops Never Faced Annihilation Risk War Brides (and Husbands) Find
Their Place in a New Iraq
From Page A1 By LEN G. WILKINS Ibrahim Khan, when he was hired
believes that it was former Presi- to work as her translator during
BASRA — Following service in
dent Bush’s trial for high treason the war. It is a role he continues
that spurred the revelations. Iraq and an honorable discharge
to serve as Ms. Blaine’s Arabic im-
“There’s nothing to hide any- last April, Lieutenant Samantha
proves.
more,” said Ms. Rice. “We are re- Blaine returned to Iraq to start a
Ms. Blaine claims that it hasn’t
lieved to finally be able tell you, small construction company.
been hard to adjust to life in Iraq.
the troops who fought for us, that She is far from alone. The
we love our soldiers and we al- “I expected to have to deal with a
growth of the postwar economy in
ways have. We would never have lot of sexism. But until the inva-
Iraq has proven so tempting that
put you in such obvious harm’s dozens of members of the U.S. sion, this was a modern, secular
way.” military chose to remain in Iraq. society.”
Thus a region long associated Sergeant Rahim Rafiqi has also
with its citizens fleeing abroad has benefited from the new construc-
A sheepish former seen unprecedented volumes of tion, opening an insurance agency
immigration. that caters to the construction
secretary expresses Seven years ago, Ms. Blaine industry. Prior to joining the mili-
respect and concern had no experience with safety tary, Mr. Rafiqi had worked at his
father’s small insurance company.
for the troops. engineering or building codes but
“I was able to get backing for what
was sent to Basra to assist in the
rebuilding of the Iraqi infrastruc- some would have seen as a risky
ture. Today, her private contract- investment, but we were in the
Ms. Rice also confirmed Secre- ing company is benefiting from a black pretty quickly,” says Mr.
tary of Defense Scott Ritter’s rev- local building boom. Rafiqi.
elation that he had provided the According to the recent émigrés,
“For the first year of our busi-
C.I.A. with documentation in the the cultural adjustments that are
ness, most of the work was gov-
1990s, when he was a U.N. weap-
ernment contracts,” said Blaine, necessary to move from the Unit-
ons inspector, that Iraq lacked
biological or nuclear weapons pro- “but after the major infrastructure ed States to Iraq are more than
grams. “We were then already far work was done and the Iraqi econ- worth enduring to be a part of the
more than 99 percent certain that omy began to rebound, there was new Iraq. “Getting sent to Iraq was
Hussein had zero W.M.D.s and that a surge in demand for new hous- the best thing to happen to me,”
Rob 7812/AP if he did, he would not be able to ing.” said Ms. Blaine. “I’m finally living
A lone helmet lies in the desert near Atrush, Iraq, a monument to absence. use them against us.” Ms. Blaine met her husband, the American Dream.”
National
A6

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

Crumbling Infrastructure Brings Opportunities Big Boxes Appeal


Eviction from
By CHARLES HOCHMANKS
Low-Income
As the $1.6 trillion Infrastructure
Modernization Bill moves through Neighborhoods
Congress, a wide swath of public
advocacy groups is assuring that
the focus of rebuilding remains on
proven, sustainable technologies Chains Drain Money:
that can move the country away
from its dependency on fossil fu- H.U.D. Spokesperson
els.
The American Society of Civil By CARL SCARPA
Engineers has estimated that $1.6
trillion is needed to bring the na- BENTONVILLE, AR — Wal-Mart,
tion’s infrastructure up to the level Costco, Sam’s Club, K-Mart, and
enjoyed by other industrialized Target are challenging the Eco-
nations. nomic Independence Act, passed
“The U.S. used to have the most this February, which requires “big
advanced public transportation box” stores to phase out outlets
system in the world by far,” said in or near low-income neighbor-
Transportation Department head hoods, and help nurture local
Earl Blumenauer. “Now, of course, businesses to replace them.
it’s pretty much the worst, at least “We in the big box community
in the developed world. Our love are committed to ensuring our
affair with the automobile has got investors’ rights, in accordance
to stop.” with the U.S. Constitution,” said
Brice Terra is a spokesperson Wal-Mart C.E.O. Lee Scott. “We will
for Rebuild Sustainably, a group definitely fight this with all the re-
that formed when the funding sources at our disposal, which are,
bill was initiated, and that now by the way, considerable.”
counts nearly 400,000 members. Housing and Urban Develop-
The group has helped keep public ment Secretary Rene Oswin
pressure on senators to aim high vowed to defend the legislation.
in crafting the rebuilding bill. “We
must minimize environmental im-
pact with dense yet fully liveable ‘We have nothing
to lose but our chains’
Finally, a long-needed
move away from the “You know something’s wrong
when the earnings of poor folks
automobile. Dani Bora/World Picture news end up in the pockets of Wal-Mart
A tragic Minneapolis bridge collapse claimed lives, but not as many as an unhealthy national lifestyle. shareholders in Manhattan,” said
Oswin. “This act has finally put
cities, convert rural suburbs back a stop the flow of money out of
to farmland, and provide access Light rail and buses “In 1990 we got the Americans with Disabili- said Housing head Rene Oswin, “building tighter these communities. To backtrack
to services rather than just sheer One key to the Infrastructure Modernization ties Act, with provisions for ‘full and equal enjoy- communities needs to be at the forefront. When now would be disastrous.” Oswin
mobility,” said Mr. Terra. Bill will be light rail in cities, as well as high-occu- ment,’” said Mr. Blumenauer. “Now there are the places we live, work, and shop are closer to- predicted the big-box reatailers’
Under pressure from their con- pancy overland vehicles — i.e. buses — oper- ramps, elevators, and other accommodations. gether, quality of life improves dramatically.” challenge would fail.
stituencies, lawmakers on both ating at higher speeds in segregated lanes and There’s no reason a few simple rules can’t per- “A suburbanite who commutes for an hour and The act prescribes a two-
sides of the aisle are pushing for roadways. mit the full and equal enjoyment of public road- drives to the store for a cup of sugar is going to stage withdrawal process for the
a version of the bill that frees the “We can dig out some of our old streetcar ways by bicyclists.” have a lower quality of life than one who walks or stores from lower-income neigh-
U.S. from dependence on fossil tracks, which are now buried in asphalt, but new “It’s something my predecessors at D.O.T. borhoods, which are defined as
bikes to work and buys food at a farmer’s mar-
fuels. buses are also a good solution, and much less didn’t take very seriously,” said program head neighborhoods with a median
ket,” noted Oswin. “Big box stores, malls, and
“We don’t want a patch that just expensive,” Mr. Blumenauer noted. Leah Shahum, former Executive Director of the household income under $30,000.
peripheral office parks have been a catastrophe In the first two-year phase, the
preserves business as usual,” said In 1922 there were fourteen thousand miles of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. “But bicyclists
for our national happiness.” stores will become wholesalers,
Rahm Emanuel, Representative of streetcar track in American cities, according to across the country have shown us it can work.”
The building guidelines, soon to be written into able to sell only to smaller local
Illinois, who has been leading the Colleen Burgess, a representative of the Surface The first task will be to enact “complete streets”
legislation, also include prescriptions for solar, businesses at heavily discounted
push for sustainable rebuilding in Transportation Board. “Berlin had the most ex- legislation, with safe lanes for bicyclists, bicycle
the Senate. “Rather, true conve- parking areas, and bike racks on city buses and wind, and geothermal energy, and grey water prices. The local businesses can
tensive network in Europe, but that was smaller
nience must be our top priority.” than 22 American cities. Today, we’ve got next to light rail, so that cyclists can commute longer systems. Details are available on the H.U.D. buy from whichever supplier they
“What we’ve realized is that we nothing. But we’ve got to look forward.” distances. website. want. By the end of a second eight-
need to move away from the au- Even more ambitious will be the development year phase, the stores will be com-
tomobile,” said Senator Richard National rail of commuter bicycle lending programs in all ma- Air pletely dissolved.
Shelby, Republican of Alabama. One major element of the D.O.T. plan is the jor cities. For an annual fee of around $40, users In response to the government’s comprehen- “We have nothing to lose but
“We need to transition the United reconstruction of a national rail network for peo- will be able to check out three-speed bicycles sive Climate Control and Infrastructure Modifica- our chains,” said Marlo Lewis of
States to a more convenient, liv- ple and goods, and the elimination of most long from entirely automated stations. The programs tion Act, the Federal Aviation Administration is Big Boxes Out, a citizens’ group
able, economical, and enjoyable distance trucking. “The rails are there,” said Ms. will be modeled after those in Paris and Barce- considering two different proposals to phase out that was instrumental in pushing
way of life.” Burgess. “They spider across all of North Ameri- lona, which already have hundreds of stations air travel. for the Economic Independence
Mr. Blumenauer cited as instru- ca. They need maintenance, and in some cases and thousands of public bicycles in circulation. Act, and which is now promoting
The first calls for the nationalization of airlines,
mental to the bill’s passage the expansion, but they’re basically there.” Blumenauer noted that the benefits of expand- a second act, the Full Economic
and the transition of many airports wholly or in
widespread public outrage which “We have a passenger railroad system that ed bike use are likely to impact another typically Independence Act, to eliminate
part into transit hubs for rail and bus services.
began in reaction to $10 gasoline the Bulgarians would be ashamed of,” noted rail American problem: that of obesity. “Bicycles are all chains with more than ten out-
The other, more market-based plan, mandates lets from lower-income neighbor-
prices and was quickly channeled advocate James Howard Kunstler. “Restoring also an investment in the infrastructure of the hu- the elimination of billions of dollars of federal hoods, along a similar ten-year
by groups like Rebuild Sustainably. passenger rail service would put tens of thou- man body,” he said. subsidies for airlines. timeline.
“When gas hit $3.50 back in March sands of people to work at all levels, decongest
2008, people drove 11 billion miles In the first plan, the price of travel would re-
airports, and revive central cities. And nothing Zoning
less per month than they had the main the same, but there would be far fewer
needs to be reinvented — the infrastructure is One key element of the D.O.T.’s plan to get
year before,” said Blumenauer. trips available. In the second, only the relatively
already out there.” people out of their cars will occur solely on pa-
“When it hit $10, people realized wealthy could afford to fly.
Senator Emanuel noted that current airline per. “We need more mixed-use zoning; more
that the problem wasn’t high gas “We advocate the second plan, of course,”
subsidies would be rechanneled into Amtrak, medium-scale, high-density development; in-
prices — the problem was gas. especially into high-speed rail connections al- centives for businesses to locate near residential said United C.E.O. Glenn F. Tilton.
Fortunately, we Americans have ready common in Europe, Japan, and China. areas and for individuals to work close to home; “Even if flights become a luxury,” said Trans-
always had the imagination and and better public education about the health portation head Blumenauer, “it won’t be a catas-
will to meet challenges.” BiKe infrastructure benefits of being active,” Mr. Blumenauer said. trophe for most people. An average family can
“Once we make our own coun- The Urban Bicycling Expansion Program be- He said that the Transportation Department will afford to spend some much-needed downtime
try more livable,” says Mr. Blume- gan with the D.O.T.’s Bicycle Commuters Group be working with the Department of Housing and on a comfortable train between New York and Dystopos/AP
nauer, “we can begin exporting the in late 2007. The program’s funding is now on a Urban Development to draw up guidelines that Los Angeles. As for business customers who
best practices of affordable transit A 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter
par with that of a newly-shrunken Federal Avia- focus on access, rather than mobility. choose to fly, they will have to pay the true cost
and sustainable planning to devel- in Detroit is just one of many
tion Administration. “As we rebuild the national infrastructure,” of their habits to society.”
oping nations.” expected to close.

Progressive From November to Now: How progressives really won Washington


Movement Can
Take Credit for NOVEMBER 4, 2008
Presidential Election.
New Direction Electrified by the
outcome, activists JANUARY 2009
MARCH 2009
First massive public
MAY-JUNE 2009
Demonstrations,

By Leaders begin organizing demonstrations for organizing lead to


Congressional
online around specific representatives withdrawal from Iraq, more legislative
policy targets. Over for infrastructure, victories. For the
report record number
next weeks, advocacy health, and education first time in
of phone calls on
From Page A1 reform, and for decades, U.S.
groups report tenfold C.E.O. salary cap
of groups such as Healthcare- increase in member- nationalizing big oil. approaches other
and other
NOW, United Students Against ship. economic developed nations
Sweatshops, Housing Works, the reforms. in key happiness
A.C.L.U., and others for helping indicators.
advance progressive causes such
as universal health care, worker
rights, civil liberties, and econom-
ic justice.
“There’s no question that in all 2008 2009
areas, mass movements made
the difference. Without them we
wouldn’t be close to a national
health program, a wind and solar
bill, a plan to guarantee fair and
equal funding for public educa-
tion, or the banking oversight bill, APRIL 16, 2009
expected to pass next month in Following
both houses.” DECEMBER 9-12, 2008 progressive
“I never anticipated the rapid FEBRUARY 2009
First major conference legislative victories
advances made in the past six Progressives achieve
of progressive advocacy in several key
months,” Dr. Wellmon said, “but
movements in Atlanta. first major legislative areas, President
the public has shown a fierce
Publication of first victory, with passage makes “Yes we
desire for change. It’s a virtuous
cycle: with the breaking of market Nationwide Progressive of the Economic really can” speech.
manacles, human and financial re- Working Group Independence Act,
sources are becoming available to guidelines on ending the excluding big box
support even more real changes in war, reforming health stores from lower-
all areas of American life.” care and education, and income neighbor-
humanizing the hoods.
economy.
See Interactive Graphic
at nytimes-se.com THE NEW YORK TIMES
THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A7

FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH


Strategist: GOP Has Ensured
National Health Insurance Act Passes America Safe From Liberalism
By E. LUDENDORFF with disdain, “He’d need about
By S. ALLENDE five terms to unravel the advances
Republican party strategist we’ve made. Maybe more.”
H.R. 676, the United States Frank Luntz said today that
National Health Insurance Act, What if the left were able to build
despite the election of Barack a popular movement demanding
also known as “expanded and Obama, America is still “safe from
improved Medicare for all,” has progressive change? “That’s the
liberalism.” wild card we’ve got to deal with.
moved through Congress, and is “Safe from liberalism?” chuckled
expected to be signed into law If the public pressure is there,
a Democratic party strategist who
shortly. The legislation provides it’s true, liberal change might be
wished to remain anonymous.
publicly funded health insurance, achieved. But I’m not banking on
“That’s absurd; we won the elec-
with a free choice of health care it.”
tion!”
providers, for every United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
But Luntz insisted. “Sure, the
citizen and permanent resident. while agreeing with Luntz on the
Democrats now have more power.
After the bill passed, Speaker of obstacles to progressive change,
That’s a fact. But what can they
the House Nancy Pelosi declared, offered a more hopeful take on
“We can now proudly say that the really achieve in the next four
the future. “I’d ask you to remem-
United States has caught up with years? Our gains are now perma-
ber John F. Kennedy’s inaugural
the rest of the developed world in nent, or nearly,” he said, referring
speech. After urging us to strive to-
granting all our citizens access to to disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack
Abramoff’s declaration that “the gether to create world peace, and
high-quality, comprehensive medi- to eradicate disease and poverty,
cal care.” job of all revolutions is to make
their gains permanent.” Kennedy concluded his speech:
Prior to the bill’s passage, ‘All this will not be finished in the
the U.S. health care system was Luntz noted that the trillion dol-
lars of bailout spending was only first one hundred days. Nor will it
widely regarded to be in a state
the latest example of how the GOP be finished in the first one thou-
of severe crisis. Over 46 million
has made the implementation of sand days, nor in the life of this
Americans have been without
health insurance and another 50 future progressive measures ex- Administration, nor even perhaps
million have been under-insured. tremely difficult. in our lifetime on this planet. But
Despite spending more money “Bill Clinton entered office with let us begin.’ Now that’s a pro-
per capita on health care than any all kinds of ideas about national gram.”
other nation, the U.S. has lagged Army.mil/THE NEW YORK TIMES
health care and so on. But then he “I do believe,” Pelosi continued,
behind many countries in such Doctors operate on a patient who previously would have been denied care. had to face the reality that we had “that we have what it takes to suc-
key health-related categories as made it impossible. He then got ceed in restoring a humane and
life expectancy, infant mortality, reversing the Bush tax cuts on the most independent researchers. Street, it was capable of providing on with our program, and that’s ecological way of life within our
and preventable deaths. The Insti- wealthiest Americans. According The medical services industry the American people with some when we saw cuts to welfare and lifetime. And while we may not not
tute of Medicine estimates that in to the Congressional Budget Of- is promising to challenge the new real health-care security. After all, a loosening of environmental regu- see this realized within Obama’s
recent years approximately 22,000 fice, most U.S. residents — includ- bill. In an e-mail to investors, Kai- it’s not only the financial industry lations. The same thing will hap- term as president, nor even within
people have died annually in the ing those who previously received ser chief George Halvorson wrote: that has been affected by the eco- pen this time around, you’ll see,” two terms, I do believe that given
U.S. due to a lack of health insur- employer-based coverage–will “I remain exclusively committed nomic downturn. It’s about time said Luntz, before adding, with a a couple of decades of committed
ance. Furthermore, nearly one mil- pay less for this new public health as always to our investors and that the U.S. has joined the rest chuckle, “unless by some miracle struggle, we can and will repair the
lion Americans, many who have insurance than they did for their we plan on using every resource of the planet in recognizing that the left can get organized.” damage that previous administra-
private health insurance plans, private insurance, since there will to protect our interests, against health care access is both a ne- When asked whether two con- tions have done to our country.”
have filed for bankruptcy each no longer be any premium, copay, which this measure is obviously cessity and a human right. During secutive Obama terms would “So,” she said with a smile, “let
year because they have been un- or deductible charges. aimed.” Cigna C.E.O. H. Edward these difficult times, a single-payer make a difference, Luntz croaked us begin.”
able to pay medical bills. In recent Eliminating private insurance Hanway issued a similar state- system should help to ease the fi-
polls, a clear majority of Ameri- companies, including HMOs, and ment: “HMOs have been in busi- nancial strain that people are feel-
cans have said they believe gov-
ernment should guarantee health
moving to a publicly administered
system will be no simple task. The
ness for decades. Now Washing-
ton insiders want to take away our
ing and might even help stimulate
the overall economy.” All Public Pentagon Ends
care for all U.S. residents.
Despite growing popular sup-
private health-care industry is
enormous, employing over 14 mil-
profits, our investments, and our
property. That is unacceptable,
Unlike the response from com-
pany executives, reaction to the Universities Secret Budget
port for a single-payer system, and we will fight tooth and nail passage of H.R. 676 among insur-
Pelosi acknowledged that Con-
gress would not have voted for
to insure our rights under our na-
tion’s Constitution.”
ance industry employees has been
largely positive. Sarah Schwartz, a
To Be Free By TREVOR LENPAG
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon
this bill without the dedicated A basic human right is “There has been a long-accepted Cigna medical records specialist By MARY K. RAWLINGS announced today that it would elim-
grassroots organizing of national myth, which is now thankfully re- in Ohio, said: “I’ll get retraining. inate more than $60 billion worth
groups like Healthcare-NOW and
at long last assured
ceding, that if it’s private, it must They need people who do what I A bill to eliminate tuition at pub- of secret programs that have taken
Physicians for a National Health with help from activist be more efficient,” said Secretary do. I’ll get different forms and pro- lic universities is making its way over an increasing share of the de-
Program, regional groups like the of Health and Human Services, cedures, that’s all. Plus this new through Congress and is expected fense budget over the last 30 years.
California Nurses Association groups. former Oregon Governor Dr. John system will be much better for the to pass within days. “There is no place, in a democ-
and the New York-based Private Kitzhaber. “Yet our private, largely patients, so that feels good.” When As tuition has climbed in past racy, for massive programs hidden
Health Insurance Must Go Coali- for-profit system was bloated, re- asked about other changes the decades, federal aid programs out of sight of the public eye,” said
tion, and over 450 union organiza- lion people and costing 2.3 trillion dundant, inefficient, and much new law will bring, Schwartz told have been unable to keep up. The Pentagon spokesperson Jackson
tions across the country that had dollars in 2007. more expensive than the better- the Times about her aging mother current bill, inspired by the City Burke. “The Founding Fathers un-
endorsed H.R. 676. Pelosi said that “The transition to a single-payer performing national health care who, at 71, continues to work at University of New York’s 1970s-era derstood that sunlight is the best
many formerly undecided con- system will be our biggest chal- models of many other countries. a full-time office job. “She almost free-tuition policies for New York disinfectant, which is why they
gressional representatives were lenge for the next 3 years, and a Plus, many Americans were grow- got laid off last year, which meant residents, is intended to help level wrote the receipts and expendi-
also swayed by seeing Michael significant struggle even after this ing increasingly frustrated with my dad wouldn’t have been able the playing field. tures clause into the Constitution.”
Moore’s film, “Sicko,” and by the bill is signed,” said John Cony- private insurers acting as gate- to see a doctor for his heart prob- “The United States has become Burke was referring to Article I
cogent arguments presented in a ers, Democrat of Michigan, who keepers interfering in doctor-pa- lems anymore, since he was cov- a nation of educational haves and Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution,
2008 pocket-sized book, “10 Excel- introduced and fought for the tient decisions, and with receiv- ered under her plan. For our fam- have-nots,” said Adolph Reed, which states that Congress must
lent Reasons for National Health legislation. “But with the support ing denial letters from insurance ily, this bill passed just in time.” Jr., Professor of Political Science publish a full accounting of gov-
Care,” edited by Mary E. O’Brien of the American people, I have no bureaucrats sitting in cubicles far “Health care should be like water at the New School for Social Re- ernment expenditures. The Penta-
and Martha Livingston, that was doubt that we will reach our goal.” removed from their medical diag- — a right for everyone. Anything search. “Tuition costs are skyrock- gon’s black budget has long been
given to every member of Con- In order to make the transition noses. The single-payer system we less is barbaric,” said a spokesper-
gress. eting while real incomes have re- controversial for its apparent vio-
easier for industry workers, H.R. will be implementing under H.R. son for Physicians for a National
Under the private insurance sys- mained stagnant.” lation of Article I Section 9.
676 gives former employees of pri- 676 will be a vast improvement Health Program, an organization
tem that has been in place until One trend the bill will correct is “We have carefully reviewed all
vate health insurers first priority over the previous, dysfunctional that has advocated for health care
now, 30 percent of health insur- the flocking of university gradu- of the programs contained in the
for the public-sector jobs that will health care model. And it will pay reform since 1987.
ance premiums have gone toward ates to jobs paying salaries needed black budget,” said Mr. Burke.
need to be created to run the new for itself by eliminating the waste In recent years, a majority of
administrative costs, including to reimburse debts. “Are schools Some of them we have made
program. and duplication of the private physicians had grown tired of the
advertising, profits, and execu- health insurance industry.” growing, confusing, and some- a selection mechanism for Wall public, and we have canceled the
Many Republicans in Congress
tive salaries. This compares with remain opposed to the new plan, When reached, a member of the times disruptive role of the private Street?” asked Professor Howard remainder.” Canceled programs
a 3 percent cost for administering arguing that quality care is best Coordinating Committee of the insurance companies, with a 2008 Gardner. Some speculate that high include the C.I.A.’s controversial
Medicare. Moving from the private provided by private industry and Private Health Insurance Must Go poll showing 59 percent of doctors tuition has helped fuel the drive to “extraordinary rendition” program
health insurance system to single- free markets. Former Speaker of Coalition noted that the momen- supporting a single-payer system. enormous profits that has proven and the N.S.A.’s domestic surveil-
payer is expected to save $350 the House Newt Gingrich released tum for a single-payer health care At an American Medical Associa- so dangerous to society. lance program.
billion dollars each year, enough a statement saying: “Only market system grew after the October tion banquet last night, a sponta- Students have responded posi- Asked about the national secu-
to fund health care for those who competition can bring choice and 2008 Wall Street bailout: “After neous standing ovation occurred tively. “I’m really worried,” said rity consequence of eliminating
are currently uninsured or under- lower prices. To see the opposite the bailout, the American people when doctors learned of the bill’s Patricia Kathen, a high school se- classified programs, Burke said,
insured. Under H.R. 676, the ex- trend is to be obtuse and short- saw more clearly than ever that success. A.M.A. President Nancy nior in Edgewater, New Jersey. “I “Democracies can only function
panded Medicare for All system sighted.” During the House floor our social needs were not always Nielsen, M.D. said in her speech: thought this meant I could get in properly when there is maximum
will be paid for through a 3.3 per- debate, some cited claims about going to be met by private indus- “We’re trained to save lives. We’re more easily. But admissions poli- transparency. Sacrificing our de-
cent payroll tax on employers and long waits for treatment under try or the so-called ‘free market.’ trained to practice medicine. Fi- cies won’t change, and my grades mocracy in the name of national
employees, a stock transfer tax, a similar single-payer system of There were no more valid excuses nally, we can do what we entered kind of blow.” security is the ultimate threat to
an income tax surcharge on the medical care in Canada; these for inaction. If government was this field to do — practice with the “At least if I do get in, I’ll be able the principles that this country
top 5 percent of taxpayers, and by claims have been discredited by able to provide a safety net to Wall interest of patients at heart.” to afford it,” she added. was founded on.”

American Evangelical Churches Announce New Policy of Sanctuary for Iraqi Refugees
By W. WILBERFORCE withdrawal.

ELLIS ISLAND — In a scripture-laced ad-


The Iraqi Migration “Needless to say, we were shocked and
surprised, but pleasantly so,” said António
dress yesterday afternoon, Reverend Rich Guterres, United Nations High Commis-
Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Af- sioner for Refugees. “The international
fairs for the National Association of Evan- community has long been frustrated by
gelicals, announced a sweeping new initia- the U.S. government’s unwillingness to
tive to house displaced Iraqi refugees of accept a greater portion of refugees from
all faiths in the largest church facilities in this conflict of its own making. We hope
the U.S., and among parisiners. The cam- this unprecedented commitment by one
paign, called “Operation Redemption,” of America’s largest church groups will
is expected to kick off a wave of similar speed up the healing process that is des-
programs among other religious denomi- perately needed to sustain peace.”
nations. Details of the initiative were outlined by
“Do not forget to entertain strangers,” Reverend Cizik, who said the Association
said Rev. Cizik, citing the Bible verse He- would be committing over $700 million to-
brews 13:2 to a crowd of several hundred, wards the campaign. The organization has
“for by so doing some people have enter- asked members to increase the share of
tained angels without knowing it.” Flanked income they regularly give as “tithings” to
by pastors from some of the nation’s the church from 10 percent to 15 percent
largest evangelic congregations, Cizik to cover the costs of feeding, housing, and
laid out details of the ambitious plans to providing services to an estimated one
reporters during a ceremony at the base million newly arrived Iraqi immigrants.
A number of large congregations have
signed up under a “sister-city” framework
Following a Biblical in which they will feed, house, and pro-
vide job support and English classes for
command to hospitality
up to 1,000 families from a given Iraqi city.
Left-leaning churches first forged sister-
city relationships with towns, cities, and
of Ellis Island, off lower Manhattan. Cizik churches in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and
was joined by the pastor of a large Jersey Iraqi Refugee Population* Guatemala, during the brutal Central
114k 239k 340k 560k 768k
City Iraqi Chaldean Christian congrega- American civil wars of the 1980s that
2 million total
tion, Rabbi David M. Posner of New York’s pushed millions of political and economic
Temple Emanu-El, and Imam Mohammad 2-5% 5-10% 10-12% 13-22% 23-45%
refugees to relocate to the United States.
Shamsi Ali, leader of the Islamic Cultural * United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimate This is the first known example of Evan-
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Center, New York’s largest mosque. gelical churches adopting the model.
“The Federal government has moved “Our church is going to have a lot of
with painful sloth to succor the two mil- the homeland.” gave a brief address via telecast applaud- the Palestinian diaspora in 1948. Beyond
families from Karbala,” said Melanie
lion Iraqis cast into exile because of Before the question and answer period, ing the Association’s commitment, and the more than two million Iraqis who fled
Snickles, 17, of Bayside, Queens. “I didn’t
our warfare,” said Cizik, as he showed a the press corps was treated to a perfor- thanking them for doing what she called to neighboring countries following the
really know where that was until our pas-
graph displaying the distribution of Iraqi mance by the Boys Choir of Harlem, who “God’s work.” U.S. invasion in March of 2003, another 2.5
tor showed us all on a map, but I think it’s
refugees throughout the Middle East. sang “Amazing Grace” and “Go Down Mo- Although the Iraq refugee crisis has million have been displaced within Iraq.
going to be pretty cool. I already have a
“Peace will let many return, yet the road ses” while holding the American and Iraqi been dramatically underreported, includ- The National Association of Evangeli-
pen pal, a girl my age. Her name is Nour,
to rebuild is a long one. It is for all these flags side by side, with a model of a single ing by the Times, it is called the largest cals is the first major U.S. religious associ-
and she lives with her family in Damascus.
reasons that we announce a coordinated white dove in the middle. Angelina Jolie, refugee crisis in the world according to ation to announce such a sweeping policy
They’re going to stay at our church recre-
policy of sanctuary and asylum for Iraqi a goodwill ambassador to the United Na- Refugees International, and is at least four of material assistance for Iraqi refugees
ation center until we find them an apart-
families of all faiths desiring to relocate to tions High Commissioner on Refugees, times larger than that which resulted in following the announcement of the U.S.
ment.”
A8 THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

Biofuels Ban Act Signed Into Law, Seeks to Ease Food Shortage Torture,
By WILLIAM PETTY ers sent a memo announcing they
would refuse all future campaign
Rendition
WASHINGTON — In a dizzying
about-face, the White House an-
nounced that the president will
contributions from the powerful
firms. “Not Such
Good Ideas
Today the stock of both corpo-
be signing the Ban Biofuels Act rations registered their sharpest
tomorrow. single-day drop on record at the

After All”
The controversial legislation Dow. Neither company would re-
was pushed through Congress by turn calls for comment.
newly elected Democrats unchar- International response has been
acteristically willing to stand up to mixed. “I must admit, no one saw By DIEGO TAVERA
big agribusiness, bolstered by in- this coming,” said a World Bank
tense public pressure in part due Washington — In response to
official who spoke on condition of
to the efforts of international orga- anonymity. “We’ve all known there 36 million handwritten letters, the
nizations like Friends of the Earth, were big problems with our subsi- president made a formal apology
Greenpeace and the Rainforest Ac- dies for biofuel crops in develop- today to Canadian citizen and ex-
tion Network. ing countries, especially as they traordinary rendition victim Ma-
The shift was cheered by envi- encroached on other crops, and her Arar and presented him with
ronmental activists as well as av- on native ecosystems. We were the Presidential Medal of Free-
erage Americans worn down by examining that. We just never ex- dom.
the steep rise in food prices. “Veg- pected to be pushed on it by U.S. Mr. Arar was a software engineer
etable oil and corn are for feeding officials.” changing planes at J.F.K. Airport
people, not cars,” said Elizabeth Analysts at the World Bank pre- on his way home to Canada from
Johnson, a hospital worker and dict that the legislation will have a family vacation when he was
mother of three, at yesterday’s a ripple effect, eventually easing detained, kept from counsel, and
demonstration outside Capitol pressure on the remaining rainfor- sent to Syria for a year of torture
Hill. “There was only so much ests. and interrogation.
more we could keep paying.” The letters in support of Mr.
Six nationwide protests over the
Arar were part of a campaign or-
last four months had prepared the Food riots highlight a ganized by a coalition of human
terrain for the bill’s success, ac-
cording to Andrew Kohut of the need for real solutions rights groups including Witness
Against Torture, Amnesty Inter-
Pew Research Center, who said
that national polls indicate a sharp national, the Center for Constitu-
jim media “If the demand for biofuels tional Rights, and MoveOn.org.
decrease in public approval of bio- drops, then there’s far less incen-
fuels and increased concern about Acres of corn now to be used for feeding people, rather than being converted to car and truck fuel. His case has come to represent
tive to clear-cut native forests,” some of the worst excesses of the
global warming. “The public sees explained a spokesperson from
the use of biofuels as profoundly In addition to turning off the said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ceives subsidy payments from the previous administration’s national
Friends of the Earth Indonesia,
irresponsible both environmen- tap on plant-based petrol, the at a press conference yesterday. federal government. “We’ve been security policies.
also known as Walhí. “This is what
tally and socially,” Kohut said. Ban Biofuels Act sets out an ambi- In acknowledging her failure in the getting a lot of heat from our con- The context for the apology is
the people in the rainforest have
He added that recent investiga- tious plan of shifting over $10 bil- past to support alternative fuels in stituents on this issue,” explained the White House’s new Truth and
been fighting for for years.”
tive reporting on the effects of bio- lion in annual direct and indirect a meaningful way, Pelosi credited Rep. Daniel Seals, Democrat of Illi- The spokesperson added that Prosecution Program, which has
fuels, including one piece in the subsidies from oil companies to activists for her increased under- nois. “We had to do something and the struggle would not be over exposed and reversed policy on
New York Times and several on the construction of wind farms in standing of the need for renewable now was the time.” until similar controls are imple- secret C.I.A. interrogation and tor-
C.N.N., had been key in sparking rural areas of Texas, Kansas and energy. Top executives from Cargill and mented by governments around ture centers worldwide, warrant-
public outrage. “Television and Wyoming. Delivering yet another jolt to Archer Daniels Midland rushed to the globe. “Ecological destruction less wiretapping, illegal infiltration
print journalism haven’t done this “One of the great things about Republicans, House Democrats the Capitol late last night for an is a systemic problem, it’s not just of activist meetings (and Quaker
type of reporting for years,” Kohut the act is that it mandates the tacked onto the act a manda- emergency closed-door session one company or one place. The quilting bees), and extraordinary
said. “We found that when people building of transmission lines, tory transition of cropland from with the vice president. Accord- only way we’ll have real justice is rendition, the extrajudicial trans-
weren’t barraged with disinfor- which has been a big infrastructur- chemical-intensive “conventional” ing to an aide who attended the if those who prosper from exploi- fer of suspected terrorists to coun-
mation, they developed a much al hurdle to getting renewable en- farming to chemical-free organic meeting, negotiations quickly un- tation have nowhere else to go, tries known to torture prisoners.
sharper analysis of the situation.” ergy on track in the United States,” cultivation on all acreage that re- raveled when congressional lead- and have to go somewhere else.” The program works to assist the
Attorney General’s criminal pros-
ecutions of former Bush admin-

Congress Returns Civics Labor Dept. istration officials for their role in
torture policy and taking the coun-

to High School Curriculum Launches try to war under false pretenses.


In a prepared statement, White

Job Creation House Press Secretary Samantha


Bee said, “We will not condone
Part of Broader Agenda to Restore United States Constitution
Program torture, nor outsource torture.
Maher Arar can never regain that
year of his life, when our country
By JOSEPH BRISTELLO lighted in this cross-country study
included: the legislative and ju- By ROBERT OWEN sent him to be tortured in Syria,
WASHINGTON — Wild applause but the Medal of Freedom at least
dicial branches of government WASHINGTON — The Depart-
broke out at the Parent Teach- recognizes his heroic fight to as-
are subordinate to the executive ment of Labor is scrambling to
er Association national offices sure that what happened to him
branch; the president has the propose new standards that will
early this morning when several will never again happen to anyone
power to interpret treaties; the affect every American worker.
congressional spokespeople an- else.” Bee also noted that the U.S.
president is not bound by law; the “This job report is a blueprint for
nounced a funding appropriation is matching Canada’s $10 million
vice president is independent of job creation and economic stabil-
to return the subject of civics to compensation to Mr. Arar for his
all three branches of government; ity,” said Secretary of Labor David ordeal, “but in real money.”
high school curricula nationwide.
torture is not a punishment and Bonior, who worked closely with In a tearful interview on ABC’s
The initiative is emblematic of
therefore cannot be considered unions like the S.E.I.U. and UNITE daytime talk show “The View” ear-
the new bipartisan agenda to re-
“cruel and unusual”; in matters in crafting the standards. lier this week, former Secretary
store the United States Constitu-
of national security, no warrants By reducing the work week by of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, cur-
tion to its pre-Bush-era status. In
a joint statement, Senators Harry need be acquired by law enforce- five hours, to 35 hours per week, rently awaiting trial, told Elisabeth
Reid, Democrat of Nevada, and ment. Bonior anticipates a 12 percent Hasselbeck that he hoped the
Mitch McConnell, Republican of The study noted that many increase in new hires, particularly world would not remember him as
Kentucky, proclaimed that the ini- students’ political consciousness in the burgeoning sustainable en- the man who brought torture out
tiative proves the two parties can dated back only three years — in ergy sector. But new jobs aren’t of the dungeon and into the Ex-
work together on an issue of tre- other words, their awareness of the only benefit. Coupled with the ecutive branch. “Maybe the whole
mendous national importance. constitutional rights had been mandatory six-week paid vaca- torture thing wasn’t such a good
entirely formed during the Bush Judas Ortiz idea after all,” he said. “I just hope
The announcement came follow- tions each year, worker health and
ing a coordinated series of school administration. In an American History classroom in San Antonio, Texas, students satisfaction among U.S. workers people also remember my way
strikes organized by parents out- The study also found that stu- learn about the Bill of Rights. will be on a par with those in West- with words, and peer through that
raged over a recent study by the dents were growing incapable ern Europe, according to Bonior. to the essence, where I am also a,
National Opinion Research Center. of differentiating between living ture and function of each branch of us,” said Los Angeles area high Other new employment laws at least some kind of, father.”
The findings revealed a profound figures, historical figures, and of government; the theory of school teacher Roberta Morales. currently being developed will
ignorance of government struc- corporate-licensed figures such as checks and balances; theories of “Trying to instill in students a guarantee workers rights to equal
ture and citizens’ rights by gradu- cartoon characters and Internet the role of government; and of the sense of citizenry and the public protection when in dispute with What do you think?
ating high school seniors. avatars. role of the public in government; good and undo so many self-cen- employers. This includes giving Send your feedback, or leave
Some of the false, but widely The revived civics courses will and constitutional law. tered individualistic messages will workers full freedom to unionize comments online at our website:
held, opinions and beliefs high- teach students about the struc- “We have so much work in front take tremendous effort.” unimpeded by employers. nytimes-se.com

USA Patriot Popular “America’s Army” Video Game, Recruiting Tool Cancelled
Act Repealed New Game
The State Department has high their differences with diplomacy. the game represents a major shift lessons of the wars in Iraq and Af-
hopes for America’s Diplomat, It’s so awesome,” he said. in focus. “The next generation of ghanistan is that military success
By SYBIL LUDINGTON Will Recruit Young given its predecessor’s highly suc- Purvill also said he excitedly government game-playing kids is not sufficient to win,” he noted.
cessful history. In 2005, 40 percent anticipates the expansion of the may not be able to kill very well, Unlike its predecessor, America’s
Eight years after being enacted, Diplomats of all recruits surveyed had played game in the coming months. This but they’ll be able to practice di- Diplomat has been pronounced
and three years after being reau- America’s Army game prior to en- is expected to include new mis- plomacy. That’s what our national suitable for children of any age by
thorized, the controversial USA By Wilfred Sassoon listing. As the game’s popularity sion updates such as “United Na- security calls for.” the Entertainment Software Rating
Patriot Act was repealed by Con- grew, and after dozens of new re-
WASHINGTON — The Depart- tions,” “Peace Corps,” “Swords to Defense Secretary Scott Ritter Board.
gress by a vote of 99 to 1 in the
ment of Defense announced leases, the America’s Army brand Plowshares” and “Gandhi’s Hun- acknowledged that national secu-
Senate and 520 to 18 in the House.
yesterday the cancellation of its expanded to include console and gerStrike!” rity could benefit from the new America’s Diplomat is available
No fanfare greeted the repeal in
highly successful and popular cell-phone games, T-shirts, and the Demsfold acknowledged that game. “One of the most important online: americasdiplomat.com
either house. Absent were the 40-
“America’s Army” online game and Real Heroes program, a section of
minute speeches and foam-core
charts predicting Armageddon. recruitment tool. The program has the America’s Army website that
The act was repealed with a sim- already been converted into a new highlighted actual soldiers in Iraq
ple vote cast late in the day by a game, operated by the State De- and Afghanistan, and even recre-
Congress ashamed of what it had partment, entitled “America’s Dip- ated them as action figures.
done and what the Act had meant lomat.” State Department spokes- The avowed purpose of Amer-
for Americans. person Donald Demsfold called ica’s Diplomat is to encourage
In related news, Congress yes- this “a pretty good step towards young people to consider careers
terday repealed the Animal Enter- nurturing a generation committed in the diplomatic corps, and to
prise Terrorism Act and agreed to to the principles of diplomacy and present non-military alternatives
peaceful negotiation.” in a positive light. Where the abil-
America’s Army was an online ity to aggressively attack and kill
An obvious error, game designed by the Army to at- opponents spelled success in
quietly buried. tract young recruits via simulated America’s Army, America’s Dip-
combat missions, many of which lomat stresses situations that de-
were modeled on actual battle- mand negotiation, dialogue and
permanently shelve the Violent peaceful outcomes.
fields in the Middle East.
Radicalization and Homegrown Reactions from gamers have
During its use as a recruitment
Terrorism Prevention Act. “These been intense as those attempt-
tool, America’s Army consistently
acts were worded in such a way ing to access the America’s Army
ranked among the top 20 Internet-
that they could be interpreted to website have been redirected to
equate political dissent with ter- based games. First launched in
July of 2002 at a cost of $10 million the new America’s Diplomat site.
rorism. In any case none of these Lenny Purvill, a 16-year-old
bills did a thing to protect Ameri- dollars, America’s Army’s annual
support budget was estimated at player, noted an initial disappoint-
cans,” said Speaker of the House
$1.5 million. ment in finding his favorite online
Nancy Pelosi.
The cancellation of the game game replaced. “I liked to pretend I
Most past supporters of the act
comes as part of the elimination was in the army going on missions
refused comment, but Senator Jon
Kyl (R-AR) explained his lone vote of the Army’s entire $583 million in Iraq. And blowing stuff up was
to retain the Act: “I wish I could recruiting budget. fun,” he told the press. Purvill, who
say I was as principled as Russ Early versions of the game were has been playing the game since
Feingold [the only Senator who only moderately successful with he was 13, had been considering
opposed the Patriot Act in 2001], young people, but the more subtle signing up when he turned 18.
but the truth is that I had too game is expected to inspire longer- His initial disappointment, how-
much wine at lunch, hit the wrong term dedication. “I’ve never expe- ever, was replaced by fascination
button, and then was too inebri- rienced such an exciting simula- as he facilitated a peaceful negotia-
ated to notice. I hope my constitu- tion of international negotiations,” tions between Sunni and Shiite mi-
ents, who overwhelmingly wanted Greg Hauser, 14, told the press. litiamen. “It was like, are they gon- COURTESY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT
me to vote for the bill’s repeal, will Hauser is president of the Eastern na shoot each other? No! They’re
In the discontinued “America’s Army” video game/recruiting tool, players stormed villages.
forgive me.” High School debate club. not! ’Cause I’m helping them settle
THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A9

High-Speed Internet Hits Fast Track to Appalachia Education Department Plans


By B. VANNEVAR

Washington — The Internet


optic networks for years. The im-
proved access for all communities
is expected to help narrow educa-
National Tax Base for Schools
Freedom Preservation Act has tion and socioeconomic gaps. should not determine where you
passed both houses of Congress,
In the late 1970s, the Supreme end up in life.” Hundreds of grass-
thanks in part to overwhelming
Court ruled that companies pro-
Takes Cue from Ohio roots campaigns throughout the
and well-organized support of
millions of Internet users. The act
viding communication services and 23 Other States state, including The Ohio Coali-
shouldn’t interfere with smaller tion For Equity and Adequacy of
will ensure “net neutrality” — i.e., By M.M. BETHUNE
users. Two years ago, that deci- School Funding, took the cue from
that all users have equal access to
sion was reversed and the largest Mr. Strickland’s statement and
the Internet and that large corpo- Twenty-three states have an-
telecommunications companies spent the last two years working
rations like Time Warner, AT&T, nounced plans to fund primary
effectively became the gatekeep- hard to hold him to it.
Comcast, and Verizon can no lon- and secondary education on a
ers of the Internet. The Internet “Finally, this is a real step to-
ger act as gatekeepers, determin- statewide tax basis instead of per
Freedom Preservation Act guaran- wards the equality our Constitu-
ing which sites go fast and which county, following the lead of a
tees that these companies can no tion recommends,” says Amanda
slow. landmark decision in Ohio.
longer decide which Web sites on Fullerton, of Columbus. Ms. Ful-
The act also includes provisions Ohio’s S.B. 320 follows the Ohio
their networks go fast or slow and lerton, a mother of two, voted for
to eliminate billions of dollars in Supreme Court ruling that fund-
which won’t load at all. Mr. Strickland because of his long
subsidies and tax breaks for tele- ing schools from local property
“This law is a huge step forward history of support for educational
communication corporations, taxes and private initiatives does
for not only technology, but for the reform, but was soon disappoint-
and to use the proceeds to build not comply with the Ohio Consti- ed by the governor’s inaction in
a fiber-optic network providing sharing of ideas,” said free speech tution’s guarantee of a “thorough office. When she first heard about
free high-speed Internet service advocate Lawrence Lessig, who and efficient” public education the proposed bill in the Ohio
to even the most remote towns is head of the new Network Com- system. The new statewide system Senate, Ms. Fullerton decided to
throughout the United States. This munications Bureau, which will be means that resources are more occupy the Governor’s office to
new network is expected to bring charged with protecting the net- equitably distributed, with inner-
WILLIAM KNOXCRUFT demonstrate how important she
the U.S. up to speed with coun- work against all surveillance in- city schools receiving the same
High-speed lines connect rural counties across the U.S. with the rest felt the bill was. Over two hundred
tries like Japan, France, and Korea, cluding that of other government amount as suburban ones.
of the world at no cost to the user. mothers soon joined her, camping
which have had extensive fiber- agencies. The Ohio decision began with out for six days. Many observers
Governor Ted Strickland’s 2006 feel that actions like the mothers’
campaign promise to assure
Pharmaceutical Law Revised to End Corruption that “where you grow up in Ohio
played a key role in convincing
Governor Strickland to push hard
for the bill.
By JASON BREMARSA complimentary pens, coffee mugs, Following the announcements
and other product-related para- of twenty-three states that they
Revisions in the Physician Pay- phernalia into doctors’ offices.
ments Sunshine Act (S.2029) will would be voting on similar bills,
“What we really need is a sea the U.S. Department of Educa-
now make it a Class D federal fel- change in the medical profes-
ony for physicians to accept more tion said it would be developing
sion wherein physicians realize a plan for a national tax base for
than $25 annually in gifts or other that it isn’t O.K. to get gifts or fill
rewards from pharmaceutical schools, to finally assure that as in
our offices with advertisements most other developed countries, a
companies or biological product for products. It demeans patient
and medical device manufactur- child’s opportunities to learn will
care,” says Mount Sinai School not depend on his or her birth-
ers. of Medicine professor Dr. Joseph
The revised bill, introduced last place.
Ross. While programs like the Pre- Amnia LendunD
fall by Senators Chuck Grassley,
Republican of Iowa, and Herb
Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin,
requires full disclosure of gifts, A series of tiny bribes Prison Industry Looks Within
through a Department of Health corrupts a profession. By ELIZABETH FRY
and Human Services online sys-
tem, by both companies and indi- An experimental new program
vidual physicians, and it revokes scription Project, which scrutinize spearheaded by the Department
caps on non-disclosure penalties pharmaceutical company informa- of Justice and the Department of
for companies. tion and sales practices, have been Corrections will place federal and
The legislation targets offending in place for several years in states state lawmakers, criminal court
individual physicians, hospitals, like Massachusetts and Pennsyl- prosecutors and judges, wardens,
schools, and other medical in- vania, their effect is limited by the and guards in five randomly-cho-
stitutions that deal directly with willingness of doctors to abide by sen prisons for a period of three
patients. It also makes it a federal ethical standards. days per year.
offense for medical industries to “This will definitely make it a The National Prison Rehabilita-
circumvent customary gift-giving lot harder for us to get our prod- tion Program aims to give those
practices through third parties, ucts to customers,” says Samp- in the prison-industrial complex
such as lawyers and insurance son Browning, spokesperson for
companies, or via “educational” CAVUTTO/THE NEW YORK TIMES Eli Lilly, which anticipates large
events. losses of revenue due to the new Giving those with power
It reverses earlier legislation count histories of gift-giving, prod- own stated standards,” says Patty legislation. a chance to reflect.
that would have preempted more uct specifics and histories, overall Williams, Director of Communica- “I haven’t paid for lunch since
stringent physician sunshine laws corporate revenue, and other vari- tions for the commission. Williams last February, and I think I ate at
passed by the states. The previous ables, before appropriate fines can is referring to the American Medi- home that day,” says Dr. Bruce the experience of those they con- JOHN HOWARD
version of the law limited penal- be assessed. cal Association’s 1991 guidelines Arbogast, Director of Pine Grove demn, and the time and space to
ties to $10,000 for non-disclosure, Patients’ rights and medical eth- on gifts to physicians from indus- Medical Center in Chicago. “Do discuss ideas for reform. It lever- head Tom Hayden. The confer-
and $100,000 for companies that ics groups, like the New England try, which stemmed a tide of bla- the math. Do you think I can af- ages empathy to reduce the incar- ence-like structure will feature
“knowingly” fail to disclose gifts Medical Ethics Commission in tant gift-giving in the 1980s, but ford to say no when the drug reps ceration rate in the U.S., the high- keynote speakers and breakout
to physicians. The new bill estab- Boston, are exultant. “It’s not like have been criticized for allowing knock on my door?” From now on, est in the world by far. discussions. “Once we get some
lishes a lower limit for fines, but the A.M.A. or [pharmaceutical new byways for abuse: free lunch- doctors will have to, or risk up to “It’s part sentence, part all-ex- of these players together in these
not an upper limit, and requires trade association] PhRMA were es and dinners, travel and hono- ten years imprisonment. penses-paid meditation retreat,” facilities, I think it’s pretty certain
that that penalties take into ac- ever going to comply with their raria, and the hemorrhaging of said Department of Corrections that great things will happen.”

Bush Resumes Golf Game An Exclusive Interview with Former President Bush
By James Braid in Crawford, Texas. Former President George W. further. I’m your scapegoat, right BUSH: Scott, Osama bin Laden, just find it incredible that you are
Meticulous records kept by CBS Bush gave his first post-indictment here, made to order. Me. he’s our enemy. Make no mistake, personally going to hunt Osama
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Former News, however, trace the Presi- interview yesterday to Scott Pelley Of course that doesn’t stop me he’s our enemy, and he’s not down. bin Laden. I mean, jail...
U.S. President George W. Bush re- dent’s last official round of golf to of 60 Minutes. The interview, con- from picking up firewood! (Laugh- And we have not really pursued BUSH: Well, “personally” is an
turned to the fairway this week, af- October 13, 2003. ducted at Bush’s Crawford, Texas ter.) him. I wouldn’t say that I didn’t do awfully big word here, Scott. A
ter previously giving up the game One source close to the Presi- ranch is scheduled to air Sunday PELLEY: Mr. President, what anything. But sometimes what you business organization has a lot
out of respect for the families of dent’s caddy claimed that Bush’s evening. 60 Minutes has provided are your plans now, besides being want to do, or think you might do, is of members, we have a lot of re-
U.S. soldiers killed in the conflict dismal score at that last game did, the Times with excerpts of their dis- a scapegoat? not really all there is, and you even- sources. Over the last eight years,
in Iraq in 2003. in fact, come out of solidarity with cussion. BUSH: Well, just because I’m tually see that. private-sector fighting organiza-
“I saw him polishing his clubs
PELLEY: It’s been several not in that Oval Office, doesn’t We did remove Osama bin Lad- tions have developed in a way I am
last week,” stated a White House
months since you left the White mean I can just sit down. I started en’s enemy, Saddam Hussein. I’m amazed to see.
security agent, who wished to re-
House, and although you’ve con- out with a plan, and my obligation proud of our servicemen and wom- So obviously I’m not going to do
main anonymous. “Of course, we
demned the war in Iraq, and your to this country is to fill out that plan, en who did that. Maybe I wouldn’t it alone. But I’m going to have the
all assumed he was just sneaking
own role in leading us to it, you’ve fulfill it. do that today, but that’s what I did time and also the resources, and
out to play like he usually does.”
also made clear you have some PELLEY: So you will be… back then. And now here I am. the freedom, to do what I want to
In an interview with Yahoo! News
business you’d like to finish. What BUSH: I’m going to pursue Osa- But what’s important is that we do, which is finish the search for
and Politico in 2003, Bush resolved
do you have planned for the next ma Bin Laden. made mistakes, and one thing Osama bin Laden. We will have
to refrain from his leisure pursuit year? PELLEY: I’m sorry? when you make mistakes is you resources that I never had as presi-
out of solidarity with the families BUSH: First, Scott, let me tell BUSH: I’m going on my own can’t undo them. And now I’m not dent. When you’re commander in
of soldiers in Iraq. “I think playing you where I’m at. I’ve had more search for Osama bin Laden to undoing them, I’m doing the only chief there are laws,there’s limita-
golf during a war just sends the time to look at the big picture since bring a killer to justice. I have set right thing for right now. tions and diplomacy you have to
wrong signal,” he said. I left office. Abu Ghraib was a mis- up a $500,000 reward, of my own PELLEY: Sir, forgive me, but work within. Now I’ll have more
“I don’t want some mom whose take. Using posturing language like money, for tips. Laura helped me many people will say that you’re freedom, frankly, even in jail.
son may have recently died to see “mission accomplished” and “bring set up a toll-free hot line to field not equipped for this. Your health The presidency isn’t a popularity
the Commander-in-Chief playing it on” was a mistake. Troop levels those tips. — this isn’t a one-man job. contest. I had to make tough deci-
golf.” may have been a mistake. Getting Near the beginning of my terms, BUSH: A lot of people thought sions. But I was the president when
ReUters
The U.S. President claims to have us in there in the first place was ob- my nation was attacked by Saudi I wasn’t equipped to be President this war happened. I want to be the
renounced the game during the troops stationed in Iraq. “It’s like, viously a big mistake. I think history Arabian terrorists. So I started a either. (Laughs.) But really, once I one to bring closure for the Ameri-
August 19, 2003 bombing of the they’re having a hard time, he was is going to look back and see a lot hunt for Osama bin Laden and make up my mind, I need to follow can people.
United Nations headquarters in having a hard time…. At some of ways we could have done things the Taliban in Afghanistan. We got through and give it my best shot. Maybe you can think of it as a
Baghdad, in which Sergio Vieira de point, I think he was just like, ‘I’ve better, no question about it, all the the Taliban, we didn’t get the main See this, Scott? This is the same second career, or a retirement, but
Mello, the world body’s top official been out here for, like, six hours. way from day one to day now. man. Then, Iraq. rifle we issue to our Marine marks- I’m going to have more time on my
in Iraq, was killed. I was sure I was gonna win at But the reason I bring all this up is I’m going to finish the job. It’s not men. I’ve been training with this hands. And what I will do is shoul-
“I remember when de Mello got the 2nd hole. When is this gonna mainly that I don’t want people out just the good thing to do, it’s the for the past 6 months here on the der this burden, and do this work
killed in Baghdad as a result of end?’” there blaming the folks in the mili- need to do it thing. And that’s what ranch. I’m ready for this. We can that has not been done, myself. I
these murderers who were taking Bush assured The Times that the tary for what’s happened in Iraq. If I’m going to do. shoot some cans later, if you need will spend whatever time needs to
this good man’s life.” The tragedy game will not interfere with his regular American people need a PELLEY: Why didn’t you do this any proof. (Laughs.) be spent to hunt that killer, I will find
forced Bush off the fairway at the continued search for Osama bin scapegoat, well they can look no during your terms as President? PELLEY: Pardon me, sir, but I him, and I will bring him to justice.
12th hole, and home to his ranch Laden.

we’re lovin’ revolution


Business
A10

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

Public Relations Industry Forecasts a Series of Massive Layoffs Harvard Will


By LOUIS BECK
Shut Business
SACRAMENTO (AP) — Public
School Doors
relations firms across the coun- By JOHN LEVERETT
try predict massive layoffs in the
coming months due to recent leg- Harvard University Business
islation outlawing the firms’ most School will be closing its doors
lucrative practices. following an unprecedented drop-
The new regulations carefully off in applications this fall. The
scrutinize government contracts school will be renamed the Har-
with for-profit public relations vard University School of Integrity,
companies, and apply much high- and students will receive Masters
er standards to public relations in Integrity and Compassion, or
work overall. The new rules would M.I.C.s.
have forbidden the creation of the “We believe that the recent in-
National Smokers Alliance, a front crease in visibility of progressive
group formed by Philip Morris movements and ideals, coupled
with the help of P.R. giant Burson with the demotion of free-market
Marsteller, which presents itself capitalism as a viable belief sys-
as a grassroots group opposed to tem, has led students away from
smoke-free laws. training in accumulation for its
The regulations would also have own sake and into fields where
rendered impossible the notori- they can advance peace and jus-
ous “Kuwaiti incubators” episode tice,” said Harvard spokesperson
of 1992, in which P.R. giant Hill & Susan Morrison.
Knowlton worked with the U.S. It became apparent in early
and Kuwaiti governments to gal- 2009 that enrollment in fields like
marketing, advertising, corporate
communications, and manage-
ment dropped 44 percent, while
An industry that helped enrollments in fields like social
work, journalism, and community
launch wars begins to
organizing were up 53 percent in
shut down. the same period.
“We’re not sure if it’s an anom-
aly or an indicator of a long term
vanize public opinion in favor trend, but there’s definitely a
of the Persian Gulf War. Among change,” said Morrison.
other things, the firm helped stage Morrison said the new Integrity
Judas Ortiz
a press conference in which a School is contacting campuses
Hill & Knowlton’s New York office after layoffs were announced yesterday. Cutbacks have rippled through giants across the industry. around the world to encourage
15-year-old girl named Nayirah
claimed to have witnessed Iraqi graduating seniors to apply. “We
soldiers flinging Kuwaiti babies to Hill & Knowlton founder David J. cent is rumored to have gone to portion of its budget. “We are all crumbling down around the see as our job to help students
the ground from their incubators. Knowlton III and a spokesperson P.R. firms. Campaigns like “Army forced to cut back, and that does feet of culture producers. tap into their desire for integrity
Nayirah was later revealed to have for the company. Strong” and “Be All You Can Be” mean letting excellent and quali- “P.R. companies have been do- and compassion, rather than their
been performing on behalf of her While most industries suffered were created by private firms, and fied candidates in all fields go,” ing whatever it takes to maximize greed. That’s what they need, and
father, the Kuwaiti Ambassador to during the Iraq War, the P.R. indus- companies are even alleged to have company spokesperson Fred their profit,” contended media that’s what our society needs.”
the U.S. The “Kuwaiti incubator” try remained buoyant. As overall been paid hefty sums to guaran- Donahue said in an official state- activist Ben Jefferson at a hear-

“True Cost”
hoax was considered decisive in consumer spending decreased, tee returning veterans prominent ment. Saatchi & Saatchi, one of the ing which shortly preceded the
turning popular opinion toward government spending increased, placement on television programs largest ad firms in the world, fired passage of the new regulations.

PRICING SET
war against Iraq. and the coffers of some private such as “Wife Swap,” “Trading over 300 employees in its Word- “The mystical power of the con-
“It’s unfortunate that our hard firms expanded. Of the 40 percent Spaces,” and “Punk’d.” of-Mouth Division. Leo Burnett in sumer isn’t going to change that
work is being discussed under of Iraq War spending that went to One P.R. firm, MediaLink World- Chicago is expected to release all — whereas the actual power of the
these circumstances,” said Cyn- private military contractors since wide, plans to cut its media com- part-time staff later this week. citizen is. That’s where legislation
From Page A1
thia Knowlton, granddaughter of the 2003 invasion, a full 10 per- mentator funding, a substantial It’s a vast network of influence, comes in.”
Pelham Bay, New York, referring
to General Motors’ EV1, an electric

Plan Encourages Steady Growth, Will Boost Bottom 95%


car it developed in 1996, before
scrapping it shortly after. GM was
required to reintroduce the EV1
last month by the Clean Car Act.
Treasury Secretary Krugman “Ever since it came back, the EV1
From Page A1
cited the pressure applied by is five times more popular than
posed the proposals before over- progressive activist groups as in- the next car down,” Cluber said. “I
whelming public support helped hope we never have to sell a com-
strumental in the S.A.N.E. Act’s
bustion engine again.”
change her mind. “This bill brings success despite overwhelming Three months after a 90 percent
a level of sanity and restraint back counterpressure from financial “True Cost” tax on bottled water
to the system that allowed com- industry lobbyists, who have been went into effect, the high premium
panies like Enron, Bear Stearns, working overtime in anticipation has already prevented many tons
Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac to of the likely passage of the “Ban of plastic waste, according to En-
fleece Americans for all they were on Lobbying” bill, which prohibits vironmental Protection Agency
worth.” lobbying on behalf of private in- Deputy Under Secretary Gavin
Merrill Lynch C.E.O. John Thain dividuals or corporations earning Newsom. “When we banned plastic
disputed Ms. Pelosi’s account. shopping bags in San Francisco in
more than $1 million annually.
“High C.E.O. salaries, sophisticat- 2006, it reduced waste enormously.
“We’ve got popular pressure to
ed financial instruments, and the The recent tax on plastic water
thank for letting us make the mar- bottles has prevented even more
freedom to speculate freely have
ket serve humans once again,” Mr. needless environmental damage,
for the past thirty years been in-
strumental in driving us to achieve Krugman said. He also stressed including many tons of CO2 emis-
the highest shareholder returns in that even passage of the S.A.N.E. sions from the transportation of
the world outside of Russia. Share- bill would be meaningless without water,” said Mr. Newsom in a press
holders have been very grateful passage of the “Ban on Lobbying” conference. “Imagine transporting
for those returns. We mustn’t look bill. Only by banning lobbying, Mr. water across oceans. What were
Krugman added, would it be pos- we thinking?”
at one rash of foreclosures, or one
sible to assure that the changes “It’s great to see this extended
system collapse, and forget the de-
to the whole spectrum of products
cade of high returns that enabled mandated by the S.A.N.E. Act are
with which we’re destroying our
a new wave of prosperity for a cer- not rolled back through the influ- world,” Mr. Newsom added.
tain number of people.” ence of big corporations. Treasury Secretary Paul Krug-
man believes the “True Cost”
system will serve not only as an
Details of S.A.N.E. Act incentive to manufacture certain
products instead of others, but will
Caps Wages. Caps salaries, Taxes Speculation. Invests in Housing. Rein- on inheritance for fortunes over financial meltdowns, to further help to make people aware of the
in part to reduce the incentive of Spearheads an international 1 per- vests in public housing and renews $500,000. These revenues will discourage the sort of reckless effects of their behavior.
C.E.O.s to speculate wildly with cent tax on financial transactions, rent control, until the “ownership enable a quicker implementation speculation that fueled the latest “We complain about high gas
investors’ funds. to slow speculation and reduce society” becomes real. of universal health care, afford- banking crisis. prices,” said Melissa Schwarzwald,
market volatility. able housing, guaranteed college spokeswoman for the Sierra Club,
Prices for True Cost. Limits Derivatives. Regu- pressure from whose members
Busts Trusts. Breaks up Stabilizes Mortgages. Establishes a “true cost” pricing education, and other measures lates and streamlines the market was instrumental in getting the tax
financial conglomerates and Keeps Fannie Mae and Freddie system to ensure that prices reflect considered standard in almost in abstract financial instruments, implemented. “But how much does
reinstate the 1933 Glass-Steagall Mac, which were formed to boost the true cost to society of products, every other developed country. especially those derivatives and it really cost, to our health, to the
Act keeping investment banks and home ownership, under govern- services, and practices. Sets Emergency Tax. derivatives of derivatives which planet’s health, and to the health of
commercial banks separate, in ment management, and imposes a Provides for an emergency surtax serve no social purpose whatso- the country we destroyed in the in-
order to reduce speculation. Taxes Inheritance.
moratorium on foreclosures. on the wealthy in case of future ever. terest of a steady supply? We’re cut
Establishes a 100 percent tax
off from what we’re really doing,
and that’s the whole problem.”

New Wage Cap Will Stabilize Economy


From Page A1
sation is an industry-backed group
based in Washington whose goal is
ing retirement packages upwards
of $10 million.
We did it first.
to rake in massive dividends, often
to tell corporate America’s side of
the executive pay story. Richard
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cel-
ebrated the bill’s passage with an
Now we’re bringing it back…
at the cost of the company’s, and
Floersch, the center’s chairman impassioned speech. “The struggle
the country’s, stability.” Back in 1996, we developed an electric car called the EV1.
and the chief human resources of- on behalf of human dignity con-
The first time the U.S. implement- People loved it, and wanted to buy it. But changes in legislation
ficer at McDonald’s, defended high tinues. We need investment in meant it made no sense in our business model, and three years
ed a maximum wage was in 1942,
salaries. Most companies, he said, productive enterprises and public later, it was gone.
when President Roosevelt said that
are “dedicated to a very strong services. The era is over of C.E.O.s
“no American citizen ought to have Today, changes in legislation have made the return of the EV1
executive compensation program who receive millions in bonuses as
an income, after he has paid his possible. It was the best back then, and it's the best today.
with very strong principles around their employees go without health
taxes, of more than $25,000 a year,”
pay for performance.” care and the company fails.”
the equivalent of $315,000 today.
In the two days since Mr. Flo- In her speech, Ms. Pelosi exten-
Some version of a maximum
ersch made these comments to a sively quoted Treasury Undersec-
wage law was in effect until 1980.
reporter, the Center on Executive retary E. Merrick Dodds, who stat-
Before 1964, income over $400,000
Compensation has dissolved. A ed, shortly after passage of the first
in today’s dollars faced a 91 percent
statement on their website now maximum wage under Roosevelt:
federal tax rate, and the top-brack-
reads: “We have decided that in “The modern period has been one
et tax rate never dipped below 70%.
light of recent changes in econom- in which a new impulse towards
Under Reagan, the top tax rate slid
ic policy, and the failure of hedge regulation has gathered strength
down to 28 percent — a shift that
fund managers and banks to pre- as a result of our experience of the
is now understood to have been
vent massive losses despite their evils to which unlimited freedom
one of the prime contributors to
astronomical pay, our Center has of contract gives rise in a postin-
the mortgage meltdown and other
dustrial society characterized by
market failures. lost its relevance.” The statement
extreme inequalities of wealth and
The current minimum wage is also acknowledges the problems
bargaining power and by sudden
$5.85 ($12,168 annually) making caused by Fannie Mae and Freddie
oscillations between booms and
the new maximum wage $182,520/ Mac executives falsifying profits of
depressions.”
year. Any amount over that will be $9 billion so their firms would ap- TM
0SQOcaSeSVOdSb]
taxed at a rate of 100 percent. pear attractive to investors and
The Center on Executive Compen- then, instead of being fired, receiv- Don Cortland contributed reporting. Target launch: Late 2009. Vehicle features and performance capabilities established and certain. © 2009 GM Corp. All rights reserved.
THE NEW YORK TIMES BUSINESS SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A11

Senate Gets Tough On “Limited Liability” to Rein in, Humanize Corporations


By CARLTON DONALLY

Senator John McCain, Repub-


lican of Arizona, has launched a
bold new “tough on crime” initia-
tive that would imprison or fine
shareholders for corporate crimes
committed in their name. Punish-
ment would depend on the sever-
ity of the crime and the number of
shares owned.
Mr. McCain outlined his unique
two-tiered punishment program,
which would punish corporations
for legal infractions according
to their severity. Mr. McCain ex-
plained that there would be two
“suites” of punishment, for levels
of crime roughly corresponding to
misdemeanors and felonies.
In one “suite” — for “misde-
meanors” like bilking taxpayers of
seven-figure dollar amounts, over-
charging consumers, attempting
monopolies, and contributing to
simple human troubles like asth-
ma and brief bouts of homeless-
ness — punishment would take
the form of short- or long-term
share confiscation. Dividends of
confiscated shares would pay for
remedial action, where possible,
as well as public-good programs
like health care.
“I know a number of people
whose companies were players
in the Savings and Loan scandal,”
Mr. McCain said, “and they’re pre-
pared to face the consequences.
Remedies for serious problems
are never easy, especially when
they hit at the root.”
The second punishment “suite,”
for “felonies” — spreading diseas-
es, committing homicide or man- cfinke AND OBORLOO HOCHMANKS
slaughter, contributing to national Left: An old prison being remodeled for white-collar criminals. Right: John McCain reclaims “maverick” status with strict new sentencing to put corporate criminals behind bars.
disasters in the U.S. or abroad,
large-scale bilking of taxpayers,
etc. — would involve direct pun- spend from a few weeks to several dollar fine to a giant corporation? a very involved process.” about getting richer.” got real controls — and without
ishment of the shareholders in years in prison, depending on the Fines seldom if ever affect the The ultimate aim of the program, “You’d have to be very cynical regulation!” said Mr. McCain.
question. size of investment. A minimum pocketbooks of shareholders or Mr. McCain said, is to help corpo- to think that corporations, when Mr. McCain dismissed concerns
Mr. McCain used Union Car- penalty could be set by a judge managers, those who make the de- rations achieve their long-term they won protection as ‘persons’ that personal liability for corpo-
bide’s 1984 Bhopal massacre, in — so that an investor with even cisions or power the machine. Hit- goals. “Corporations have spent under the ‘Freed Slave’ Amend- rate crimes might discourage in-
which thousands of Indian villag- a fraction of a share would be li- ting pockets and people directly is the last century and a half trying ment, were thinking only of their dividual investors from taking a
ers were killed by lethal gas, as an able for, say, two weeks in jail. This a different thing.” to obtain all the legal rights of own wealth,” Mr. McCain said. He risk. “People love to gamble,” he
example of a crime that would be would apply even to those who Mr. McCain admitted that sev- people,” Mr. McCain said. “They’re was referring to the 14th Amend- said, “and this will make it all very
classified as a felony. While retro- had invested via mutual funds, eral major problems remain to now technically persons, but ment, which had been designed to real.”
active prosecutions based on new without knowing the precise direc- be solved. The death penalty, for they’re not really human. We owe protect the rights of freed slaves, For those who do not thrive on
laws are usually not permissible, tion of their investments. example, while often merited in it to them — and to our species — and which was used in 1886 to es- such risks, Mr. McCain suggested
in such extreme cases they would Mr. McCain said that while corporate crime cases, had no ob- to help them finish their quest.” tablish corporations as “natural that the mutual fund industry
be, as they were in the Nuremberg “tough on crime” policy has been vious application — “We can’t talk Mr. McCain went on to explain persons” under the law. would easily adopt new decision-
prosecutions of 1945. shown to be useless with humans, about ‘little deaths’ here,” said Mr. that corporations still, even today, “It’s clear that corporations just making processes, just as it has in
In the Union Carbide example, it would work with corporations. McCain, making an obscure bilin- lack one distinguishing human admire humans and what we have. the past. “The prime mechanism
Mr. McCain noted that each “Corporations are just machines, gual pun better left unexplained. characteristic: a conscience. “Cor- We should be good hosts and help of regulation will be shareholder
death would cost the company a not like teenage kids. They can be Also, the issue of global markets porations were invented to keep them however we can. Right now, judgement. If investment in one
“negligent homicide” charge, for forced to act as if they knew right poses some problems, Mr. McCain investors innocent of crimes com- that means making them respon- company is likely to land you in
approximately twenty years of from wrong.” said. “These penalties will even- mitted with the help of their mon- sible and responsive.” jail, you’ll invest in another in-
incarceration each. Twenty years “Corporate behavior has be- tually have to be agreed on by a ey, accidentally or not. But now While most experts scoff at the stead. Mutual fund companies will
multiplied by 2000 equals 40,000 come a very loud cry for ‘tough global governing body like the that corporations have become le- idea that corporations could actu- find it an exciting challenge to ob-
years in prison, with aggravating love,’” the governor said. “We’ve W.T.O., not only here at home in gally almost human, they have to ally become human beings, most tain and keep investor confidence.
factors such as a demonstrated got to adapt to a changing world, Arizona or the U.S. Otherwise we be taught that their actions have agree that punishing corporations It will reinvigorate the industry,
lack of remorse or compassion tri- and sometimes that means chang- may create a better market here, consequences.” for the crimes they commit will at and in fact the whole concept of
pling the total. ing laws.” but the changes will be irrelevant Mr. McCain called corporate ef- the very least have a positive ef- investment.”
This penalty would be divided “Fines are not punishment, they in the bigger picture. And influ- forts to obtain the legal rights of fect on the world. “If each share-
among Union Carbide sharehold- do not build character,” Mr. Mc- encing such a powerful and state- humans “compassionate greed,” holder is personally responsible
ers, each of whom could expect to Cain said. “What’s a ten-million- independent body as the W.T.O. is and said that it was “not entirely for corporate crimes, then you’ve Chad Woolin contributed reporting.

epoch-making pivotal squandered

The more we look at the world


the more we understand
that some things really matter.

Not only our choice of President,


but how we make sure that he,
like all our elected officials,
does what we elected him to do.

It's not over yet.


New York
A12

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

Army Recruiter Goes from Marketing the Military to Marketing Himself


By BARRY GLOAD and asked if I’d mind if we went into the
church we were passing. As we sat in the
MANHATTAN — “I have plans, and I have pews of the huge, solemn hall, he said,
backup plans,” explained retired Staff Sgt. “About your question . . . yeah, some-
Joe Pascanic, a former recruiter for the times I do think about my job and what
U.S. Army. “That’s one thing I learned in I promised the kids, and what ended up
the military. Always have your Plan B, and happening to them.” He pointed at the
your Plan C.” ceiling and said, “And I wonder what He
“Plan D is called Unconditional Surren- would think.”
der, a.k.a. filing for Unemployment Insur- “But I don’t know, you know, this is
ance. We’re not gonna need to go there.” America, we’re all selling something,
Pascanic, 36, of Rahway, New Jersey, right? The President sold the country a
was looking for a new job in the civilian war, wholesale; I just did the same thing
sector. The Times spent a day with him at the retail level. But what am I gonna do
as he took the train from this blue-collar now?” He looked around him at the rela-
town into New York City to pound the tive sanctuary of the church. “Maybe I’ll
fresh post-war pavement. get a job here. Maybe I’m not meant for
Pascanic is a medium-tall man, with the private sector. Maybe I can sell salva-
blonde short hair and brown eyes, trim tion. You know, I’d much rather sell Heav-
and nattily dressed in a professional, well- en and Hell than Iraq and Afghanistan. Be-
pressed, blue pinstriped suit. He thanked cause these products have stood the test
me for my compliments on his “civvies,” of time. People still believe in them. And
and said, “I’m very happy to be wearing you know what? They’re for after you die,
them.” you don’t actually die in them. I can feel
He appeared lost in thought for a mo- better selling that. How do you apply to
ment, and then shook off the reverie with be a priest?”
a gruff statement. At that moment, Pascanic’s cell phone
“I have to say, however I felt about the rang, piercing the silence. His ringtone,
war, I’m glad I don’t have that job any- Bon Jovi’s In and Out of Love, played for
more,” Pascanic admitted as we waited several maximum-volume bars before he
on the New Jersey Transit platform. “That patted down his pockets, found, and an-
was serious pressure.” re-ality/THE NEW YORK TIMES swered the phone. At that moment, he
Indeed, while many antiwar activists de- Former recruiter, Staff Sgt. Joe Pascanic, pages through job listings before an interview at a used car lot in Elizabeth, New Jersey. snapped to attention and darted out of
nounced military recruiters as liars dur- the church.
ing the war, this time Pascanic was telling As we got off the train and made our way and marched to the elevator. You’re selling the American Dream. And It was Chris Sorrentino calling. Sorrenti-
the truth. The Army’s strict and harsh on foot into the city, Pascanic warmed to Coming out forty-five minutes later, Pas- that’s what I’d like to do as a real estate no, 24, was one of Pascanic’s first recruits
quota system for recruiters made it one of the subject of his skills. He repeated some canic seemed shaken. “They heard my agent. Sell the American Dream of home to go to Iraq, instead of Afghanistan as
the highest-stress jobs in America. As the of his key advantages a few times, appar- pitch, but they’re really looking for guys ownership.” he’d expected, in 2003. He lost his right
war grew more bloody and news of “stop- ently rehearsing out loud the lines for his with M.B.A.s from Ivy League colleges. And how did he feel about the fates of arm in an I.E.D. explosion five months into
loss” and other involuntary extensions first job interview, at a medium-sized ad- They said they’d keep my resume on file. the people he’d convinced to sign up with his deployment. Pascanic and Sorrentino
of soldiers’ combat tours made it harder vertising firm in midtown Manhattan not I think they were impressed with my re- misleading promises? Pascanic did not had kept in touch.
to get new recruits, rates of suicide, drug far from Penn Station. cruitment rate, but I don’t know. I don’t argue the facts — that veterans’ training Sorrentino was calling to offer Pascanic
and alcohol abuse, divorce, and stress-re- “Now obviously I had to develop mas- think I should wait around for that phone yields them a lower rate of employment a sales job at his family’s used-car lot in
lated illnesses such as ulcers skyrocketed sive marketing skills in my old job. Some- call.” than their civilian peers, not higher; that Elizabeth, New Jersey.
amongst Army recruiters. times it was just in terms of what to focus We took a taxi down to Chelsea for our only a small percentage of veterans ever This reporter, who felt solidarity with
“I used to say, the only more stressful po- on. So I want them to sign up to fight in next stop, a real-estate firm where Pascan- qualify for the education funding due Pascanic because The Times, too, had
sitions are the ones they put you in at Abu ic was hoping to use his work experience to hidden restrictions and costs; that helped to sell the war to the nation, paid
Ghraib, those and the only more stressful to sell co-op apartments. He recovered his military contracts include a catch-all dis- for a car service to drive him to the lot.
occupation was the U.S. in Iraq.” Pascanic ‘I’ve sold people trips to Iraq!’ confidence and talked himself up as we claimer to nullify obligations the recruiter After a few minutes of friendly Jersey-
laughs a little, gives me a self-conscious rode. “I’ve sold people trips to Iraq! We’re has promised. boy small talk, vulgar ribbing and taste-
glance, and says, “That was an after-work, talking about desert and urban guerrilla “Let’s talk about this when I get out from less jokes, Pascanic had nailed the job.
at-the-bar kind of line, of course. Afghanistan? Now I happen to know from warfare. And they signed! Of course you this next interview. I’m not debating! I’m Since he was already wearing a dapper
“I did get a lot of skills from it, though. Military History class that the British and have to promise them competitive job not denying! But I gotta make sure I’m at suit, Sorrentino’s father, Bill, put the for-
Besides the working under pressure, I the Russians both lost in Afghanistan. Em- training, money for education, maybe that front desk on time.” He grinned and mer recruiter out on the lot immediately.
learned so much about marketing. It’s pires get bled to death in that place. Now insinuate they probably won’t ever go to jumped out of the taxi, jogging into the Pascanic thanked me for the ride and said
hard to fill your quota when that means that’s very interesting information, but a combat zone, or that they’ll all get as- company’s front office. goodbye, studying the specs of the car in-
getting kids to sign up to go fight in a is it helpful on the job? No, actually it’s signed to be military journalists or pho- Twenty-five minutes later, Pascanic ventory and rehearsing a new pitch under
shooting war. Trust me. counterproductive. So that doesn’t go in tographers or whatever they’re interested came back out on the street, frowning. his breath as he marched off to the sales
“I mean right after September 11th, it the patter. See? It’s not just what you say. in that sounds safer. But you’re also sell- “They gave me a good listen, but they floor.
was no problem, the product sold itself, It’s what you don’t say.” ing an adventure, a chance to be all you seemed a little offended. I wasn’t trying I asked Sorrentino if he bore any grudg-
so to speak. To go fight in Afghanistan, And how did he feel about his chances can be, be an army of one, be army strong. to compare selling open-ended trips to a es against Pascanic for misrepresenting
where the bad guys were, the ones who at this job interview? As we entered the It’s a complicated mix of practical bread- war to selling studios to wealthy N.Y.U. the reality of the war that had cost him
attacked us. I didn’t have to do any pitch- sleek lobby, he adjusted his cuffs and said and-butter promises and an appeal to the students. But I might have come across his arm. Sorrentino hesitated, he frowned,
ing, the kids came right to me in droves to “Hey, maybe my military service got me beautiful spirit in all of these kids, their that way. They didn’t think we’d be a good shook his head, and answered “Well, I
sign up. The product made its own sauce. here to the target. But now I have to de- desire to help, to protect, to be a real part match.” mean… yeah, I wish… but — hey, hey, hey
Just add water.” liver the payload.” He spun on his heels of America. It’s tough, but you know what? Pascanic slowed his pace, then stopped, … the war’s over.”

New York Bike Path System Expanded Dramatically University to Rescue Iraqi Scholars
for bicycle speed. “Riding your bike up By AMAL MAAMLAJI gram faced significant challenges. “The
Miles of Segregated Bicycle or down the avenue, the traffic lights are situation for Iraqi scholars today is even
going to change in sync,” explained Blair. The New School University in New York worse than for Jewish scholars in 1933,
Lanes Will Be Paved by 2010 “You ride 10-15 miles per hour, and you’ll announced yesterday the launch of the but it’s our doing this time, and so the
be hitting all greens.” New University In Exile, a program to pro- available funding is a whole lot less. It’s
By MEDE SIVRAC “Now that our country is taking its right- vide small grants and visas to scholars psychologically easier to help people
ful place among the world’s developed from Iraq. The program is inspired by the when one’s tax dollars aren’t instrumen-
NEW YORK — Officials from the Depart- nations,” said Mayor Bloomberg, “it is University In Exile, a New School program tal in killing them, which is probably also
ment of Transportation today opened the time for our greatest city to take its place that rescued over one hundred Jewish why there’s more concern for the victims
9th Avenue bike lane, which now extends among the world’s great cities.” scholars from Nazi Germany beginning of Darfur than of the much larger crises
the entire length of Manhattan. The fes- Bloomberg recently visited Paris to ex- in 1933. in Iraq or the Congo.” But we’ve got to do
tivities were then moved to 2nd Avenue, amine its popular public bicycle rental “As in World War II, scholarship today what we can.
where ground was broken on a similar program. Although he initially expressed faces one particular crisis that dwarfs all “While the academic riches of Iraq will
path to extend the full length of the is- doubts as to whether it could work, pub- others,” said New School President Bob never be restored, and its archaeological
land. lic pressure has helped convince him it Kerrey. “In Iraq today, almost four hun- sites, museums, and libraries will remain
Over the next two years, every other can, and national legislation sealed the dred scholars have been assassinated, a mere memory, the academic commu-
avenue will also receive a full bike lane, deal. (For more on the new transportation and most others have been sent into per- nity must attempt to in some small mea-
blocked off from traffic, while every fifth initiatives, also see “Crumbling Infrastruc- manent exile. Iraq’s universities, libraries, sure make amends for what our country
crosstown street will be opened exclu- ture Brings Opportunities,” Page A6.) museums, and archeological sites have has done, and do what it can to save the
sively to bicyclists and pedestrians begin- Blair, watching the dedication from a for the most part been completely de- scholarly heritage of a nation,” Mr. Kerrey
ning next month. cherry picker above 9th Avenue com- stroyed. The scale of devastation places said.
Mark Blair, a transit worker from mented, “From cesspool to world city, it’s it among the worst tragedies in all his- The New School hopes to be joined in
Queens, was busy re-timing traffic lights just fantastic. I love this place.” Payton Chung tory.” the effort by other universities anxious to
The New School will make available live up to their stated ethical aims.
small grants to scholars, facilitate visas,

City Council Votes to Beat Swords Into Plowshares and provide shared office space with New
School faculty members. See also “Hope for Iraqi Refugees?”
Page A13.
Mr. Kerrey acknowledged that the pro-
campuses. “If our leaders of the past eight years had
At Jesuit-run Xavier High School in Man- had that sort of training, we wouldn’t be
R.O.T.C. Funding Reallocated
to Organic Gardens for Youth
hattan, 33 percent of students belong to
the J.R.O.T.C. “It’s the only gang the Fa-
in the huge mess we’re in.”
Retired General David Petraeus defend-
Streets Come Alive as Relief and
Exuberance Greet End of Conflicts
thers let us join,” bubbled Senior Cadet ed the program. The only way a volunteer
By ED SHARSNEK Leader Bernard Goetz Jr. “But it’s plenty army can recruit is if we can get them
good for me.” early. The fact is, it works. Plus, J.R.O.T.C.
NEW YORK — The New York City Coun- Not all the Jesuits support the program. students who don’t join the army tell us By SCHUYLER FRANK watching the news.”
cil is scheduled to vote later this week Father Jon Sobrino, who supervises the the leadership training they receive helps Juan Villarosa, 18, agreed. “My brother
on a measure that may finally close the school’s ethics curriculum, said that the them find work in security and related Thousands are already taking to the was killed in combat last year in a war
doors on the City’s Junior Reserve Officer J.R.O.T.C. obedience training seemed to fields.” streets of Manhattan, mainly around that never should have happened. You
Training Corps, following complaints by stunt some students’ reasoning skills. Critics argue that those students who Times Square, to celebrate the announced don’t turn to Wolf Blitzer for answers
parents and teachers, and a recent spate “‘Lock-and-load’ is not a recognized ethi- do go on to join the Army fare especially end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. in that situation,” he said. The crowd at
of student walkouts. cal philosophy,” Sobrino said. poorly. According to the Veterans Admin- Police are responding by organizing water the uptown sandwich shop bubbled with
Critics contend that the training corps, With the end of the war in Iraq, concerns istration, veterans earn less than non-vet- distribution centers and places to rest. conversation about America’s new direc-
whose official mandate is educational, is a voiced for months at Parent Teacher As- erans; one-third of homeless men are vet- “We’re all guaranteed the right to peace- tion.
recruiting arm of the U.S. Army. They note sociation meetings around the five bor- erans; and at least 10 percent of federal ably assemble,” said New York City Police “People are saying hello to each other
that the J.R.O.T.C. provides no non-mil- oughs received renewed urgency. “We are and state prisoners are veterans. Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. “Today, in the street. I just had lunch with a group
itary training, and that the firearm train- asking Secretary of Defense Scott Ritter to
The City Council vote follows outrage by we’re going to try responding the way po- of total strangers where we just talked
ing offered by 90 percent of the J.R.O.T.C. shift these funds into training programs in
area principals over Mayor Bloomberg’s lice do in many other developed nations.” about what’s going on right now,” said
programs undermines the no-weapons nonviolence and communication,” Queens
proposal to cut $180 million from the In the past, New York City police have Carrie Moore, a photographer’s assis-
policies widely promoted on high school Borough P.T.A. head Estelle Chavez said.
Department of Education’s budget in the usually responded to demonstrations tant living in midtown. “It’s like this huge
current fiscal year, and $324 million in with forces in riot gear. stress has been lifted.”
the following year, cuts which will most After pausing a moment Kelly added, Makeshift signs were visible in office
likely effect after school programs, arts “You know, everyone on the force, we’re windows, among them: “Sleep with me”;
programming, and programs for children all just glad we’re here to help celebrate “The end of our lives” with the V crossed
with special needs. peace this time.” out; and, simply, “YES.”
One group of critics has been working The spontaneous street celebrations The street celebrations were unusual in
with Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein to were the manner in which many first the preponderance of business suits and
redirect the $2 million J.R.O.T.C. budget heard about the withdrawal. In Man- professional attire. One celebrant, Far-
to Urban Green, an after-school program hattan, as thousands thronged the city sala LaRue, 72, speculated on the somber
that promotes environmental leadership streets with Commissioner Kelly, only hues.
for youth by creating organic gardens in a few tuned in radios or checked news “This is an issue that affected us all, on
vacant lots. Klein’s office issued a memo sites on the Internet. “I’ve just gotten a daily basis, for seven years,” she said,
yesterday acknowledging the effort. overwhelmed by all the bad news, and pausing from a hopscotch game she was
“Our office feels that the J.R.O.T.C. bud- I’m tired of learning that so much of what playing with her 7-year-old neighbor. “Not
were told was lies,” Linda Negrobi, 42, just the anti-war people, not just young
get might best be redirected to what we
told The New York Times in Washington people, not even just Democrats,” she
might call Victory Gardens, in celebration
Square Park, which was full of revelers. said. “All of America is here today. I think
heraldpost of a new direction for our country and for
“At some point or other, I just stopped it’s wonderful.”
J.R.O.T.C. members-turned-gardeners, planting eggplant for the fall semester. our nation’s youth.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIALS/LETTERS/OP-ED SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A13

Lobbyists Are Citizens Too


You won’t read many stories critical of the a frenzy that enriched hundreds.
recently-passed “Ban on Lobbying” bill, H.R. Lobbyists were also successful in prevent-
27865, whether in this newspaper or any oth- ing Congress from taking steps to help fami-
Founded in 2009 T. VEBLEN, writer and researcher LEN G. WILKINS, writer and researcher WILFRED SASSOON, writer and researcher
JUDE SHINBIN, writer and researcher CHARLES HOCHMANKS, writer and researcher M.M. BETHUNE, writer and researcher er media outlet. Lobbyists have been treated lies keep their homes despite an inability to
Each of the people J.K. MALONE, writer and researcher CARL SCARPA, writer and researcher JASON BREMARSA, writer and researcher as pariahs by the press, by both candidates repay their mortgages — which would have
represented by the names MARCUS S. DRIGGS, writer and researcher E. LUDENDORFF, writer and researcher B. VANNEVAR, writer and researcher
FRANK LARIMORE, writer and researcher S. ALLENDE, writer and researcher ELIZABETH FRY, writer and researcher
in the latest elections, and in popular culture. hurt bankers and brokers.
to the right, some of which
you may recognize, was MARION K. HUBBERT, writer and researcher MARY K. RAWLINGS, writer and researcher JAMES BRAID, writer and researcher They have been called “the root of the prob-
instrumental in conceiving, SAMUEL FIELDEN, writer and researcher TREVOR LENPAG, writer and researcher LOUIS BECK, writer and researcher lem” in Washington, and much worse. The
creating, distributing, and F. NANSEN, writer and researcher W. WILBERFORCE, writer and researcher JOHN LEVERETT, writer and researcher
otherwise manifesting this HELEN PREJEAN, writer and researcher JOSEPH BRISTELLO, writer and researcher CARLTON DONALLY, writer and researcher newly proposed ban on capital punishment
special edition of The New F. WUNDERLICH, writer and researcher ROBERT OWEN, writer and researcher BARRY GLOAD, writer and researcher even has a temporary exemption clause —
EMIL LEDERER, writer and researcher DIEGO TAVERA, writer and researcher AMAL MAAMLAJI, writer and researcher
York Times.
J. FINISTERRA, writer and researcher WILLIAM PETTY, writer and researcher MEDE SIVRAC, writer and researcher
for lobbyists!
BART GARZON, writer and researcher SYBIL LUDINGTON, writer and researcher ED SHARSNEK, writer and researcher As a lobbyist I vehemently object to this
treatment.
Let me remind you of something. We are
Thomas J. Friedman people. We are citizens. All U.S. citizens are
guaranteed the right to petition the govern-

The End of the Experts?


ment for redress of grievances; nowhere in
our founding documents does it say those
citizens can’t be well paid to do so.
The sudden outbreak of peace in Iraq But wait, it gets worse. Having expressed how acceptable We have worked closely with most politi-
has made me realize, among other things, it was to commit Hitler’s signature crime, I then applaud- cians — including both Barack Obama and
one incontestable fact: I have no business ed the invasion of Iraq as an “audacious roll of the dice.” John McCain. What lobbyists do is figure out
holding a pen, at least with intent to write. It should have occurred to me that this gamble would be how to sway politicians to vote on legislation
I know, you’re thinking I’m going too unspeakably painful for an untold number of Iraqis who had in a way that favors the interest they repre-
far. I haven’t always been wrong about ev- done nothing to us — in other words, any of them. sent. They educate and inform members of
erything. I recently made some sense on Soon, when it became obvious that my pipe dreams for Congress on issues that will come before But we lobbyists would be more than will-
global warming and what we needed to do a peaceful and democratic subject nation were just that, I them for a vote. Much of the information pro- ing to work for whomsoever could afford us.
about it, for instance. vided to elected officials by lobbyists cannot That is why Congress needs to grant first-
decided to say it was too soon to tell how things would turn
But to have been so completely and fundamentally wrong be found in any library or newspaper, nor in time homeowners, indigenous peoples, the
out in Iraq, but that we would definitely know in six months
about so huge a disaster as what we have done to Iraq — any way whatsoever… except from the lob- urban poor, recent immigrants, working-class
to a year. I said this pretty much every six months for five
and ourselves — is outrageous enough to prove that people byists themselves. This is what makes us in- families, and other embattled groups enough
years. And The Times just kept giving me more and more
like me have no business posing as wise men, and, more dispensable. funding to compete for our services against
column-inches.
importantly, that The New York Times has no business con- It is indeed true that our services are only those with opposite interests.
I’m not trying to beat myself up here. I’ve done that plenty
tinuing to provide me with a national platform. available to those who can afford them, and We lobbyists have been willing to comply
already, believe me — and my wife has done the rest! But I it’s true that on any issue, both sides can’t with the rules and laws that Congress adopts.
In any case, I have made a decision: as of today, I will no
have one question: why are newspapers like The New York always afford the same things. But that’s ex- For example, the Fair Elections Now Act
longer write in this or any other newspaper. I will immedi-
Times letting people like me make fools of themselves, mis- actly where the problem lies. The problem (S.1285), which mandated that candidates
ately desist from writing any more books about how it’s time
lead the American people, and, worst of all, give their wives isn’t lobbyists, it’s a lack of sufficient money for Senate run on public funding only, made
for everyone to climb on board the globalization high-speed
a lifetime of ammunition? in Washington. our role nearly irrelevant in those races. We
monorail to the future. I will keep my opinions to myself.
To err is human, but to print, reprint, and re-reprint er- For example, the top five spenders among fought against that legislation with all the in-
(My wife suggested that I try not to even form opinions, but
I think she might have another agenda.) ror-mad humans like me is a criminally moronic editorial mortgage bankers and brokers invested more fluence we had, but we lost, and we accepted
Baffled? I don’t blame you. So I’ll cite some facts to sup- policy. than $31 million on lobbying and campaign our loss. We did not attempt a coup.
port my decision — a practice, I must admit, I have too sel- Nor, of course, is it only me. Just consider who populates contributions during the past election cycle. If Congress passes the “Ban on Lobbying”
dom followed. the opinion pages of America’s top newspapers. Bill Kristol, With the help of us lobbyists, the financial bill, we will likewise comply with it, though
Let’s start with the invasion itself. I was pretty much all who was actually hired by The Times long after being proven services industry successfully stopped the not without a fight. Because the “Ban on
for it. Mind you, I was not one of the pundits, reporters, or wrong on Iraq. Charles Krauthammer. Robert Novak. Mona government from regulating the frenzy of bor- Lobbying” bill is not only unfair, it is wrong-
public figures who said that Saddam Hussein was a threat Charen. Fred Barnes. The list goes on and on of officially- rowing and buying during the housing boom, headed.
to the United States. I knew better — but I said it didn’t mat- approved wise men (and a woman or two) who never once
ter! doubted that Iraq had vast stockpiles of W.M.D.s. And that’s
Back in February of 2003, I wrote in this space: “Saddam just in newspapers.
does not threaten us today. He can be deterred. Taking him We were all wrong again and again — and the conse-
out is a war of choice — but it’s a legitimate choice.” In oth- quences were devastating. Can anyone tell me why any of
er words, we should invade a sovereign state and replace us should ever be asked, let alone paid, for our opinions
its government in order to remake the world more to our ever again? Or, for that matter, why Richard Perle or Paul
liking. Wolfowitz should be allowed behind any sort of desk what-
Now the simple fact is, an unprovoked attack on a sover- soever as long as they live?
eign state is a war crime, even when linked to grand ideas of Peace in Iraq will undoubtedly have many far-reaching
the future of mankind. In fact, that’s exactly what Hitler did, consequences. As promised, I’m not going to speculate pub-
for exactly the same reasons. The Nuremburg War Crimes licly about what they might be.
Tribunal called it the “the supreme international crime, dif- Except one. As of today, I’m putting down my pen, to take
fering only from other war crimes in that it contains within up a screwdriver. I am going to retrain as an engineer and
itself the accumulated evil of the whole.” spend the rest of my life working to build non-carbon-based
What was I thinking? And more importantly, why didn’t energy technologies. And I’m going to spend a lot of time
anyone stop me? washing my hands.

We Apologize
The momentous occasion of the end of the war in Iraq on the Iraq war have consistently excluded the views of
also marks a time for reflection at The Times. As many of people with a track record of being right. Conversely, in
our readers have pointed out for years, this newspaper January 2008, we boosted Bill Kristol’s already consider-
played no small part in making the case for the war in the able national platform by offering him a regular column. It
first place, and in supporting the costly and deadly U.S. oc- is hard to say why.
cupation of Iraq for five years — long after public opinion
had turned against it.
As early as 1997, Kristol had penned a Weekly Standard
cover story, “Saddam Must Go,” in which he and contrib-
A Baboon Study Remembered
We have in the past acknowledged botched reporting. In uting editor Robert Kagan called for war against Iraq: “We While thinking about the recent changes Until very recently, we in this country
May 2006, we published an editors’ note acknowledging no know it seems unthinkable to propose another ground at- in this country, I recalled an article by Rob- couldn’t imagine life without the aggressive
fewer than nine articles that uncritically repeated errone- tack to take Baghdad. But it’s time to start thinking the un- ert M. Sapolsky (in Foreign Affairs, January baboons who, by hook and by crook (mostly
ous claims about W.M.D.s by anonymous officials. thinkable.” They argued that Saddam Hussein had humili- 2006), who lived for a while among a troop of by crook), were dominating our politics. But
Those admissions, we realize, didn’t go nearly far enough. ated the United States by expelling U.S. officials from U.N. baboons in the wild, and witnessed a remark- then one day, those baboons ate out of the
Notably, we failed to single out the instrumental role that able transformation. garbage dump of a deeply mad foreign policy,
weapons inspection teams. The editorial cited unspecified
Times reporter Judith Miller played in bringing unfounded Forest Troop was initially composed of and quickly killed themselves off.
sources about Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons capa-
W.M.D. allegations to a national audience. a regular mixture of baboons: gentle ones, We are not baboons, of course. For one
bilities, and concluded with this dark warning: “If you don’t
Miller’s prominent stories hyping purported Iraqi weap- mean ones, and a few in-between. One day, thing, no microbes killed off our jerks; rather,
like this option, we’ve got another one for you: continue
ons go back to 1998, and were full of dramatic but unveri- a nearby hotel expanded its garbage dump, we nicer folks did it. For another, the resource-
along the present course and get ready for the day when
fied claims and unreliable sources. “All of Iraq is one large and another troop of baboons claimed the hunting adventures of our own hostile males
storage facility” for W.M.D.s, she credulously quoted one Saddam has biological and chemical weapons at the tips of
dump as territory and primary food source. didn’t result in just a few dinged-up fat guys,
source (September 8, 2002). Miller systematically played missiles aimed at Israel and at American forces in the Gulf.
Forest Troop’s meaner males (let’s call them but rather one million dead and four and a
down skepticism and conflicting evidence, both of which That day may not be far off.” Clique W) decided they would raid this excit- half million refugees.
were readily available to any reporter. In so doing Miller lent Why did we decide to reward Kristol for having been ut- ing new resource, even if that meant beating Another key difference between us and For-
crucial support to the Bush administration’s agenda. It took terly — and lethally — wrong on Iraq? We can’t say for sure, up a number of the newly obese males from est Troop may be that in our case, it wasn’t
Miller’s involvement in the vengeful leak of a C.I.A. officer’s but as of yesterday Mr. Kristol has been terminated as a col- the garbage dump troop. enough to rid ourselves of some of the creep
name before we finally let her go — with a hefty severance umnist at The Times. In the same spirit, we also welcome After feasting on the other troop’s half- baboons at the top. A lot of the supposedly
package. Thomas Friedman’s resignation. rotten hamburgers for a while, Clique W got gentler ones voted for war as well. Rather,
Even after this episode, we continued publishing articles Beginning today, you will see a giant overhaul of our pa- what was coming to them and died of food- right after the elections, and for many months
based on claims by anonymous officials advancing unveri- per, from the front page to this page, as, belatedly shoul- borne tuberculosis. All that remained in For- after, we had to keep pushing with all our
fied claims — this time, against Iran. dering our responsibilities as the newspaper of record, we est Troop were females and nice males. And might to make sure that everyone, at all lev-
As for our opinion pages, what we passed off as “debates” make a practice of hiring writers who get it right. even today, at fifteen years after all the origi- els of power, understood that America would
nal docile males died of old age, Forest Troop now be a culture of peace and generosity.
remains a gentle culture, much more welcom- Fortunately, that’s just what we did. And

Hope for Iraqi Refugees? ing to new members, with a lot less fighting
and a lot more cooperation, and a lot more
playing with each other’s hair, even among
though human nature hasn’t changed, nor
the nature of politics, we’ve made our desires
so clear that there is now no more room in
One of the many terrible consequences of the Iraq war creating it. The number adult males. And new members quickly learn Forest Troop U.S.A. for the garbage adventur-
has been the displacement of millions of Iraqis since the of Iraqis so far granted that things are different in Forest Troop. ing that dominated our last thirty years.
Iraq War began in March 2003. According to the most recent asylum in the U.S. is

Letters to the Editor


statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for still less than that ac-
Refugees, more than two million Iraqis have fled to neigh- cepted by Sodertalje,
boring Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, as well as Austra- a village in Sweden, as
lia and Europe, and another 2.5 million or more have been reported recently in
displaced within the country, most of them between 2006 the Washington Post. To the Editor: has been rising, and the average U.S. lifespan
and 2008. A recent program ini- Re “Viva Free Trade with Cuba!” Page A6, declining, the lifting of the Cuba embargo
These numbers are staggering. If a similar proportion of tiated by the American July 2, 2009. provides an invaluable opportunity to part-
the U.S. population were displaced, that would mean 30 mil- Embassy in Baghdad In addition to the benefits from ending the ner with the world expert on training doctors
lion refugee Americans. offers up to 5,000 U.S. embargo on Cuba listed by your reporter in inexpensive, preventative treatments for
The Iraqi refugee crisis is the worst in the history of the visas per year to Iraqi (family visits for some of us, fabulous cigars common illnesses. Cuba will be the perfect
Middle East. The number of refugees surpasses the num- translators and other for all of us, and affordable vacations that in- partner for training the doctors who will rev-
ber of Palestinians displaced in 1948 by a factor of at least occupation collabora- clude the rental of vintage red Thunderbird olutionize health care in this country.
four. And while in 1948 the international community and the tors. But high-ranking convertibles), there is one more that went un- Meredith Kohr
United Nations established entities to provide refugees with U.S. officials do not mentioned: world-class public health medical Miami, Fla., July 3, 2009
the bare minimum of education and aid, the response to the believe that this allow- RICHARD SORGE schools. ∎
Iraqi refugee problem has been seriously inadequate on all ance can cover even In contrast to the United States, where stu- To the Editor:
levels. Many women have been forced into prostitution, and direct employees of the American Embassy itself, let alone dents have been learning what the biotech, Here at the nursing home we’ve all been
many children have no educational opportunities. of other occupation entities such as Halliburton, Bechtel, medical engineering, and pharmaceutical glued to the TV set watching the withdrawal
Among the displaced are most of the doctors, teachers, and the U.S. Armed Forces. companies want them to learn, Cuba’s medi- from Iraq. For as long as I remember, in all
nurses, and educated professionals who formed the basic Now that the war is over, no one can afford to neglect Iraqi cal schools will be a natural destination for my 93 years, war has been all around me.
fabric of Iraqi society and are an integral building block of refugees, and a serious and comprehensive plan to resettle the new crop of medical students who will be My grandfather fell as a Rough Rider during
any reconstruction effort. Iraq’s recovery, which will take a them must be a priority for the new administration. The the foot soldiers of our country’s shift to uni- the Spanish-American War, my mother and
few decades at best, will be impossible without the return Evangelicals’ generosity is terrific (see “Evangelical Church- versal health care. father served in World War I (my mother
of these citizens. es Announce Policy of Sanctuary for Iraqi Refugees,” Page Your readers may remember that in 1998, as a nurse). And I grew up a military brat,
The Bush administration ignored this disaster, as to ac- A7), but what is really needed is a major policy change. following the public health emergencies occa- moving from base to base. When I met him,
knowledge it would have been an admission of its role in sioned by severe hurricanes, Fidel Castro of- my second husband was the most active
fered free medical education for low-income American Legion Post director you’d ever
students from anywhere in the Americas, in- hope to meet!
cluding the United States. Since then, the Lat- So I feel slightly lost in this new world
From the Editors in American School of Medicine has become
the world’s largest medical school and has
of peace. But I’m glad to leave behind the
military lingo, uniforms, and sacrafices. Can
graduated tens of thousands of students. I get used to it? Can I really attend my great-
Two years ago, who would have dared to image we’d Yet we’ve done all that. Although we demanded change
At a time when the mortality rate in the U.S. grandson’s graduation without worrying if I’ll
elect, as President of the United States, an African-American of Barack Obama, we understood that only we could bring
see him live to 24? Should I go ahead and tell
community organizer? about that change. And that’s why it happened.
my niece that even though I’m not sure I fully
Six months ago, who would have predicted we’d enact Of course even with all these victories, we can’t let up GIVE FEEDBACK ONLINE approve, that if I ask, she can tell?
universal health care, reform our education system, estab- for a second, and we can’t get tired. But if there’s one thing
Visit our website to comment on any article I suppose I’ll adjust to this strange new
lish a maximum wage and “true cost” tax, and start taking we’ve learned in the past two years, it’s that the most rest-
in this newspaper, or to write a new one. environment.
steps to make our cities more livable — or that we’d so ful, energizing thing we can do is fight for a better world.
nytimes-se.com Ruth Principe
swiftly end the war in Iraq, and try for treason the leaders See the fine print on page A2 for a few ways to do that.
Summit, N.J., July 2, 2009
who took us there?
A14 THE NEW YORK TIMES SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

KBR

What is KBR?

We’re a leading engineering, construction and services company, and we work

with governments to quickly and efficiently enact policy.

For the past ten years, we've supported military operations in pursuit of precious

resources in Iraq.

We've fed, housed, and transported soldiers. We've constructed, operated, and

maintained military bases. We've rebuilt pipelines to get oil to American cars in

record time.

So why are we celebrating the outbreak of peace?

We're a solutions company, and we do what needs to be done.

Today, as government policy changes, KBR's mandate changes with it. Planning

municipal roads and power grids. Building hospitals, schools, and municipal

buildings. Improving sanitation. Training teachers, social workers, and civil ser-

vice employees. It's a new world, with a lot to get used to — but after all, we're a

solutions company.

Discover the new KBR.

If you make it law, we'll make it work.

S-ar putea să vă placă și