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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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A booby trapped building kills 13 Israeli soldiers as Israel begins an initial
pullback from a couple of West Bank towns in response to U.S. pleas...Sharon pledges
to continue the fight "until the mission is complete" and Powell will definitely meet
with Arafat...As the violence continues to get worse and worse, we'll get the latest
from the front and take a look at Powell's peace mission...Our ace booker Tirone is at
it again which means we've got another stellar lineup the "other guys" could only hope
for...Big names include Bibi (he'll be in da house tonight too!), Biden, Frist and
Sharif Ali, head of the Iraqi National Congress, Saddam's opposition group...I'm
trying to call Rahman's office but no one is picking up (not the blind Sheik, the PLO
dude)...Must be out to lunch...I'll keep trying, we need reax on the Powell/Arafat
meeting...
Hume and Shibley Telhami will do the Powell trip story in B block...
D block will be Biden and Frist on big picture Bush/Powell diplomacy, maybe we'll
throw in a question or two to Frist on the anthrax story (he is the Senate's resident
bioterrorism expert, you know)
In the political buzz we've got a new guy Carl Jeffers who writes for the Seattle
Times and Gergen...Lots of new polls out...Gallup and more from the NBC-WSJ poll we
did last night...Plus, we'll show you the NORML-Bloomberg ad, "You bet I did, and I
enjoyed it," (story below)
In other words, buddy, we got a hot show lined up for you...Don't miss it...The
Briefing is compiled and edited by Dominic Bellone in Washington, DC....Gotta serious
question for you folks...How do you think Chris has been doing with his coverage of
the Middle East? Pretty even handed or too one sided? message me at
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Keep your responses to under two short paragraphs
pls! btw, what did you think about Caddell last night?
"President Bush continues to get high ratings for his handling of foreign policy, but
Americans are almost evenly divided on whether he has a clear and thoughtful policy
toward the Middle East." (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/04/08/usat-poll.htm
Americans split on troops in Mideast...Half of Americans say a major war is likely in
the Middle East and that U.S. troops should be sent as part of a peacekeeping force,
an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/735737.asp
"Mayor Michael Bloomberg found himself the poster boy for an ad campaign to legalize
marijuana in a full-page spread in Tuesday's New York Times, but he's not pleased
about it." (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=579&ncid=762&e=1&u=/nm/20020409/en_nm/life_bloomberg_pot_dc_2
If you haven't seen the NORML Bloomberg ad, here it is (you need adobe acrobat to view
it) http://www.natlnorml.org/pdf_files/NORML_BLOOM_NYT_AD.pdf
Tons of background reading today folks...I'm making up for yesterday...Sorry about
that, I was working on a huge project for Chris...
"Palestinian militants killed 13 Israeli reserve soldiers in an ambush in the Jenin
refugee camp in the West Bank on Tuesday, the heaviest single blow to the Israeli army
in 18 months of bloodshed."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&ncid=721&e=2&u=/nm/20020409/wl_nm/mideast_soldiers_dc_3
Sharon: "This is a battle for the survival of the Jewish people, for survival of the
state of Israel"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&ncid=716&e=1&u=/ap/20020409/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_sharon_69
"US vs. Iraq: Saddam may have fired the first shot...An assassination attempt shows
that Saddam Hussein may not wait for the US and its allies to make the first move."
(Christian Science Monitor) http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0409/p01s04-wome.html
Hot breaking news...Quick, someone call Emerson!: "A local lawyer who once represented
Muslim militant Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman was arrested Tuesday, and her lawyer said she
was apparently accused of harboring terrorists." (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020409/ap_on_re_us/terror_indictment_4
"Whoever concocted the wispy white powder used in last fall's anthrax attacks followed
a recipe markedly different from the ones commonly used by scientists in the United
States or any other country known to have biological weapons, law enforcement sources
said yesterday" (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16420-2002Apr8.html
"District not ready for germ attack....The District is vulnerable to a biochemical
attack because its hazardous materials team is composed of firefighters whose training
is inadequate and whose gear is so worn out that they fear for their safety, according
to a report on the city's emergency preparedness." (The Washington Times)
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20020409-75912500.htm
USA Today poll: "From a mosque in Los Angeles to a synagogue in Miami Beach and
throughout the nation, Americans are deeply conflicted about the bloodshed between
Israelis and Palestinians."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/04/09/usat-mideast-poll.htm
"U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday he will meet with Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat later this week. He also said the United States is prepared to
send U.S. observers to the region to help monitor enforcement of a Palestinian-Israeli
truce." (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020409/ap_wo_en_ge/us_mideast_1104
For the folks in the DC area, this event will be too fun to pass up...."Demonstrators
Plan to Unite Varied Causes In D.C. Protest...Demonstrators from several points on the
activist compass hope to turn the streets of Washington later this month into a
massive, multipurpose protest." (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16572-2002Apr8.html
Ashcroft and a White House "bunny"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020401/170/1c4bx.html
Ashcroft to Appear on Letterman (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020406/ap_on_en_tv/ashcroft_letterman_2
Not so fun Clinton news: "Revived probe eyes 80 charities' ties to
terrorism...Investigators believe millions of dollars were funneled out of the U.S. to
fund terrorist operations."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20020409-10600646.htm
"13 Israeli Soldiers Die in Jenin Attack...Under heavy U.S. pressure, Israel withdrew
today from two Palestinian towns, but soldiers took over other areas of the West Bank
and fought dozens of beleaguered gunmen in a refugee camp." (AP)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-040902izpals_wr.story
"A test of wills between US, Israel...Israel continues military campaign, despite
Bush's calls for withdrawal." (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0408/p01s01-uspo.html
"The Bush administration is putting its hopes on moderate Arab leaders to provide the
pressure to end growing violence in the Middle East." (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20020409/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_arab_allies_3
Scarborough: "Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld yesterday pointed out that fugitive
Osama bin Laden has not released one of his trademark videotapes in recent months,
saying his al Qaeda terror network seems more busy surviving than attacking"
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020409-37390007.htm
"Under Arab pressure to force Israel to pull its troops out of the West Bank,
Secretary of State Colin Powell is reaching out to Egypt for help in persuading Yasser
Arafat to clamp down on terror against Israel." (AP)
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/86256B51006BC7AB86256B9600373CB8?OpenDocument&Headline=Powell+reaches+to+Egypt+for+support+in+peacemaking+effort
Israel withdraws, then advances...Israel sent conflicting signals on its military
intentions early Tuesday, continuing to withdraw from two towns in the West Bank while
moving into another.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/677951.asp
"The White House last night described Israel's announcement that it would begin a
troop pullout from Palestinian cities as "a start" toward compliance with President
Bush's demands for an end to its 10-day-old West Bank incursion and withdrawal of
occupation forces" (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16956-2002Apr8.html
Iraq's crude ploy shielding Saddam?...Oil traders Monday mostly shrugged off Iraq's
threat to cut off oil shipments to protest Israel's crackdown in the West Bank,
convinced that supplies won't be seriously interrupted. But that could change quickly
if other OPEC members join the protest.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/735667.asp
"In Confinement, Arafat's Standing Soars...Normally Fractious Palestinians Close Ranks
Behind Leader During Israeli Siege of Compound" (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16630-2002Apr8.html
"Iran is ready to stop oil exports to countries supporting Israel but such an embargo
would be effective only if other nations cooperate, Parliament Speaker Mehdi Karroubi
said Tuesday." (Reuters)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=716&e=9&cid=578&u=/nm/20020409/ts_nm/energy_iran_dc_2
Knoxville: "Protesters voice litany of gripes at Bush appearance"
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_1076638,00.html
Text of President Bush's Monday speech in Knoxville
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_1076632,00.html
Milbank: "President Becomes Texas Wonk...After more than a year on the job, the man
who once called tariffs 'terriers' and reversed Slovenia and Slovakia is slipping into
policy jargon with the frequency of someone who has spent way too much time inside the
Beltway" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16565-2002Apr8.html
"INS Tightens Rules for Visitors...Far-Reaching Changes Involve Length of Stay,
Student Visas" (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16745-2002Apr8.html
LA Times: INS Commissioner James W. Ziglar said his agency was seeking "the
appropriate balance" between enforcing the law and welcoming legitimate visitors.
"While we recognize the overwhelming majority who come to us as visitors are honest
and law-abiding," he said, "the events of Sept. 11 remind us there will always be
those who seek to cause us harm."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-040902visas.story
"GOP May Pull Energy Bill...Eager to avoid defeat on a key plank of President Bush's
domestic agenda, Republican leaders are considering pulling the plug on a massive
energy bill unless it includes a provision that permits new drilling in Alaska, GOP
sources said." (Roll Call) http://www.rollcall.com/pages/news/00/2002/04/news0408a.html
"Senate Republicans are having trouble getting a majority to support drilling in an
Arctic wildlife refuge, although the administration hopes Iraq's call for an oil
embargo may rally lawmakers to the pro-drilling side." (Reuters)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20020409/ap_on_go_co/arctic_drilling_7
"Ridge's Hill Liaison Leaves...With Senate Democrats continuing to pressure Tom Ridge
over his refusal to testify publicly, the Homeland Security director's top
Congressional liaison has left the Bush administration." (Roll Call)
http://www.rollcall.com/pages/news/00/2002/04/news0408b.html
"Sept. 11 Dominates Pulitzers as N.Y. Times Wins Record 7...The Los Angeles Times
receives two, for feature and editorial writing. The Washington Post also nets two."
(Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-000025375apr09.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dnation
Britons bid farewell to queen mother...Kings and queens from across Europe gathered
Tuesday in Westminster Abbey for the Queen Mother Elizabeth's funeral as huge crowds
stood outside to honor the country's beloved royal matriarch.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/732165.asp
"A student group at Washington University in St. Louis launched a petition drive
Monday asking for administrators to review the pay of part-time instructor Jim Talent,
the likely GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate." (Kansas City Star)
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/politics/3024549.htm
Page Six: "Terrorist hunting U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is about to be
dragged into a messy palimony lawsuit involving his 78-year-old billionaire buddy
Marvin "Buzz" Oates and the tycoon's 38-year-old ex-girlfriend."
http://pagesix.com/pagesix/pagesix.htm
de Moraes: "NBC's 'Today' show yesterday rushed in where Oprah Winfrey no longer cares
to tread, announcing that it will launch a monthly segment recommending works by
little-known authors."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16961-2002Apr8.html
Opinion/Editorial
Oren: "Don't Hold Israel Back...America has done so for 50 years. Result: More war."
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=105001903
Chicago Sun Times: Israel's patience is worn thin, too
http://www.suntimes.com/output/commentary/cst-edt-edits09.html
Bray "From the heartland...A Big Tax Break...The IRS gives a new meaning to
'government pork.'" http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/tbray/?id=105001899
Kinsley: "Celling me short...Cellular disconnect...Opponents of human cloning are
playing with people�s lives" http://www.msnbc.com/news/735689.asp
Arkin: "Checking on Civilian Casualties"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/columns/dotmil/A13327-2002Apr8.html
Broder: "Bush's Unease With Ambiguity"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16902-2002Apr8.html
USA Today: "Iraq's suspension Monday of oil exports for 30 days in protest of Israel's
recent military attacks against Palestinians did more than nudge already rising
gasoline prices higher." http://www.usatoday.com/news/comment/2002/04/09/edtwof.htm
Roff: "Bumbling Gumbel...Left-leaning TV host loses his balance"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20020409-24749137.htm
Mondo Washington: "Some Israeli Soldiers Blast Occupation...Oy, No! We Won't Go!"
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0215/ridgeway.php
Mallard Fillmore http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp
Steiner http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/steiner.htm
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/viewdb.cfm?uc_full_date=20020409
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