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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 THE NEW YORK TIMES SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A3

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 at Exxon are committed to meeting


“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

the new Congressional guidelines for


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-

socially, economically, & environmentally


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

responsible energy.
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 That’s why


“Special Interests” Advertising portunities” that “meet advertis- violent deaths since the 2003
The Times has in the past used
the term “special interests” to de-
scribe unions, environmentalists
The Times acknowledges that
accepting money from the very
corporations whose activities
ers’ demands.” As the effect of
automobiles on the global climate
crisis becomes evident, The
invasion vary from 100,000 to
well over one million. The Times
apologizes for consistently using
we applaud the
and even whole ethnic groups, we are responsible for reporting Times acknowledges it made a only the low end of this spectrum

end of the war


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.
We have typically not, however,
change, for example, or from
weapons manufacturers while
in the past two years. Develop-
ments in the automobile industry
Media Monopoly
The Times apologizes for under- The invasion of
in Iraq.
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

Iraq was supposed to mean


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
Channel. We now recognize this

access to oil without the costly interfer-


subscriptions. The other involves 31, 2001, the New York Times
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,
which has made problems seem
insurmountable; and for belittling
a report on the end of publicly
traded NYT stock.
the Times begins part two of the
series with obituaries of the civil-
the publishing industry. Over the
next two months, The Times will
voluntarily trust-bust itself, thus
ence of national sovereignty, and lower prices
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
industry, and readers can look
Times featured an entire section
on automobiles. Our senior vice
hundred civilians, will be very
briefly memorialized each day, Errors and Comments:
at the pump for you and your family. Projections
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
and reality differed, but now we've learned:
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.

PEACE can also be lucrative.


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


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THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

International
A4 A5

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 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
After Withdrawal Peace Spreads United Nations Unanimously Passes Weapons Ban From Page A1
level rise has been overblown.
and representatives of the former
“Coalition of the Willing” in Bagh-
were kept, and estimates from dif-
ferent sources conflict wildly.)

to Conflict Zones Worldwide By HELEN PREJEAN


And one thing I’m sure of, is that
nationalizing private industry is
dad this afternoon for the ground-
breaking of a monument to the last
to die during the allies’ occupation
“Ahmed’s life coincided with the
absolute worst episode in the his-
just another name for theft.”
NEW YORK – A spontaneous “The private oil interests have of Iraq.
Leaders Worldwide Scramble to Follow American Lead celebration erupted in the U.N. been involved in theft for de- An enormous granite obelisk to An American repre-
General Assembly after represen- cades,” responded Deputy Un- the Iraqi dead, 300 feet high, will
tatives of 192 member states unan- der Secretary of the E.P.A. Gavin stand in Firdos Square, where co- sentative tells the
By F. NANSEN Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Now that the U.S. is facing its
imously ratified the Comprehen- Newsom. “They’ve stolen our air, alition troops famously attempted Iraqis that some
sive Arms Ban Treaty. The treaty our oceans, our health, and our to topple a 40-foot-tall statue of
In the wake of the U.S. withdraw- responsibilities in Iraq, what if
outlaws possession, production land. They’ve proven they can’t Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein in Americans tried, to
al from Iraq and Afghanistan, gov- Americans start doing that here in
ernment leaders and warlords in the Congo? We’d better clean up
and trade of military equipment run their business without mas- April 2003. A 15-foot-high obelisk polite applause.
ranging from small arms to nucle- sive theft.” will stand nearby, honoring the
conflict zones worldwide seemed our act.”
ar warheads. “If we’re going to give corpora- coalition casualties.
to be falling over themselves to In Sri Lanka, Somalia, Columbia, tions the same rights as people,”
“This is watershed moment in The difference in size between tory of the Middle East,” Mr. Maliki
pledge peace. the Kashmir, Chad, and elsewhere,
the security of people and the the two obelisks will represent said of the boy, who was born just
The President of Sudan declared fighters on all sides of the con-
security of the planet itself,” said the different numbers of casual- after the Iraq War started. “May
an end to hostilities in Darfur. “We flicts there pledged to take the U.S.
U.S. President Barack Obama. ‘They’ve stolen our ties. For the Iraqi dead, the most his life and death represent the
are modern, or at least we live in a withdrawal to heart. “We cannot
modern world, near modern coun- continue this way,” said one tribal
“With weapons off the table, we air, our oceans, our conservative estimate of 93,067 importance of never again see-
can finally focus on the world’s was chosen to avoid the coalition ing such catastrophe rain on our
tries like the U.S. And like the U.S., leader in Somalia, who wished to
real threats: global poverty, pollu- health, and our land. monument being absurdly small heads, whether for false pretences
we understand that blood cannot remain anonymous. “The time has
be the path to benefit, whereas come to learn foreign policy just
tion, and climate change.” They’ve proven they or the Iraqi monument prohibi- or even real ones.”
The Comprehensive Arms Ban tively large. “I stand before you as a repre-
peace can be.” like the Americans.”
Treaty is an initiative of the U.N.’s
Telstar Logistics
can’t run their busi- On the side of the allies, the sentative of the American people
In the Congo, where 45,000 peo- In Belgium, Walloons and Flems 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.
ple continue to die every month, promised to cooperate. “We’ve
new Global Security Protocol, ness without massive last to die was Corporal William to tell you that some of us tried,”
which identifies environmental Whitman, age 28, of Quinnesec, Mr. Ritter told an audience of main-
dwarfing the toll in Darfur, reac- been idiots, like pinheads from
sustainability as its prime direc-
labor-intensive task of local distri- percent of them women and chil- televised by members of the now 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.
tions were more muted. “If the outer space,” said Filip Dewinter, bution. dren. A survey conducted last May defunct Olympic Games Commit- Fusce magna sem, gravida in, feugiat ac, molestie eget, wisi. Vivamus urna.
tive. wane, he took up an exposed posi- “We may have failed to stop this in
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- said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, tion while on a foot patrol and was time, but at least we did try. It only
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 “then we need to hold them ac- struck by a sniper’s bullet. He died remains for us, the heirs of our vic-
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- countable like people. When
livable,” said Secretary-General instantly, the 4,314th American ca- tims’ legacy, to have the courage
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 parents abuse their children, the
Ban Ki-moon. “The tens of trillions sualty of the war. In retaliation, a and the character to make sure it
countries that may use them for production, the C.A.B.T. includes things in the name of archaic na- government takes over. When oil U.S. attack helicopter fired rockets
of dollars freed by disarmament never happens again.”
external aggression or internal op- a buyback program to repossess tional boundaries are not helping companies abuse the planet, the into a nearby apartment building, Ritter’s statements were met
makes it easier to focus on the big-
pression, went largely unheeded. most of the 640 million small arms anyone. government needs to take over killing the sniper and six Iraqi civil- with polite applause.
picture issues.”
In one contravention of the code, already in circulation, and melt too.”
The weapons ban includes ex- Ailing leader Kim Jong Il made ians. Moments later, U.S. soldiers
Europe did not cease trade with them down in small mobile smelt- Arco C.E.O. Rex W. Tillerson was
tensive subsidiies for the retool- a rare appearance to comment. received word that they were to
the United States and Britain de- ers which will recycle the steel philosophical. “We fought this ONLINE EXCLUSIVE TIMES
ing of arms manufacturers. Hours “Finally, we have rid ourselves cease fire immediately and pre-
spite their unprovoked invasion of into agricultural tools and equip- long and hard. We did everything
after the agreement was reached, pare to return home. 3D INTERACTIVE MODEL
of the Olympics. Our best ath- we could do. But do we want more
German weapons giant Heckler & Iraq in 2003. ment to be distributed locally. Mr. Al-Maliki commemorated To explore the interactive, full-
letes will do useful and strenuous blood in the streets? Or do we
Koch announced its first contract In Britain, massive public As for the 20,350 nuclear war- Ahmed Yahya, a 5-year-old boy color, virtual monument in a
things. And we are very pleased to want to move on?”
to take advantage of the incen- protests, including a sit-in that heads known to exist, they will “You can’t fight the street,” said who was inside the building digital 3D architectural rendering,
blocked exit from the British Par- be destroyed using monitoring no longer need bombs to protect
tive packages by refitting its P11 Mr. Newsom. “The people are go- the sniper had fired from. Res- featuring zooming and panning
liament for two weeks, convinced procedures developed under the ourselves from Americans with cue workers dug him out of the
assault pistol factory to produce ing to do what the people are go- capabilities, see: MIKE ERNST/THE NEW YORK TIMES
the government to reverse course Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. more bombs. We can now focus on ing to do. And the oil companies rubble from the rocket blast. The
an improved “life straw,” an indi- 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.
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- are just going to have live with it.” boy survived overnight but suc-
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-
er the straws, and they will train
One of the primary focuses of
the C.A.B.T. is small arms, which
head simultaneously with that of
the U.S. The disarmament will take
applauded. The people of North
Korea will enjoy this challenging,
Court Indicts A friend of Mr. Bush, speak-
ing on condition of anonymity, With War Over,
FRED WOLFF former child soldiers to handle the kill one person every minute, 75 place in a ceremony organized and bright future immensely.”
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

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


From Page A1
was quietly pressing Secretary of
State Naomi Klein to bring the U.S. “Now that the war’s over, we’re
By BART GARZON going to get to go back to devel-
under the court’s jurisdiction. In
By F. WUNDERLICH 2002, then-Secretary of Defense oping exciting new weapon sys-
to return to Baghdad. He is one WASHINGTON (AP) — George
Donald Rumsfeld rejected the tems, instead of just trotting out
of only 2000 or so Iraqis to have W. Bush, the 43rd President of the
JORDAN — With the news that I.C.C.’s jurisdiction, saying it was the ones that are proven to work,”
made it to the U.S. “Two of my United States, was indicted Mon-
U.S. forces were withdrawing from “unaccountable to the American said a visibly excited Robert Ste-
Air Force colleagues were assas- day on charges of high treason. The vens, Lockheed C.E.O., before a
Iraq, nearly five million Iraqi refu- sinated. I spent 14 months and charges, filed by Attorney General people.”
gees learned that the nightmare Mr. Bush maintained his charac- reporter informed him of the Sen-
all my savings in Syria. Now, I am Russ Feingold late in the evening, ate moratorium on new weapons
that started in 2003 was over. barely surviving.” Despite exten- allege that Mr. Bush, knowing full teristically jovial manner through-
However, most are convinced that out the proceedings. “I could be ex- systems development.
sive experience as a technician for well that Iraq possessed no weap- “Oh,” said Stevens, looking
going back to a pre-sanctions or ons of mass destruction, falsified ecuted, but what good would that
the Iraqi Air Force, Saeed has been
even pre-war Iraq is a mere pipe- information in order to pursue do anybody? Especially me. I think
dream. unable to find a job paying more
the disastrous Iraq War. (See “U.S. the nation would rather I spend a
“All Iraqis wanted the war to than minimum wage. He is now
Knew No W.M.D.s in Iraq,” on Page good long while considering what A general learns
dreaming of going back and seeing
be over, but the Iraq that existed A1.) happened — not only the tragic his difficult history
before has disappeared from the his wife and two children. “I have end of hundreds of thousands
Federal District Judge Michael lessons late.
face of the earth, and no one has no idea what will happen now, but Ratner denied Mr. Bush’s request GAVIN BELLOWS/BOSTON GLOBE of lives, but the end of American
any idea how living in the new one for the first time in many years, I to represent himself. Ratner is the The former President appeared perturbed by his own charges against him. capitalism, that I liked, I sincerely
am hopeful.” former president of the Center for liked,” Mr. Bush said. (See also “An
When Timur Barzani, 47, heard Exclusive Interview With George flushed, and quickly excused him-
Constitutional Rights.
For two million the news, he thought of his chil- High treason is usually defined
million Iraqis, for essentially in- Jesus Christ. A new conversation. lapse that resulted has been com- W. Bush,” on Page A9.) self.
sane ends,” said Vincent Bugliosi, And I’ve been very blessed to have pletely devastating to our nation General David Petraeus had
exiles, tempered dren. “Life in Damascus is hard, 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.
The treason charge does not
a distinctly ashen look as he at-
and my wife and I have had to send address compensation for the
hope of return to a our sons to work. My sons now say
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 situation. “I’ve been trying to make
shattered land. they will be too embarrassed to go the Iraq War amounted to a war stunned reporters. that I am requesting that I be in-
killed in the war. It is expected
sense of all this, and I have to say
that surviving family members of
to school, they think they are too 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
old to learn the ABCs. But I think
will feel,” said Malik Abdul-Razzaq,
in Najaf we will find many children
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.
a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee now liv- 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
ing in Amman, Jordan. Abdul-Raz-
in the same situation, and they will its own risks. for Murder. that it was wrong to lead our na- Some analysts suggest that British made exactly the same
not be embarrassed,” Barzani ex- Although the treason indict- tion to war under false pretenses. Mr. Bush’s self-indictment is part mistakes we did,” Petraeus noted.
zaq left Baghdad, where he had
plained. 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
lived all his life, in early 2006, after Americans favor life in prison
being threatened by an “unknown Until the U.S. withdrawal, Iraqi observers, what was completely and I see now that it is only fitting penalty. Although treason carries 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-
armed group” due to his relation- refugees usually had only two op-
overthrow its government; spying brought it. Mr. Bush’s self-accusation Bush and his team of attorneys erations of tyranny.’ Like us, they
ship with a human rights organiza- tions. Either they could face the 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
tion. humiliation of living as refugees secret services for a hostile and Prison
“Politically what will happen? without rights or hope for a bet- 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
The country is destroyed, the mi- ter future, or they could face likely 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-
litias are everywhere,” said Abdul- Penalty
death if they returned to their “In this case, high treason has
Razzaq, whose feelings of bewil- himself.” campaign to sell the war to the spokesperson for AfterDowning- ish Prime Minister warned against
shattered country. The common been interpreted to include pursu-
derment were a common theme In a press conference held American people,” and describes Street.org, one of the main groups Charges leaving Iraq on the grounds that
feeling among Iraqi refugees today ing an illegal and devastating war 3%
among refugees. close to midnight yesterday at how he and his team attempted that had been pursuing Mr. Bush’s Dropped there would be civil war.”
is of hope for their country, for 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 the 4.7 million people that are their friends and relatives, and for 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.”
estimated to have been uprooted 4,000 Americans and perhaps a 2%
their lives. Christian faith as the catalyst for appear certain, whereas in fact we his own conviction is so unusual it Service
since 2003, half of them remain
They know that the social fabric this unprecedented action. “Last knew there wasn’t one at all.” could move some jurors, or even A number of mothers contributed
in the country, but far from their
RASHID HAMASHANI/REUTERS of the county has been destroyed 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.
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.

Rice: Troops Never Faced Annihilation Risk War Brides (and Husbands) Find
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
and struggling to meet basic
must depend on the black market.
Amira al-Fadl, 31, now living
locked in their neighborhood,
away from my sisters.” Al-Fadl is
tive’s couch, but I’m not sure what
I have to go back to.”
don’t think I’d be able to find my
friends. As promising as people
to choose our own future.” Their Place in a New Iraq
From Page A1
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 By LEN G. WILKINS Ibrahim Khan, when he was hired
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 believes that it was former Presi- to work as her translator during
BASRA — Following service in
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. 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.
Blaine returned to Iraq to start a
Times Reporter to Embed with Peace Groups What the Future Holds for Afghanistan
more,” said Ms. Rice. “We are re- 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
By EMIL LEDERER Afghani leaders are hopeful that growth of the postwar economy in
By DARLA ZIMBALIST whom the protests were aimed. Against the War, who stage simu- ways have. We would never have lot of sexism. But until the inva-
future powerful states will finally Iraq has proven so tempting that
Veteran Times reporter John lated military operations in Ameri- put you in such obvious harm’s dozens of members of the U.S. sion, this was a modern, secular
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- way.” military chose to remain in Iraq. society.”
embedded reporters lose per- truth of this war visible”; United previous imperial powers, in-
years of service at the paper he Thus a region long associated Sergeant Rahim Rafiqi has also
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 benefited from the new construc-
U.S. and NATO withdrawal, and de- the U.S. Mikhail Gorbachev, in a with its citizens fleeing abroad has
into high-tension situations of that the Times did not support, of 1400 peace groups nationwide;
dangerous conflict, and surround- never saw a fare increase or a rent and CODEPINK, a group singled
tails a rebuilding effort on a scale recently-published book on the A sheepish former seen unprecedented volumes of tion, opening an insurance agency
not seen since World War Two. immigration. that caters to the construction
ed by a corps of strong personali- increase or a utility rate increase out by former President Bush as
Core to the plan is the presence Nick Tucker
collapse of the Soviet Union, has secretary expresses Seven years ago, Ms. Blaine industry. Prior to joining the mili-
ties devoted to a single objective, that it did not endorse, never saw revealed that he warned President
journalists almost inevitably write it take the side of labor in a strike
of the U.N. peacekeeping and hu- was toppled by U.S.-backed Muja- George W. Bush against attempting respect and concern had no experience with safety tary, Mr. Rafiqi had worked at his
father’s small insurance company.
subjectively and sympathetically or lockout, or advocate a raise for To right a longstanding
manitarian forces in order to guar- hedeen in 1992. “An abundance of to occupy Afghanistan. Mr. Bush’s for the troops. engineering or building codes but
“I was able to get backing for what
of situations that are best ad- underpaid workers.” When anti- antee the quality of life of all citi- research has shown that individu- response: “Hey, Gorby, lighten up. was sent to Basra to assist in the
bias, a focus on those zens through assurances of peace, als worldwide who are literate are The Taliban and the Mujahedeen rebuilding of the Iraqi infrastruc- some would have seen as a risky
dressed analytically. war protesters are covered, the
a means to earn a living, and basic less likely to address problems may have brought you down, but ture. Today, her private contract- investment, but we were in the
Yet there are other subjects Times has regularly undercounted fighting for change food and health care. “Afghani with non-diplomatic means” the it was we who provided the fund- Ms. Rice also confirmed Secre- ing company is benefiting from a black pretty quickly,” says Mr.
that might be better served by a the numbers and glossed over tary of Defense Scott Ritter’s rev-
warlords and the Taliban use ac- report states, adding that this is ing. They’re in our pocket and local building boom. Rafiqi.
more sympathetic approach— violent acts by riot police. It has elation that he had provided the
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.” “For the first year of our busi- According to the recent émigrés,
C.I.A. with documentation in the the cultural adjustments that are
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 ness, most of the work was gov-
1990s, when he was a U.N. weap-
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 ernment contracts,” said Blaine, necessary to move from the Unit-
ons inspector, that Iraq lacked
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. biological or nuclear weapons pro- “but after the major infrastructure ed States to Iraq are more than
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 grams. “We were then already far work was done and the Iraqi econ- worth enduring to be a part of the
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 more than 99 percent certain that omy began to rebound, there was new Iraq. “Getting sent to Iraq was
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 Hussein had zero W.M.D.s and that a surge in demand for new hous- the best thing to happen to me,”
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,” Rob 7812/AP if he did, he would not be able to ing.” said Ms. Blaine. “I’m finally living
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. 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.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

National
A6 A7

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009


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

Crumbling Infrastructure Brings Opportunities


despite the election of Barack
Big Boxes Appeal also known as “expanded and
improved Medicare for all,” has
Obama, America is still “safe from
a popular movement demanding
progressive change? “That’s the
liberalism.”
Eviction from moved through Congress, and is
expected to be signed into law
“Safe from liberalism?” chuckled
wild card we’ve got to deal with.
If the public pressure is there,
a Democratic party strategist who
By CHARLES HOCHMANKS
Low-Income shortly. The legislation provides
publicly funded health insurance,
wished to remain anonymous.
“That’s absurd; we won the elec-
it’s true, liberal change might be
achieved. But I’m not banking on
As the $1.6 trillion Infrastructure
Modernization Bill moves through Neighborhoods with a free choice of health care
providers, for every United States
tion!”
But Luntz insisted. “Sure, the
it.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
Congress, a wide swath of public citizen and permanent resident. while agreeing with Luntz on the
Democrats now have more power.
advocacy groups is assuring that After the bill passed, Speaker of obstacles to progressive change,
That’s a fact. But what can they
the focus of rebuilding remains on the House Nancy Pelosi declared, offered a more hopeful take on
proven, sustainable technologies Chains Drain Money: “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-
that can move the country away
from its dependency on fossil fu- H.U.D. Spokesperson the rest of the developed world in nent, or nearly,” he said, referring
ber John F. Kennedy’s inaugural
speech. After urging us to strive to-
granting all our citizens access to to disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack
els. gether to create world peace, and
The American Society of Civil By CARL SCARPA high-quality, comprehensive medi- Abramoff’s declaration that “the
job of all revolutions is to make to eradicate disease and poverty,
Engineers has estimated that $1.6 cal care.” Kennedy concluded his speech:
trillion is needed to bring the na- BENTONVILLE, AR — Wal-Mart, Prior to the bill’s passage, their gains permanent.”
Luntz noted that the trillion dol- ‘All this will not be finished in the
tion’s infrastructure up to the level Costco, Sam’s Club, K-Mart, and the U.S. health care system was
lars of bailout spending was only first one hundred days. Nor will it
enjoyed by other industrialized Target are challenging the Eco- widely regarded to be in a state
the latest example of how the GOP be finished in the first one thou-
nations. nomic Independence Act, passed of severe crisis. Over 46 million
has made the implementation of sand days, nor in the life of this
“The U.S. used to have the most this February, which requires “big Americans have been without
health insurance and another 50 future progressive measures ex- Administration, nor even perhaps
advanced public transportation box” stores to phase out outlets
million have been under-insured. tremely difficult. in our lifetime on this planet. But
system in the world by far,” said in or near low-income neighbor-
Despite spending more money “Bill Clinton entered office with let us begin.’ Now that’s a pro-
Transportation Department head hoods, and help nurture local
per capita on health care than any all kinds of ideas about national gram.”
Earl Blumenauer. “Now, of course, businesses to replace them.
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,
it’s pretty much the worst, at least “We in the big box community
are committed to ensuring our 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-
in the developed world. Our love
investors’ rights, in accordance key health-related categories as made it impossible. He then got ceed in restoring a humane and
affair with the automobile has got
with the U.S. Constitution,” said 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
to stop.”
Wal-Mart C.E.O. Lee Scott. “We will 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
Brice Terra is a spokesperson
definitely fight this with all the re- 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
for Rebuild Sustainably, a group
sources at our disposal, which are, 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
that formed when the funding
by the way, considerable.” 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
bill was initiated, and that now U.S. due to a lack of health insur-
Housing and Urban Develop- 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
counts nearly 400,000 members. ance. Furthermore, nearly one mil-
ment Secretary Rene Oswin 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
The group has helped keep public lion Americans, many who have
vowed to defend the legislation. 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-
pressure on senators to aim high 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.”
in crafting the rebuilding bill. “We 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
must minimize environmental im- year because they have been un- these difficult times, a single-payer
or deductible charges. aimed.” Cigna C.E.O. H. Edward make a difference, Luntz croaked us begin.”
pact with dense yet fully liveable ‘We have nothing able to pay medical bills. In recent Eliminating private insurance Hanway issued a similar state- system should help to ease the fi-
to lose but our chains’ polls, a clear majority of Ameri- companies, including HMOs, and ment: “HMOs have been in busi- nancial strain that people are feel-

Finally, a long-needed
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
move away from the “You know something’s wrong
when the earnings of poor folks
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-
automobile.
A tragic Minneapolis bridge collapse claimed lives, but not as many as an unhealthy national lifestyle.
Dani Bora/World Picture news end up in the pockets of Wal-Mart
shareholders in Manhattan,” said
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
Oswin. “This act has finally put 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-
cities, convert rural suburbs back a stop the flow of money out of grassroots organizing of national myth, which is now thankfully re- in Ohio, said: “I’ll get retraining. inate more than $60 billion worth
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 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
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 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-
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’ 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.
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. 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-
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- 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
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 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
a version of the bill that frees the “We can dig out some of our old streetcar ways by bicyclists.” stores from lower-income neigh- 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
have a lower quality of life than one who walks or Pentagon spokesperson Jackson
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 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
bikes to work and buys food at a farmer’s mar- Burke. “The Founding Fathers un-
fuels. buses are also a good solution, and much less didn’t take very seriously,” said program head neighborhoods with a median 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
ket,” noted Oswin. “Big box stores, malls, and derstood that sunlight is the best
“We don’t want a patch that just expensive,” Mr. Blumenauer noted. Leah Shahum, former Executive Director of the household income under $30,000. 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
peripheral office parks have been a catastrophe disinfectant, which is why they
preserves business as usual,” said In 1922 there were fourteen thousand miles of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. “But bicyclists In the first two-year phase, the 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
for our national happiness.” wrote the receipts and expendi-
Rahm Emanuel, Representative of streetcar track in American cities, according to across the country have shown us it can work.” stores will become wholesalers, also swayed by seeing Michael significant struggle even after this ing increasingly frustrated with my dad wouldn’t have been able the playing field.
The building guidelines, soon to be written into tures clause into the Constitution.”
Illinois, who has been leading the Colleen Burgess, a representative of the Surface The first task will be to enact “complete streets” able to sell only to smaller local 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
legislation, also include prescriptions for solar, businesses at heavily discounted cogent arguments presented in a ers, Democrat of Michigan, who keepers interfering in doctor-pa- lems anymore, since he was cov-
push for sustainable rebuilding in Transportation Board. “Berlin had the most ex- legislation, with safe lanes for bicyclists, bicycle a nation of educational haves and Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution,
wind, and geothermal energy, and grey water prices. The local businesses can 2008 pocket-sized book, “10 Excel- introduced and fought for the tient decisions, and with receiv- ered under her plan. For our fam-
the Senate. “Rather, true conve- tensive network in Europe, but that was smaller parking areas, and bike racks on city buses and have-nots,” said Adolph Reed, which states that Congress must
systems. Details are available on the H.U.D. buy from whichever supplier they lent Reasons for National Health legislation. “But with the support ing denial letters from insurance ily, this bill passed just in time.”
nience must be our top priority.” than 22 American cities. Today, we’ve got next to light rail, so that cyclists can commute longer Jr., Professor of Political Science publish a full accounting of gov-
website. want. By the end of a second eight- 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
“What we’ve realized is that we nothing. But we’ve got to look forward.” distances. at the New School for Social Re- ernment expenditures. The Penta-
year phase, the stores will be com- and Martha Livingston, that was doubt that we will reach our goal.” removed from their medical diag- — a right for everyone. Anything
need to move away from the au- Even more ambitious will be the development search. “Tuition costs are skyrock- gon’s black budget has long been
Air pletely dissolved. given to every member of Con- In order to make the transition noses. The single-payer system we less is barbaric,” said a spokesper-
tomobile,” said Senator Richard National rail of commuter bicycle lending programs in all ma- eting while real incomes have re- controversial for its apparent vio-
“We have nothing to lose but gress. easier for industry workers, H.R. will be implementing under H.R. son for Physicians for a National
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- mained stagnant.” lation of Article I Section 9.
our chains,” said Marlo Lewis of Under the private insurance sys- 676 gives former employees of pri- 676 will be a vast improvement Health Program, an organization
“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- One trend the bill will correct is “We have carefully reviewed all
Big Boxes Out, a citizens’ group tem that has been in place until vate health insurers first priority over the previous, dysfunctional that has advocated for health care
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 now, 30 percent of health insur- the flocking of university gradu- of the programs contained in the
that was instrumental in pushing for the public-sector jobs that will health care model. And it will pay reform since 1987.
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 ance premiums have gone toward ates to jobs paying salaries needed black budget,” said Mr. Burke.
for the Economic Independence need to be created to run the new for itself by eliminating the waste In recent years, a majority of
way of life.” Burgess. “They spider across all of North Ameri- lona, which already have hundreds of stations air travel. administrative costs, including to reimburse debts. “Are schools Some of them we have made
Act, and which is now promoting program. and duplication of the private physicians had grown tired of the
Mr. Blumenauer cited as instru- ca. They need maintenance, and in some cases and thousands of public bicycles in circulation. The first calls for the nationalization of airlines, advertising, profits, and execu- a selection mechanism for Wall public, and we have canceled the
a second act, the Full Economic Many Republicans in Congress health insurance industry.” growing, confusing, and some-
mental to the bill’s passage the expansion, but they’re basically there.” Blumenauer noted that the benefits of expand- and the transition of many airports wholly or in tive salaries. This compares with Street?” asked Professor Howard remainder.” Canceled programs
Independence Act, to eliminate remain opposed to the new plan, When reached, a member of the times disruptive role of the private
widespread public outrage which “We have a passenger railroad system that ed bike use are likely to impact another typically part into transit hubs for rail and bus services. a 3 percent cost for administering insurance companies, with a 2008 Gardner. Some speculate that high include the C.I.A.’s controversial
all chains with more than ten out- arguing that quality care is best Coordinating Committee of the
began in reaction to $10 gasoline the Bulgarians would be ashamed of,” noted rail American problem: that of obesity. “Bicycles are The other, more market-based plan, mandates 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
prices and was quickly channeled advocate James Howard Kunstler. “Restoring also an investment in the infrastructure of the hu- lets from lower-income neighbor- health insurance system to single- enormous profits that has proven and the N.S.A.’s domestic surveil-
the elimination of billions of dollars of federal free markets. Former Speaker of Coalition noted that the momen- supporting a single-payer system.
by groups like Rebuild Sustainably. passenger rail service would put tens of thou- hoods, along a similar ten-year payer is expected to save $350 so dangerous to society. lance program.
man body,” he said. subsidies for airlines. the House Newt Gingrich released tum for a single-payer health care At an American Medical Associa-
“When gas hit $3.50 back in March sands of people to work at all levels, decongest timeline. billion dollars each year, enough Students have responded posi- Asked about the national secu-
In the first plan, the price of travel would re- a statement saying: “Only market system grew after the October tion banquet last night, a sponta-
2008, people drove 11 billion miles airports, and revive central cities. And nothing Zoning 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
less per month than they had the main the same, but there would be far fewer Patricia Kathen, a high school se-
needs to be reinvented — the infrastructure is One key element of the D.O.T.’s plan to get are currently uninsured or under- lower prices. To see the opposite the bailout, the American people when doctors learned of the bill’s classified programs, Burke said,
year before,” said Blumenauer. trips available. In the second, only the relatively insured. Under H.R. 676, the ex- nior in Edgewater, New Jersey. “I
already out there.” people out of their cars will occur solely on pa- trend is to be obtuse and short- saw more clearly than ever that success. A.M.A. President Nancy “Democracies can only function
“When it hit $10, people realized wealthy could afford to fly. panded Medicare for All system 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
Senator Emanuel noted that current airline per. “We need more mixed-use zoning; more sighted.” During the House floor
that the problem wasn’t high gas “We advocate the second plan, of course,” 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-
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. 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
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- 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
always had the imagination and portation head Blumenauer, “it won’t be a catas- 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
and better public education about the health
will to meet challenges.” trophe for most people. An average family can 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.”
BiKe infrastructure benefits of being active,” Mr. Blumenauer said.
“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
best practices of affordable transit
and sustainable planning to devel-
in late 2007. The program’s funding is now on a
par with that of a newly-shrunken Federal Avia-
Urban Development to draw up guidelines that
focus on access, rather than mobility.
Los Angeles. As for business customers who
choose to fly, they will have to pay the true cost
A 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter
in Detroit is just one of many
American Evangelical Churches Announce New Policy of Sanctuary for Iraqi Refugees
tion Administration. “As we rebuild the national infrastructure,” of their habits to society.”
oping nations.” expected to close.
By W. WILBERFORCE withdrawal.

ELLIS ISLAND — In a scripture-laced ad-


The Iraqi Migration “Needless to say, we were shocked and

Progressive
surprised, but pleasantly so,” said António
From November to Now: How progressives really won Washington
dress yesterday afternoon, Reverend Rich Guterres, United Nations High Commis-
Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Af- sioner for Refugees. “The international

Movement Can fairs for the National Association of Evan-


gelicals, announced a sweeping new initia-
community has long been frustrated by
the U.S. government’s unwillingness to
tive to house displaced Iraqi refugees of
Take Credit for
accept a greater portion of refugees from
all faiths in the largest church facilities in this conflict of its own making. We hope
NOVEMBER 4, 2008
the U.S., and among parisiners. The cam- this unprecedented commitment by one
Presidential Election.
New Direction Electrified by the
outcome, activists JANUARY 2009
MARCH 2009
First massive public
MAY-JUNE 2009
Demonstrations,
paign, called “Operation Redemption,”
is expected to kick off a wave of similar
of America’s largest church groups will
speed up the healing process that is des-
programs among other religious denomi-
By Leaders begin organizing demonstrations for organizing lead to perately needed to sustain peace.”
Congressional nations.
online around specific representatives withdrawal from Iraq, more legislative Details of the initiative were outlined by
for infrastructure, “Do not forget to entertain strangers,” Reverend Cizik, who said the Association
policy targets. Over report record number victories. For the
health, and education said Rev. Cizik, citing the Bible verse He- would be committing over $700 million to-
next weeks, advocacy of phone calls on first time in
From Page A1 reform, and for brews 13:2 to a crowd of several hundred, wards the campaign. The organization has
groups report tenfold C.E.O. salary cap decades, U.S. “for by so doing some people have enter-
nationalizing big oil. approaches other asked members to increase the share of
of groups such as Healthcare- increase in member- and other tained angels without knowing it.” Flanked
NOW, United Students Against developed nations income they regularly give as “tithings” to
ship. economic by pastors from some of the nation’s
Sweatshops, Housing Works, the in key happiness the church from 10 percent to 15 percent
reforms. largest evangelic congregations, Cizik to cover the costs of feeding, housing, and
A.C.L.U., and others for helping indicators. laid out details of the ambitious plans to
advance progressive causes such providing services to an estimated one
reporters during a ceremony at the base million newly arrived Iraqi immigrants.
as universal health care, worker
rights, civil liberties, and econom- A number of large congregations have
ic justice. signed up under a “sister-city” framework
“There’s no question that in all 2008 2009 Following a Biblical in which they will feed, house, and pro-
areas, mass movements made vide job support and English classes for
the difference. Without them we
command to hospitality
up to 1,000 families from a given Iraqi city.
wouldn’t be close to a national Left-leaning churches first forged sister-
health program, a wind and solar city relationships with towns, cities, and
bill, a plan to guarantee fair and of Ellis Island, off lower Manhattan. Cizik churches in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and
equal funding for public educa- was joined by the pastor of a large Jersey Iraqi Refugee Population* Guatemala, during the brutal Central
114k 239k 340k 560k 768k
tion, or the banking oversight bill, APRIL 16, 2009 City Iraqi Chaldean Christian congrega- American civil wars of the 1980s that
2 million total
expected to pass next month in Following tion, Rabbi David M. Posner of New York’s pushed millions of political and economic
both houses.” DECEMBER 9-12, 2008 progressive Temple Emanu-El, and Imam Mohammad 2-5% 5-10% 10-12% 13-22% 23-45%
refugees to relocate to the United States.
“I never anticipated the rapid FEBRUARY 2009 Shamsi Ali, leader of the Islamic Cultural
First major conference legislative victories * United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimate THE NEW YORK TIMES This is the first known example of Evan-
advances made in the past six Progressives achieve Center, New York’s largest mosque.
of progressive advocacy in several key gelical churches adopting the model.
months,” Dr. Wellmon said, “but “The Federal government has moved
movements in Atlanta. first major legislative areas, President “Our church is going to have a lot of
the public has shown a fierce with painful sloth to succor the two mil- the homeland.” gave a brief address via telecast applaud- the Palestinian diaspora in 1948. Beyond
Publication of first victory, with passage makes “Yes we families from Karbala,” said Melanie
desire for change. It’s a virtuous 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
cycle: with the breaking of market Nationwide Progressive of the Economic really can” speech. 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
manacles, human and financial re- Working Group Independence Act, 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
sources are becoming available to guidelines on ending the excluding big box 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.
support even more real changes in war, reforming health stores from lower- 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-
all areas of American life.” care and education, and income neighbor- 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-
humanizing the hoods. 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
economy. They’re going to stay at our church recre-
See Interactive Graphic 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-
at nytimes-se.com THE NEW YORK TIMES 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 THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 A9

Biofuels Ban Act Signed Into Law, Seeks to Ease Food Shortage Torture, High-Speed Internet Hits Fast Track to Appalachia Education Department Plans
By WILLIAM PETTY ers sent a memo announcing they
would refuse all future campaign
Rendition By B. VANNEVAR optic networks for years. The im-
proved access for all communities National Tax Base for Schools
“Not Such
WASHINGTON — In a dizzying Washington — The Internet is expected to help narrow educa-
contributions from the powerful Freedom Preservation Act has
about-face, the White House an- firms. tion and socioeconomic gaps. should not determine where you
nounced that the president will passed both houses of Congress,

Good Ideas
In the late 1970s, the Supreme end up in life.” Hundreds of grass-
be signing the Ban Biofuels Act
Today the stock of both corpo-
rations registered their sharpest
thanks in part to overwhelming
Court ruled that companies pro-
Takes Cue from Ohio roots campaigns throughout the
and well-organized support of
tomorrow. single-day drop on record at the viding communication services and 23 Other States state, including The Ohio Coali-

After All”
The controversial legislation Dow. Neither company would re- millions of Internet users. The act
shouldn’t interfere with smaller tion For Equity and Adequacy of
was pushed through Congress by turn calls for comment. will ensure “net neutrality” — i.e., By M.M. BETHUNE
users. Two years ago, that deci- School Funding, took the cue from
newly elected Democrats unchar- International response has been that all users have equal access to
sion was reversed and the largest Mr. Strickland’s statement and
acteristically willing to stand up to mixed. “I must admit, no one saw By DIEGO TAVERA the Internet and that large corpo- Twenty-three states have an-
telecommunications companies spent the last two years working
big agribusiness, bolstered by in- this coming,” said a World Bank rations like Time Warner, AT&T, nounced plans to fund primary
Washington — In response to effectively became the gatekeep- hard to hold him to it.
tense public pressure in part due official who spoke on condition of Comcast, and Verizon can no lon- and secondary education on a
36 million handwritten letters, the ers of the Internet. The Internet “Finally, this is a real step to-
to the efforts of international orga- anonymity. “We’ve all known there ger act as gatekeepers, determin- statewide tax basis instead of per
president made a formal apology Freedom Preservation Act guaran- wards the equality our Constitu-
nizations like Friends of the Earth, were big problems with our subsi- ing which sites go fast and which county, following the lead of a
today to Canadian citizen and ex- tees that these companies can no tion recommends,” says Amanda
Greenpeace and the Rainforest Ac- dies for biofuel crops in develop- slow. landmark decision in Ohio.
tion Network. traordinary rendition victim Ma- longer decide which Web sites on Fullerton, of Columbus. Ms. Ful-
ing countries, especially as they The act also includes provisions Ohio’s S.B. 320 follows the Ohio
The shift was cheered by envi- her Arar and presented him with their networks go fast or slow and lerton, a mother of two, voted for
encroached on other crops, and to eliminate billions of dollars in Supreme Court ruling that fund-
ronmental activists as well as av- the Presidential Medal of Free- which won’t load at all. Mr. Strickland because of his long
on native ecosystems. We were subsidies and tax breaks for tele- ing schools from local property
erage Americans worn down by dom. “This law is a huge step forward history of support for educational
examining that. We just never ex- communication corporations, taxes and private initiatives does
the steep rise in food prices. “Veg- Mr. Arar was a software engineer for not only technology, but for the reform, but was soon disappoint-
pected to be pushed on it by U.S. and to use the proceeds to build not comply with the Ohio Consti-
etable oil and corn are for feeding changing planes at J.F.K. Airport ed by the governor’s inaction in
officials.” a fiber-optic network providing sharing of ideas,” said free speech tution’s guarantee of a “thorough
people, not cars,” said Elizabeth on his way home to Canada from office. When she first heard about
Analysts at the World Bank pre- free high-speed Internet service advocate Lawrence Lessig, who and efficient” public education
Johnson, a hospital worker and dict that the legislation will have a family vacation when he was the proposed bill in the Ohio
to even the most remote towns is head of the new Network Com- system. The new statewide system
mother of three, at yesterday’s a ripple effect, eventually easing detained, kept from counsel, and Senate, Ms. Fullerton decided to
throughout the United States. This munications Bureau, which will be means that resources are more
demonstration outside Capitol pressure on the remaining rainfor- sent to Syria for a year of torture occupy the Governor’s office to
new network is expected to bring charged with protecting the net- equitably distributed, with inner-
Hill. “There was only so much ests. and interrogation. WILLIAM KNOXCRUFT demonstrate how important she
the U.S. up to speed with coun- work against all surveillance in- city schools receiving the same
more we could keep paying.” The letters in support of Mr. High-speed lines connect rural counties across the U.S. with the rest felt the bill was. Over two hundred
Six nationwide protests over the tries like Japan, France, and Korea, cluding that of other government amount as suburban ones.
Arar were part of a campaign or- 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
last four months had prepared the Food riots highlight a ganized by a coalition of human out for six days. Many observers
terrain for the bill’s success, ac- Governor Ted Strickland’s 2006 feel that actions like the mothers’
need for real solutions rights groups including Witness campaign promise to assure
Pharmaceutical Law Revised to End Corruption
cording to Andrew Kohut of the played a key role in convincing
Against Torture, Amnesty Inter- that “where you grow up in Ohio
Pew Research Center, who said Governor Strickland to push hard
that national polls indicate a sharp national, the Center for Constitu-
jim media “If the demand for biofuels tional Rights, and MoveOn.org. for the bill.
decrease in public approval of bio- drops, then there’s far less incen- By JASON BREMARSA complimentary pens, coffee mugs, Following the announcements
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 and other product-related para-
tive to clear-cut native forests,” some of the worst excesses of the of twenty-three states that they
global warming. “The public sees Revisions in the Physician Pay- phernalia into doctors’ offices.
explained a spokesperson from would be voting on similar bills,
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 ments Sunshine Act (S.2029) will “What we really need is a sea
Friends of the Earth Indonesia, the U.S. Department of Educa-
irresponsible both environmen- tap on plant-based petrol, the at a press conference yesterday. federal government. “We’ve been security policies. now make it a Class D federal fel- change in the medical profes-
also known as Walhí. “This is what tion said it would be developing
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 ony for physicians to accept more sion wherein physicians realize
the people in the rainforest have a plan for a national tax base for
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 than $25 annually in gifts or other that it isn’t O.K. to get gifts or fill
been fighting for for years.” schools, to finally assure that as in
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 rewards from pharmaceutical our offices with advertisements
exposed and reversed policy on companies or biological product most other developed countries, a
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 for products. It demeans patient
secret C.I.A. interrogation and tor- and medical device manufactur- child’s opportunities to learn will
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- care,” says Mount Sinai School
C.N.N., had been key in sparking ture centers worldwide, warrant- ers. not depend on his or her birth-
rural areas of Texas, Kansas and energy. Top executives from Cargill and mented by governments around of Medicine professor Dr. Joseph
public outrage. “Television and Wyoming. Delivering yet another jolt to Archer Daniels Midland rushed to less wiretapping, illegal infiltration The revised bill, introduced last place.
the globe. “Ecological destruction Ross. While programs like the Pre- Amnia LendunD
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 fall by Senators Chuck Grassley,
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 Republican of Iowa, and Herb

Prison Industry Looks Within


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- Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin,
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- requires full disclosure of gifts, A series of tiny bribes
mation, they developed a much al hurdle to getting renewable en- farming to chemical-free organic meeting, negotiations quickly un-
sharper analysis of the situation.”
tation have nowhere else to go, tries known to torture prisoners. through a Department of Health corrupts a profession. By ELIZABETH FRY
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 and Human Services online sys-
Attorney General’s criminal pros- tem, by both companies and indi- An experimental new program
ecutions of former Bush admin- vidual physicians, and it revokes spearheaded by the Department
Labor Dept.
scription Project, which scrutinize
Congress Returns Civics istration officials for their role in
torture policy and taking the coun-
caps on non-disclosure penalties
for companies.
pharmaceutical company informa-
tion and sales practices, have been
of Justice and the Department of
Corrections will place federal and

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


In a prepared statement, White
The legislation targets offending
individual physicians, hospitals,
in place for several years in states
like Massachusetts and Pennsyl-
state lawmakers, criminal court
prosecutors and judges, wardens,

Job Creation House Press Secretary Samantha


Bee said, “We will not condone
schools, and other medical in-
stitutions that deal directly with
vania, their effect is limited by the
willingness of doctors to abide by
and guards in five randomly-cho-
sen prisons for a period of three
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
patients. It also makes it a federal
offense for medical industries to
circumvent customary gift-giving
ethical standards.
“This will definitely make it a
days per year.
The National Prison Rehabilita-
tion Program aims to give those
By JOSEPH BRISTELLO lighted in this cross-country study lot harder for us to get our prod-
included: the legislative and ju- By ROBERT OWEN sent him to be tortured in Syria, practices through third parties, ucts to customers,” says Samp- in the prison-industrial complex
WASHINGTON — Wild applause but the Medal of Freedom at least such as lawyers and insurance son Browning, spokesperson for
dicial branches of government WASHINGTON — The Depart-
broke out at the Parent Teach- recognizes his heroic fight to as- companies, or via “educational” Eli Lilly, which anticipates large
are subordinate to the executive CAVUTTO/THE NEW YORK TIMES
er Association national offices branch; the president has the
ment of Labor is scrambling to sure that what happened to him events. losses of revenue due to the new Giving those with power
early this morning when several propose new standards that will will never again happen to anyone It reverses earlier legislation count histories of gift-giving, prod- own stated standards,” says Patty
power to interpret treaties; the affect every American worker. else.” Bee also noted that the U.S.
legislation. a chance to reflect.
congressional spokespeople an- that would have preempted more uct specifics and histories, overall Williams, Director of Communica- “I haven’t paid for lunch since
president is not bound by law; the “This job report is a blueprint for
nounced a funding appropriation is matching Canada’s $10 million stringent physician sunshine laws corporate revenue, and other vari- tions for the commission. Williams last February, and I think I ate at
vice president is independent of job creation and economic stabil-
to return the subject of civics to compensation to Mr. Arar for his 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
all three branches of government; ity,” said Secretary of Labor David ordeal, “but in real money.”
high school curricula nationwide. 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
torture is not a punishment and Bonior, who worked closely with In a tearful interview on ABC’s ties to $10,000 for non-disclosure, Patients’ rights and medical eth- on gifts to physicians from indus- head Tom Hayden. The confer-
The initiative is emblematic of Medical Center in Chicago. “Do discuss ideas for reform. It lever-
therefore cannot be considered unions like the S.E.I.U. and UNITE daytime talk show “The View” ear- and $100,000 for companies that ics groups, like the New England try, which stemmed a tide of bla- ages empathy to reduce the incar- ence-like structure will feature
the new bipartisan agenda to re- the math. Do you think I can af-
“cruel and unusual”; in matters in crafting the standards. lier this week, former Secretary “knowingly” fail to disclose gifts Medical Ethics Commission in tant gift-giving in the 1980s, but ceration rate in the U.S., the high- keynote speakers and breakout
store the United States Constitu- ford to say no when the drug reps
of national security, no warrants By reducing the work week by of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, cur- to physicians. The new bill estab- Boston, are exultant. “It’s not like have been criticized for allowing est in the world by far. discussions. “Once we get some
tion to its pre-Bush-era status. In knock on my door?” From now on,
a joint statement, Senators Harry need be acquired by law enforce- five hours, to 35 hours per week, rently awaiting trial, told Elisabeth lishes a lower limit for fines, but the A.M.A. or [pharmaceutical new byways for abuse: free lunch- “It’s part sentence, part all-ex- of these players together in these
doctors will have to, or risk up to
Reid, Democrat of Nevada, and ment. Bonior anticipates a 12 percent Hasselbeck that he hoped the not an upper limit, and requires trade association] PhRMA were es and dinners, travel and hono- penses-paid meditation retreat,” facilities, I think it’s pretty certain
ten years imprisonment.
Mitch McConnell, Republican of The study noted that many increase in new hires, particularly world would not remember him as 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.”
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-
mendous national importance.
other words, their awareness of
constitutional rights had been
entirely formed during the Bush Judas Ortiz
the only benefit. Coupled with the
mandatory six-week paid vaca-
ecutive branch. “Maybe the whole
torture thing wasn’t such a good
idea after all,” he said. “I just hope
Bush Resumes Golf Game An Exclusive Interview with Former President Bush
The announcement came follow- tions each year, worker health and
administration. In an American History classroom in San Antonio, Texas, students people also remember my way 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
ing a coordinated series of school satisfaction among U.S. workers
The study also found that stu- with words, and peer through that 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
strikes organized by parents out- learn about the Bill of Rights. will be on a par with those in West- WASHINGTON (AFP) — Former
dents were growing incapable to the essence, where I am also a, 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...
raged over a recent study by the ern Europe, according to Bonior. U.S. President George W. Bush re-
of differentiating between living at least some kind of, father.” 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
National Opinion Research Center. ture and function of each branch of us,” said Los Angeles area high Other new employment laws turned to the fairway this week, af-
figures, historical figures, and 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
The findings revealed a profound of government; the theory of school teacher Roberta Morales. currently being developed will 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
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 out of respect for the families of
What do you think? 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-
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 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,
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 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-
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: “I saw him polishing his clubs
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 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
USA Patriot Popular “America’s Army” Video Game, Recruiting Tool Cancelled
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
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-
In an interview with Yahoo! News
and Politico in 2003, Bush resolved
to refrain from his leisure pursuit
business you’d like to finish. What
do you have planned for the next
BUSH: I’m going to pursue Osa-
ma Bin Laden.
But what’s important is that we
made mistakes, and one thing
do, which is finish the search for
Osama bin Laden. We will have
hopes for America’s Diplomat, It’s so awesome,” he said. in focus. “The next generation of ghanistan is that military success year? PELLEY: I’m sorry? when you make mistakes is you resources that I never had as presi-
out of solidarity with the families
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.
of soldiers in Iraq. “I think playing
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
cessful history. In 2005, 40 percent anticipates the expansion of the may not be able to kill very well, Unlike its predecessor, America’s 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-
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 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
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 wrong signal,” he said.
thorized, the controversial USA 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
By Wilfred Sassoon listing. As the game’s popularity sion updates such as “United Na- security calls for.” the Entertainment Software Rating “I don’t want some mom whose
Patriot Act was repealed by Con- take. Using posturing language like money, for tips. Laura helped me many people will say that you’re freedom, frankly, even in jail.
WASHINGTON — The Depart- grew, and after dozens of new re- tions,” “Peace Corps,” “Swords to Defense Secretary Scott Ritter Board. 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
gress by a vote of 99 to 1 in the the Commander-in-Chief playing
ment of Defense announced leases, the America’s Army brand Plowshares” and “Gandhi’s Hun- acknowledged that national secu- it on” was a mistake. Troop levels those tips. — this isn’t a one-man job. contest. I had to make tough deci-
Senate and 520 to 18 in the House. golf.”
yesterday the cancellation of its expanded to include console and gerStrike!” rity could benefit from the new America’s Diplomat is available 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
No fanfare greeted the repeal in ReUters
highly successful and popular cell-phone games, T-shirts, and the Demsfold acknowledged that game. “One of the most important online: americasdiplomat.com 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
either house. Absent were the 40-
“America’s Army” online game and Real Heroes program, a section of 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-
minute speeches and foam-core
recruitment tool. The program has the America’s Army website that 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.
charts predicting Armageddon.
already been converted into a new highlighted actual soldiers in Iraq 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
The act was repealed with a sim-
ple vote cast late in the day by a game, operated by the State De- and Afghanistan, and even recre- 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
Congress ashamed of what it had partment, entitled “America’s Dip- ated them as action figures. 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
done and what the Act had meant lomat.” State Department spokes- The avowed purpose of Amer- 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-
for Americans. person Donald Demsfold called ica’s Diplomat is to encourage “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
In related news, Congress yes- this “a pretty good step towards young people to consider careers 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
terday repealed the Animal Enter- nurturing a generation committed in the diplomatic corps, and to 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
prise Terrorism Act and agreed to to the principles of diplomacy and present non-military alternatives 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
peaceful negotiation.” in a positive light. Where the abil- 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.
America’s Army was an online ity to aggressively attack and kill 12th hole, and home to his ranch Laden.
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. we’re lovin’ revolution
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 BUSINESS SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

Business
A10 A11

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009


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-

Public Relations Industry Forecasts a Series of Massive Layoffs Harvard Will tive that would imprison or fine
shareholders for corporate crimes

By LOUIS BECK
Shut Business committed in their name. Punish-
ment would depend on the sever-

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Public


School Doors ity of the crime and the number of
shares owned.
relations firms across the coun- By JOHN LEVERETT Mr. McCain outlined his unique
try predict massive layoffs in the two-tiered punishment program,
coming months due to recent leg- Harvard University Business which would punish corporations
islation outlawing the firms’ most School will be closing its doors for legal infractions according
lucrative practices. following an unprecedented drop- to their severity. Mr. McCain ex-
The new regulations carefully off in applications this fall. The plained that there would be two
scrutinize government contracts school will be renamed the Har- “suites” of punishment, for levels
with for-profit public relations vard University School of Integrity, of crime roughly corresponding to
companies, and apply much high- and students will receive Masters misdemeanors and felonies.
er standards to public relations in Integrity and Compassion, or In one “suite” — for “misde-
work overall. The new rules would M.I.C.s. meanors” like bilking taxpayers of
have forbidden the creation of the “We believe that the recent in- seven-figure dollar amounts, over-
National Smokers Alliance, a front crease in visibility of progressive charging consumers, attempting
group formed by Philip Morris movements and ideals, coupled monopolies, and contributing to
with the help of P.R. giant Burson with the demotion of free-market simple human troubles like asth-
Marsteller, which presents itself capitalism as a viable belief sys- ma and brief bouts of homeless-
as a grassroots group opposed to tem, has led students away from ness — punishment would take
smoke-free laws. training in accumulation for its the form of short- or long-term
The regulations would also have own sake and into fields where share confiscation. Dividends of
rendered impossible the notori- they can advance peace and jus- confiscated shares would pay for
ous “Kuwaiti incubators” episode tice,” said Harvard spokesperson remedial action, where possible,
of 1992, in which P.R. giant Hill & Susan Morrison. as well as public-good programs
Knowlton worked with the U.S. It became apparent in early like health care.
and Kuwaiti governments to gal- 2009 that enrollment in fields like “I know a number of people
marketing, advertising, corporate whose companies were players
communications, and manage- in the Savings and Loan scandal,”
ment dropped 44 percent, while Mr. McCain said, “and they’re pre-
An industry that helped enrollments in fields like social pared to face the consequences.
work, journalism, and community
launch wars begins to Remedies for serious problems
organizing were up 53 percent in are never easy, especially when
shut down. the same period. they hit at the root.”
“We’re not sure if it’s an anom- The second punishment “suite,”
aly or an indicator of a long term for “felonies” — spreading diseas-
vanize public opinion in favor trend, but there’s definitely a es, committing homicide or man- cfinke AND OBORLOO HOCHMANKS

of the Persian Gulf War. Among change,” said Morrison. 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.
other things, the firm helped stage Morrison said the new Integrity disasters in the U.S. or abroad,
Judas Ortiz
a press conference in which a School is contacting campuses large-scale bilking of taxpayers,
Hill & Knowlton’s New York office after layoffs were announced yesterday. Cutbacks have rippled through giants across the industry. around the world to encourage 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
15-year-old girl named Nayirah
claimed to have witnessed Iraqi graduating seniors to apply. “We 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.
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 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
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 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-
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 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-
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 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
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.” 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
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- 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
had invested via mutual funds, eral major problems remain to now technically persons, but ment, which had been designed to real.”
“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 classified as a felony. While retro-
turning popular opinion toward government spending increased, placement on television programs largest ad firms in the world, fired passage of the new regulations. 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
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
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- laws are usually not permissible,
“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 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
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 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-
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 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
From Page A1 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
thia Knowlton, granddaughter of the 2003 invasion, a full 10 per- mentator funding, a substantial It’s a vast network of influence, comes in.” In the Union Carbide example,
Pelham Bay, New York, referring 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
to General Motors’ EV1, an electric 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

Plan Encourages Steady Growth, Will Boost Bottom 95%


car it developed in 1996, before “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
scrapping it shortly after. GM was 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-
required to reintroduce the EV1 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
last month by the Clean Car Act. 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-
Treasury Secretary Krugman “Ever since it came back, the EV1 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.
From Page A1
cited the pressure applied by is five times more popular than 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,
factors such as a demonstrated
posed the proposals before over- progressive activist groups as in- the next car down,” Cluber said. “I 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
lack of remorse or compassion tri-
whelming public support helped hope we never have to sell a com-
strumental in the S.A.N.E. Act’s pling the total. ing laws.” but the changes will be irrelevant Mr. McCain called corporate ef- the very least have a positive ef- investment.”
bustion engine again.”
change her mind. “This bill brings success despite overwhelming 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-
Three months after a 90 percent
a level of sanity and restraint back counterpressure from financial among Union Carbide sharehold- do not build character,” Mr. Mc- encing such a powerful and state- humans “compassionate greed,” holder is personally responsible
“True Cost” tax on bottled water
to the system that allowed com- industry lobbyists, who have been went into effect, the high premium 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.
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

epoch-making pivotal squandered


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… The more we look at the world
at the cost of the company’s, and
the country’s, stability.”
Floersch, the center’s chairman impassioned speech. “The struggle
Back in 1996, we developed an electric car called the EV1. the more we understand
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
ed a maximum wage was in 1942, ficer at McDonald’s, defended high tinues. We need investment in meant it made no sense in our business model, and three years
that some things really matter.
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 Not only our choice of President,
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,”
the equivalent of $315,000 today. pay for performance.” care and the company fails.” but how we make sure that he,
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- like all our elected officials,
wage law was in effect until 1980.
reporter, the Center on Executive retary E. Merrick Dodds, who stat- does what we elected him to do.
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%.
in which a new impulse towards It's not over yet.
Under Reagan, the top tax rate slid light of recent changes in econom-
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 EDITORIALS/LETTERS/OP-ED SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

New York
A12 A13

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009


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
er media outlet. Lobbyists have been treated lies keep their homes despite an inability to

Army Recruiter Goes from Marketing the Military to Marketing Himself


JUDE SHINBIN, writer and researcher CHARLES HOCHMANKS, writer and researcher M.M. BETHUNE, writer and researcher
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-
By BARRY GLOAD and asked if I’d mind if we went into the
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
church we were passing. As we sat in the otherwise manifesting this HELEN PREJEAN, writer and researcher JOSEPH BRISTELLO, writer and researcher CARLTON DONALLY, writer and researcher newly proposed ban on capital punishment
MANHATTAN — “I have plans, and I have pews of the huge, solemn hall, he said, 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
backup plans,” explained retired Staff Sgt. “About your question . . . yeah, some-
York Times.
J. FINISTERRA, writer and researcher WILLIAM PETTY, writer and researcher MEDE SIVRAC, writer and researcher
for lobbyists!
Joe Pascanic, a former recruiter for the times I do think about my job and what BART GARZON, writer and researcher SYBIL LUDINGTON, writer and researcher ED SHARSNEK, writer and researcher As a lobbyist I vehemently object to this
U.S. Army. “That’s one thing I learned in I promised the kids, and what ended up treatment.
the military. Always have your Plan B, and happening to them.” He pointed at the Let me remind you of something. We are
your Plan C.” ceiling and said, “And I wonder what He Thomas J. Friedman people. We are citizens. All U.S. citizens are
“Plan D is called Unconditional Surren- would think.” guaranteed the right to petition the govern-

The End of the Experts?


der, a.k.a. filing for Unemployment Insur- ment for redress of grievances; nowhere in
“But I don’t know, you know, this is
our founding documents does it say those
ance. We’re not gonna need to go there.” America, we’re all selling something,
citizens can’t be well paid to do so.
Pascanic, 36, of Rahway, New Jersey, right? The President sold the country a
The sudden outbreak of peace in Iraq But wait, it gets worse. Having expressed how acceptable We have worked closely with most politi-
was looking for a new job in the civilian war, wholesale; I just did the same thing
has made me realize, among other things, it was to commit Hitler’s signature crime, I then applaud- cians — including both Barack Obama and
sector. The Times spent a day with him at the retail level. But what am I gonna do
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
as he took the train from this blue-collar now?” He looked around him at the rela-
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
town into New York City to pound the tive sanctuary of the church. “Maybe I’ll
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-
fresh post-war pavement. get a job here. Maybe I’m not meant for
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
Pascanic is a medium-tall man, with the private sector. Maybe I can sell salva-
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-
blonde short hair and brown eyes, trim tion. You know, I’d much rather sell Heav-
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.
and nattily dressed in a professional, well- en and Hell than Iraq and Afghanistan. Be-
about it, for instance. vided to elected officials by lobbyists cannot That is why Congress needs to grant first-
pressed, blue pinstriped suit. He thanked cause these products have stood the test 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
me for my compliments on his “civvies,” of time. People still believe in them. And 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
and said, “I’m very happy to be wearing you know what? They’re for after you die, 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
them.” you don’t actually die in them. I can feel 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
He appeared lost in thought for a mo- better selling that. How do you apply to 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.
ment, and then shook off the reverie with be a priest?” 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
a gruff statement. At that moment, Pascanic’s cell phone 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
“I have to say, however I felt about the rang, piercing the silence. His ringtone, 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-
war, I’m glad I don’t have that job any- Bon Jovi’s In and Out of Love, played for 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
more,” Pascanic admitted as we waited several maximum-volume bars before he 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
on the New Jersey Transit platform. “That patted down his pockets, found, and an- a lifetime of ammunition? in Washington. our role nearly irrelevant in those races. We
re-ality/THE NEW YORK TIMES monorail to the future. I will keep my opinions to myself.
was serious pressure.” swered the phone. At that moment, he 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
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 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
I think she might have another agenda.)
nounced military recruiters as liars dur- the church. 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.
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- 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”
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 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
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 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
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 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-
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 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.
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 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
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. ter! doubted that Iraq had vast stockpiles of W.M.D.s. And that’s
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 Back in February of 2003, I wrote in this space: “Saddam just in newspapers.
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 does not threaten us today. He can be deterred. Taking him We were all wrong again and again — and the conse-
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. out is a war of choice — but it’s a legitimate choice.” In oth- quences were devastating. Can anyone tell me why any of
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 er words, we should invade a sovereign state and replace us should ever be asked, let alone paid, for our opinions
“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 its government in order to remake the world more to our ever again? Or, for that matter, why Richard Perle or Paul
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 liking. Wolfowitz should be allowed behind any sort of desk what-
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. Now the simple fact is, an unprovoked attack on a sover- soever as long as they live?
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- eign state is a war crime, even when linked to grand ideas of Peace in Iraq will undoubtedly have many far-reaching
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- the future of mankind. In fact, that’s exactly what Hitler did, consequences. As promised, I’m not going to speculate pub-
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. for exactly the same reasons. The Nuremburg War Crimes licly about what they might be.
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 Tribunal called it the “the supreme international crime, dif- Except one. As of today, I’m putting down my pen, to take
“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- fering only from other war crimes in that it contains within up a screwdriver. I am going to retrain as an engineer and
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. itself the accumulated evil of the whole.” spend the rest of my life working to build non-carbon-based
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 What was I thinking? And more importantly, why didn’t energy technologies. And I’m going to spend a lot of time
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- anyone stop me?
is it helpful on the job? No, actually it’s washing my hands.
getting kids to sign up to go fight in a 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
was no problem, the product sold itself,
the patter. See? It’s not just what you say.
It’s what you don’t say.”
And how did he feel about his chances
in that sounds safer. But you’re also sell-
ing an adventure, a chance to be all you
can be, be an army of one, be army strong.
“They gave me a good listen, but they
seemed a little offended. I wasn’t trying
to compare selling open-ended trips to a
floor.
I asked Sorrentino if he bore any grudg- We Apologize
so to speak. To go fight in Afghanistan, 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 The momentous occasion of the end of the war in Iraq on the Iraq war have consistently excluded the views of
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, also marks a time for reflection at The Times. As many of people with a track record of being right. Conversely, in
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 our readers have pointed out for years, this newspaper January 2008, we boosted Bill Kristol’s already consider-
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 played no small part in making the case for the war in the able national platform by offering him a regular column. It
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.” 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
New York Bike Path System Expanded Dramatically University to Rescue Iraqi Scholars We have in the past acknowledged botched reporting. In
May 2006, we published an editors’ note acknowledging no
uting editor Robert Kagan called for war against Iraq: “We
know it seems unthinkable to propose another ground at-
While thinking about the recent changes
in this country, I recalled an article by Rob-
Until very recently, we in this country
couldn’t imagine life without the aggressive
for bicycle speed. “Riding your bike up 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
By AMAL MAAMLAJI gram faced significant challenges. “The ous claims about W.M.D.s by anonymous officials.
Miles of Segregated Bicycle or down the avenue, the traffic lights are situation for Iraqi scholars today is even
Those admissions, we realize, didn’t go nearly far enough.
thinkable.” They argued that Saddam Hussein had humili- 2006), who lived for a while among a troop of
baboons in the wild, and witnessed a remark-
by crook), were dominating our politics. But
then one day, those baboons ate out of the
going to change in sync,” explained Blair. The New School University in New York worse than for Jewish scholars in 1933, ated the United States by expelling U.S. officials from U.N.
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
Notably, we failed to single out the instrumental role that
weapons inspection teams. The editorial cited unspecified able transformation. garbage dump of a deeply mad foreign policy,
be hitting all greens.” Times reporter Judith Miller played in bringing unfounded Forest Troop was initially composed of and quickly killed themselves off.
New University In Exile, a program to pro- available funding is a whole lot less. It’s sources about Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons capa-
By MEDE SIVRAC “Now that our country is taking its right- W.M.D. allegations to a national audience. a regular mixture of baboons: gentle ones, We are not baboons, of course. For one
vide small grants and visas to scholars psychologically easier to help people bilities, and concluded with this dark warning: “If you don’t
ful place among the world’s developed 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,
from Iraq. The program is inspired by the when one’s tax dollars aren’t instrumen- like this option, we’ve got another one for you: continue
NEW YORK — Officials from the Depart- nations,” said Mayor Bloomberg, “it is 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-
University In Exile, a New School program tal in killing them, which is probably also along the present course and get ready for the day when
ment of Transportation today opened the time for our greatest city to take its place 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
that rescued over one hundred Jewish why there’s more concern for the victims Saddam has biological and chemical weapons at the tips of
9th Avenue bike lane, which now extends among the world’s great cities.” storage facility” for W.M.D.s, she credulously quoted one dump as territory and primary food source. didn’t result in just a few dinged-up fat guys,
scholars from Nazi Germany beginning of Darfur than of the much larger crises missiles aimed at Israel and at American forces in the Gulf.
the entire length of Manhattan. The fes- Bloomberg recently visited Paris to ex- source (September 8, 2002). Miller systematically played Forest Troop’s meaner males (let’s call them but rather one million dead and four and a
in 1933. in Iraq or the Congo.” But we’ve got to do That day may not be far off.”
tivities were then moved to 2nd Avenue, amine its popular public bicycle rental down skepticism and conflicting evidence, both of which Clique W) decided they would raid this excit- half million refugees.
“As in World War II, scholarship today what we can. Why did we decide to reward Kristol for having been ut-
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 were readily available to any reporter. In so doing Miller lent 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
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
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
land. lic pressure has helped convince him it Kerrey. “In Iraq today, almost four hun- sites, museums, and libraries will remain
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
Over the next two years, every other can, and national legislation sealed the dred scholars have been assassinated, a mere memory, the academic commu-
package. Thomas Friedman’s resignation. rotten hamburgers for a while, Clique W got gentler ones voted for war as well. Rather,
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-
sure make amends for what our country 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
blocked off from traffic, while every fifth initiatives, also see “Crumbling Infrastruc- manent exile. Iraq’s universities, libraries,
museums, and archeological sites have has done, and do what it can to save the 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
crosstown street will be opened exclu- ture Brings Opportunities,” Page A6.)
for the most part been completely de- scholarly heritage of a nation,” Mr. Kerrey 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-
sively to bicyclists and pedestrians begin- Blair, watching the dedication from a
stroyed. The scale of devastation places said. 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
ning next month. cherry picker above 9th Avenue com-
it among the worst tragedies in all his- The New School hopes to be joined in nal docile males died of old age, Forest Troop now be a culture of peace and generosity.
Mark Blair, a transit worker from mented, “From cesspool to world city, it’s
Payton Chung tory.” the effort by other universities anxious to remains a gentle culture, much more welcom- Fortunately, that’s just what we did. And
Queens, was busy re-timing traffic lights just fantastic. I love this place.”
The New School will make available
small grants to scholars, facilitate visas,
live up to their stated ethical aims.
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
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.
One of the many terrible consequences of the Iraq war
has been the displacement of millions of Iraqis since the
creating it. The number
of Iraqis so far granted
adult males. And new members quickly learn
that things are different in Forest Troop.
Forest Troop U.S.A. for the garbage adventur-
ing that dominated our last thirty years.
Mr. Kerrey acknowledged that the pro-
campuses. “If our leaders of the past eight years had Iraq War began in March 2003. According to the most recent asylum in the U.S. is

Letters to the Editor


At Jesuit-run Xavier High School in Man- had that sort of training, we wouldn’t be statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for still less than that ac-
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 Refugees, more than two million Iraqis have fled to neigh-
boring Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, as well as Austra-
cepted by Sodertalje,
a village in Sweden, as
lia and Europe, and another 2.5 million or more have been reported recently in
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 displaced within the country, most of them between 2006 the Washington Post. To the Editor: has been rising, and the average U.S. lifespan
good for me.” early. The fact is, it works. Plus, J.R.O.T.C. and 2008. A recent program ini- Re “Viva Free Trade with Cuba!” Page A6, declining, the lifting of the Cuba embargo
NEW YORK — The New York City Coun- Not all the Jesuits support the program. students who don’t join the army tell us These numbers are staggering. If a similar proportion of tiated by the American July 2, 2009. provides an invaluable opportunity to part-
By SCHUYLER FRANK watching the news.”
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
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 offers up to 5,000 U.S. embargo on Cuba listed by your reporter in inexpensive, preventative treatments for
on a measure that may finally close the school’s ethics curriculum, said that the them find work in security and related lion refugee Americans.
Thousands are already taking to the was killed in combat last year in a war visas per year to Iraqi (family visits for some of us, fabulous cigars common illnesses. Cuba will be the perfect
doors on the City’s Junior Reserve Officer J.R.O.T.C. obedience training seemed to fields.” The Iraqi refugee crisis is the worst in the history of the
streets of Manhattan, mainly around that never should have happened. You translators and other for all of us, and affordable vacations that in- partner for training the doctors who will rev-
Training Corps, following complaints by stunt some students’ reasoning skills. Critics argue that those students who Middle East. The number of refugees surpasses the num-
Times Square, to celebrate the announced don’t turn to Wolf Blitzer for answers occupation collabora- clude the rental of vintage red Thunderbird olutionize health care in this country.
parents and teachers, and a recent spate “‘Lock-and-load’ is not a recognized ethi- ber of Palestinians displaced in 1948 by a factor of at least
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. four. And while in 1948 the international community and the tors. But high-ranking convertibles), there is one more that went un- Meredith Kohr
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 United Nations established entities to provide refugees with U.S. officials do not mentioned: world-class public health medical Miami, Fla., July 3, 2009
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- the bare minimum of education and aid, the response to the believe that this allow- RICHARD SORGE schools. ∎
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- Iraqi refugee problem has been seriously inadequate on all ance can cover even In contrast to the United States, where stu- To the Editor:
erans; and at least 10 percent of federal ably assemble,” said New York City Police “People are saying hello to each other 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
that the J.R.O.T.C. provides no non-mil- oughs received renewed urgency. “We are levels. Many women have been forced into prostitution, and
and state prisoners are veterans. Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. “Today, in the street. I just had lunch with a group of other occupation entities such as Halliburton, Bechtel, medical engineering, and pharmaceutical glued to the TV set watching the withdrawal
itary training, and that the firearm train- asking Secretary of Defense Scott Ritter to many children have no educational opportunities.
The City Council vote follows outrage by we’re going to try responding the way po- of total strangers where we just talked and the U.S. Armed Forces. companies want them to learn, Cuba’s medi- from Iraq. For as long as I remember, in all
ing offered by 90 percent of the J.R.O.T.C. shift these funds into training programs in Among the displaced are most of the doctors, teachers,
area principals over Mayor Bloomberg’s lice do in many other developed nations.” about what’s going on right now,” said 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.
programs undermines the no-weapons nonviolence and communication,” Queens nurses, and educated professionals who formed the basic
proposal to cut $180 million from the In the past, New York City police have Carrie Moore, a photographer’s assis- 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
policies widely promoted on high school Borough P.T.A. head Estelle Chavez said. fabric of Iraqi society and are an integral building block of
Department of Education’s budget in the usually responded to demonstrations tant living in midtown. “It’s like this huge 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
any reconstruction effort. Iraq’s recovery, which will take a
current fiscal year, and $324 million in with forces in riot gear. stress has been lifted.” Evangelicals’ generosity is terrific (see “Evangelical Church- versal health care. father served in World War I (my mother
few decades at best, will be impossible without the return
the following year, cuts which will most After pausing a moment Kelly added, Makeshift signs were visible in office 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,
of these citizens.
likely effect after school programs, arts “You know, everyone on the force, we’re windows, among them: “Sleep with me”; 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,
The Bush administration ignored this disaster, as to ac-
programming, and programs for children all just glad we’re here to help celebrate “The end of our lives” with the V crossed sioned by severe hurricanes, Fidel Castro of- my second husband was the most active
knowledge it would have been an admission of its role in
with special needs. peace this time.” out; and, simply, “YES.” fered free medical education for low-income American Legion Post director you’d ever
One group of critics has been working The spontaneous street celebrations The street celebrations were unusual in students from anywhere in the Americas, in- hope to meet!
with Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein to were the manner in which many first the preponderance of business suits and cluding the United States. Since then, the Lat- So I feel slightly lost in this new world
redirect the $2 million J.R.O.T.C. budget
to Urban Green, an after-school program
heard about the withdrawal. In Man-
hattan, as thousands thronged the city
professional attire. One celebrant, Far-
sala LaRue, 72, speculated on the somber 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
that promotes environmental leadership streets with Commissioner Kelly, only hues. graduated tens of thousands of students. I get used to it? Can I really attend my great-
a few tuned in radios or checked news “This is an issue that affected us all, on Two years ago, who would have dared to image we’d Yet we’ve done all that. Although we demanded change
for youth by creating organic gardens in At a time when the mortality rate in the U.S. grandson’s graduation without worrying if I’ll
sites on the Internet. “I’ve just gotten a daily basis, for seven years,” she said, elect, as President of the United States, an African-American of Barack Obama, we understood that only we could bring
vacant lots. Klein’s office issued a memo see him live to 24? Should I go ahead and tell
overwhelmed by all the bad news, and pausing from a hopscotch game she was community organizer? about that change. And that’s why it happened.
yesterday acknowledging the effort. my niece that even though I’m not sure I fully
I’m tired of learning that so much of what playing with her 7-year-old neighbor. “Not 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
“Our office feels that the J.R.O.T.C. bud- approve, that if I ask, she can tell?
were told was lies,” Linda Negrobi, 42, just the anti-war people, not just young universal health care, reform our education system, estab- for a second, and we can’t get tired. But if there’s one thing
get might best be redirected to what we Visit our website to comment on any article I suppose I’ll adjust to this strange new
told The New York Times in Washington people, not even just Democrats,” she 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-
might call Victory Gardens, in celebration in this newspaper, or to write a new one. environment.
Square Park, which was full of revelers. said. “All of America is here today. I think steps to make our cities more livable — or that we’d so ful, energizing thing we can do is fight for a better world.
heraldpost of a new direction for our country and for nytimes-se.com Ruth Principe
“At some point or other, I just stopped it’s wonderful.” 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.
J.R.O.T.C. members-turned-gardeners, planting eggplant for the fall semester. our nation’s youth.” Summit, N.J., July 2, 2009
who took us there?
A14 THE NEW YORK TIMES SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

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