VOANews.com, with its new community site USAVotes2008.com, will continue to
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Indian Navy Destroys Pirate Ship in Gulf of Aden
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Officials say stealth frigate destroyed heavily armed pirate mother ship with
two speed boats in tow, about 528 kilometers southwest of Oman coast
For the second time in a week, India's navy has repelled pirates in the Gulf of
Aden. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that compared to
other navies patrolling the pirate-infested water, India's warships are showing
no hesitation in opening fire to thwart hijackings and protect their national
interests beyond its shores.Indian Naval Ship TabarIndia's navy says one of its
stealth frigates destroyed a heavily armed pirate mother ship with two speed
boats in tow, about 528 kilometers southwest of the coast of Oman. It is the
second time in a week the Indian navy has clashed with suspected hijackers in
the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden. The director of the Institute
of Peace and Conflict Studies in New Delhi, retired Indian Army Major General
Dipankar Banerjee, says India's navy has been given the all-clear by the
government here to confront the pirates. "It is very much in order for India to
take an active interest in these attempted hijackings of ships, which now often
have a very significant portion of Indian sailors," said Banerjee. "Indian
merchantmen are manning most of these ships now. And most of these ships will
have a significant number of Indians in them apart from the Indian cargo. The
presence of a number of warships from at least nine countries, including the
United States, in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden has, so far, done
little to thwart the rising number of attacks on commercial vessels. Click to
see larger mapMaritime industry groups report pirates are currently holding 14
ships off the Somali coast, including an oil supertanker. An Indian navy
warship, on November 11, first intercepted pirates who surrounded an Indian
merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.In the second incident - late Tuesday - the
Indian Naval Ship Tabar, according to the Defense Ministry here, encountered a
so-called mother ship of a group of pirates. The vessel refused to be boarded
for an inspection, responded that it would destroy the Tabar if it did not
depart and then fired upon the naval ship. India's navy says the Tabar returned
fire, the pirate ship exploded as two speed boats of the suspected pirates
broke away and escaped. The Tabar was dispatched on an anti-piracy mission to
the region at the beginning of the month to escort Indian and other merchant
ships through the pirate-infested waters off of Somalia.The International
Maritime Bureau says piracy in the region is out of control. It is calling on
the United Nations to take a role to halt the menace which is driving up costs
for shipping and making crew members hesitant to transit one of the world's
busiest commercial maritime routes.
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Al-Qaida Leader Says Obama's Afghan Plan Doomed
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Statement from Ayman al-Zawahiri, terror network's second-in-command, refers to
US president-elect by derogatory racial term, attacks his policies as
anti-Islamic
Al-Qaida's first reaction to Barack Obama's election as U.S. president refers
to him by a derogatory racial term and attacks his policies as
anti-Islamic.Al-Qaida number two leader Ayman al-Zawahiri's video statement
about President-elect Obama, 19 Nov. 2008In an posting on a militant Web site
Wednesday, a voice identified as the terror network's second-in-command, Ayman
al-Zawahri, says President-elect Obama's plan to increase the U.S. military
presence in Afghanistan is doomed. There was no immediate reaction from the
U.S. government or Mr. Obama's transition team.The al-Qaida recording says Mr.
Obama's support of Israel confirms his hostility toward Islam. The posting
shows a picture of Mr. Obama wearing a skull cap at a Jewish holy site in
Jerusalem.Zawahri also denigrates Mr. Obama's achievements and those of other
prominent African Americans: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and General
Colin Powell - implying they are servile to whites.Zawahri uses a phrase
popularized by slain U.S. activist and Muslim convert Malcolm X to refer to Mr.
Obama as a "house slave." The English caption translates it to "house Negro" -
a reference to enslaved African Americans who Malcolm X said were manipulated
by white power. The personal attack also includes a rebuke to Mr. Obama for
turning his back on his father's Muslim roots.Mr. Obama has said he would
return America's military focus to Afghanistan and the fight against al-Qaida
after what the president-elect has called the distraction of Iraq. The U.S.
military is already working to draw down troops in Iraq, while boosting forces
in Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have been on the rise.Zawahri says in
the posting that "the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh" of American
soldiers "to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them."Zawahri
refers to a specific U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan on November 5, showing that
the message was taped after Mr. Obama's election.
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Pakistan Says Al-Qaida Operative Killed in US Missile Strike
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Most of six killed are said to be foreign fighters including senior al-Qaida
operative of Arab origin identified as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi
Authorities in Pakistan say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed at least
six al-Qaida-linked militants in a remote northwestern village. Meanwhile,
senior military officials say that close coordination between Pakistani troops
and U.S-led coalition forces has helped an ongoing offensive to evict militants
from a tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Ayaz Gul reports from
Islamabad.Local residents sit by rubble of a house hit by suspected US missile
strike in Indi Khel village near Bannu, Pakistan, 19 Nov 2008Officials say a
pre-dawn missile strike by what is believed to have been a U.S. unmanned spy
plane destroyed a militant hideout in the northwestern district of Bannu. Most
of those killed in the attack are said to be foreign fighters, including a
senior al-Qaida operative of Arab origin identified as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi.
Witnesses say that militants quickly removed bodies from the scene before local
authorities arrived to investigate the incident. Speaking by telephone district
police officer Mohammed Alam Shinwari confirmed the attack.He says
investigations continue in an effort to confirm exactly how many people were
killed in the early morning attack. This was the first alleged U.S missile
strike to have hit a target outside Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal regions
on the Afghan border, which have become a safe haven for al-Qaida and Taliban
militants. Pakistani authorities allege U.S drones have carried out more than
20 missile strikes in the past three months. Although Washington does not
comment on them, senior U.S officials are reported as saying the strikes have
killed important al-Qaida operatives in recent weeks. But Pakistani leaders
and tribesmen say most of the victims were innocent civilians. The government
has protested the U.S attacks, saying they violate the country's sovereignty
and undermine public support for its anti-terror efforts. Reports appeared in
American media have suggested that a secret deal between Washington and
Islamabad signed recently allowed the stepped up U.S missile attacks inside
Pakistan. But a statement this week from the country's foreign minister denied
the reports. Meanwhile, military spokesman Major General Atthar Abbass
disclosed an ongoing anti-insurgent operation in the militant-infested Bajaur
tribal region has made gains because U.S-led coalition forces have given
assistance from the Afghan side of the border. "This is the first time that
they have also deployed their forces checking the border crossings, and,
therefore, we were able to target the foreign militants in Bajaur and choke
them in the area," Abbass said. "There have been also communications between
the main posts on both sides of the border. They have been communication with
each other and assisting each other against the militants' crossings and
militants' operations in the area." A senior U.S military commander has also
confirmed that NATO and Afghan forces have stepped up border cooperation with
the Pakistani military. He told reporters this week that "Operation Lionheart"
also included coordinated action against militants on both sides of the border.
Pakistani authorities say that they have killed nearly 2,000 militants,
including foreigners in the Bajaur operation.
------------------------------------------------------
Former US President Clinton to Submit to Ethics Review
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Media reports say former president will submit to extensive ethics review if
his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is nominated to be secretary of state in
Obama administration
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (file photo)U.S. media reports say former
President Bill Clinton will submit to an extensive ethics review if his wife,
Senator Hillary Clinton, is nominated to be secretary of state in the Obama
administration.The reports first published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal
newspaper cite Democratic Party officials familiar with President-elect Barack
Obama's vetting process who say Mr. Clinton has agreed to submit future
charitable and business activities to rigorous ethics reviews. The reports say
the former president has also offered to release the names of several major
donors to his charitable foundation. They say Mr. Clinton would also seek
clearance from the Obama administration before agreeing to any paid
speeches.Mr. Obama is reportedly considering Senator Clinton among others for
the top U.S. diplomatic post. Officials say Mr. Obama's transition team wants
to ensure that Mr. Clinton's activities do not pose a conflict of interest with
the new administration.Senator Clinton lost to Mr. Obama in the long and often
bitter race earlier this year for the Democratic Party presidential
nomination.Mr. Obama is also reportedly considering New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson, another rival for the party nomination, for secretary of state.Eric
Holder, 09 Jun 2008In other Cabinet posts, party officials say Mr. Obama is
considering private practice attorney Eric Holder to be attorney general.
Holder served as deputy attorney general under former President Clinton, and
would be the first African-American to head the Justice Department if he does
become attorney general.Officials say Mr. Obama's aides have been talking with
senators to determine if they would support the selection. At issue is
Holder's involvement in the controversial 2001 pardon of a fugitive financier,
Marc Rich, by President Clinton. At the time, Holder said he was neutral and
leaning toward favoring the pardon.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
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Paulson, Bernanke Defend Financial Rescue Strategy
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US Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve Chairman faced criticism that original
intent of financial rescue program as approved by Congress in September shifted
In testimony to Congress, the U.S. treasury chief and central bank chairman
have strongly defended their management of the $700 billion financial and
credit market rescue program. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill,
where the officials faced tough questions from lawmakers about how government
money is being used.Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, left, accompanied by
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testifies on Capitol Hill before House
Financial Services Committee, 18 Nov. 2008U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have faced criticism the original
intent of the financial rescue program as approved by Congress in September has
shifted.Mr. Paulson revealed last week that billions of dollars approved by
Congress is now going to prop up capital liquidity and lending capabilities of
banks and other institutions, rather than to purchase troubled assets they
hold.Under questioning before the House Financial Services Committee, Paulson
said negative developments in U.S. and global market conditions since Congress
approved the rescue program outstripped the effectiveness of initial $350
billion amount approved by Congress, forcing the change in direction."It is
clear that an effective mortgage asset purchase program would require a massive
commitment of TARP [Troubled Asset Relief Program] funds," he said. "In
September, before economic conditions worsened, $700 billion in troubled asset
purchases would have had a significant impact. But half of that sum in a worse
economy simply is not enough fire power."Paulson said actions so far had
strengthened the financial system, prevented further harm to the U.S. economy,
and preserved for President-elect Barack Obama the flexibility he will need to
deal with future challenges. Committee chairman Democratic Representative
Barney Frank said lawmakers are unhappy with how banks and institutions have
used money from the government program, and their failure to significantly
expand lending to home owners."The fundamental policy issue is our
disappointment that funds are not being used out of the $700 billion to
supplement mortgage foreclosure reduction," he said.Lawmakers have pointed to
media reports that banks have used money from the government assistance program
to purchase other banks, and pay investor dividends and bonuses to executives.
Representatives of some major institutions told Congress last week that
executive compensation will be sharply reduced in light of economic conditions,
and defended their efforts to expand lending. Ranking panel Republican Spencer
Bachus said Paulson deserves credit for recognizing the need to shift
strategy."[If] conditions on the ground change, then you must be agile and
adjust, and I hope we all understand that," he said.In their testimony,
Bernanke and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Sheila Bair said
while capital injections reduced pressure on and provided some stability to
banks, credit conditions remain unsatisfactory."Overall credit conditions are
still far from normal, with risk spreads remaining very elevated and banks
reporting that they continued to tighten lending standards through October,"
Bernanke said.FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair testifies on Capitol Hill before the
House Financial Services Committee, 18 Nov. 2008"The financial system is now
more stable and interest rate spreads have narrowed substantially, however
credit remains tight and a serious threat to the economic outlook," said
Bair.Bair pointed to continuing increases in the number of U.S. home
foreclosures, saying that government efforts are "falling behind the curve."
In his testimony, Treasury Secretary Paulson said the Bush administration
remains opposed to using funds from the government rescue program to help the
three major U.S. automakers avoid collapse.House and Senate lawmakers are
considering a $25 billion plan to help auto manufacturers.
------------------------------------------------------
Congressional Democrats Vow Bipartisan Approach in New Congress
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Democrats speak to reporters after finalizing party leadership positions on
Capitol Hill
Democratic leaders in Congress say they will use their strengthened majority to
pursue bipartisan solutions to U.S. economic problems. VOA's Dan Robinson
reports, Democrats spoke to reporters late Tuesday after finalizing party
leadership positions on Capitol Hill.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (l), and
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 18 Nov 2008California Representative Nancy Pelosi,
who House Democrats re-elected as Speaker, says Americans expect the
Democratic-led Congress to tackle the difficult challenges facing the country,
and work with a President Obama after he is inaugurated in January."That change
brings with it tremendous responsibility," said Nancy Pelosi. "The American
people have great expectations for what this Congress can do working with the
great President-elect Barack Obama."Pelosi said a new direction, the main theme
of Democrats in the 2008 election campaign, will require bipartisanship and
civility, as well as fiscal responsibility.House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer,
who also retained his position in the Democratic hierarchy, echoed the
remarks."We intend to work across the aisle, with the Senate and with the
President of the United States, to do what American voters wanted done, to make
a change in America," said Steny Hoyer.Congress has returned for a lame duck
session, during which lawmakers attempt to complete unfinished work, and tackle
other issues.Hoyer earlier raised the possibility that the session might
continue into December after the Thanksgiving holiday break, to accommodate
work on legislation to help U.S. automakers.Executives from General Motors,
Ford and Chrysler pressed members of a Senate panel to approve billions of
dollars to help them avert potential collapse.But Pelosi said she doesn't see
much likelihood of a December session, saying Congress will either have to pass
an auto company assistance bill now or wait until lawmakers return to begin a
new 112th congressional session, at which time they will also be working on a
new economic stimulus measure. And any new government assistance to car
companies, Pelosi adds, must come with strict conditions:"We will put up enough
money to infuse the industry with the liquidity to take it until March," she
said. "By March we want to see a plan. If you want us to show you more money,
you must show us your plan for how this industry will be viable."Representative
Jim Clyburn - House Democratic Whip, 18 Nov 2008Elsewhere in the House
Democratic leadership, South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn, now arguably
the most influential African-American lawmaker in Congress, retains his number
three post as Democratic Whip."We now have an expanded majority and we are now
faced with some significant challenges," said Jim Clyburn. "This caucus will
work with Barack Obama to manage some of the most significant crises our
country has ever faced."Connecticut Representative John Larson will head the
House Democratic Caucus, replacing Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman and
former Clinton administration aide who will be chief of staff to Mr.Obama when
he takes office in January.
------------------------------------------------------
Georgia, Russia Conclude Talks
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Meeting aimed at easing tensions after five-day war over south Ossetia in
August; parties agree to meet again next month
Russian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigori Karassine and members of
delegation arrive for second round of talks at UN offices in Geneva, 19 Nov
2008Russia and Georgia have wrapped up a round of talks aimed at easing
tensions after a five-day war in August over Georgia's breakaway region of
South Ossetia.The United Nations and European Union sponsored Wednesday's
eight-party talks in Geneva. Officials from South Ossetia and from the
breakaway region of Abkhazia attended the meeting, along with a representative
from the United States.Officials did not say much about today's discussion.
But Russia's deputy foreign minister confirmed that the parties are set to hold
another round in Geneva next month.Georgia has said it wants an international
peacekeeping presence in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
which are now patrolled by Russian forces. Russian forces swept into Georgia
August 7, following Georgia's military effort to regain control of South
Ossetia. Moscow subsequently recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as
independent states.Wednesday's meetings were held in two working groups, rather
than in a formal plenary session. Delegates are meeting as individuals without
identifying the side they represent. Abkhazia's Deputy Foreign Minister Maxim
Gvinjia was pessimistic ahead of the meeting. He said he expects results "many,
many years" from now.Georgian and Russian delegates walked out of inaugural
talks in Geneva last month. Georgia objected to Russian demands that officials
from South Ossetia and the other separatist region, Abkhazia, be seated at the
talks.Meanwhile, exchanges of gunfire are reported outside a Georgian village
near the boundary of South Ossetia.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
------------------------------------------------------
US Food Safety Officials Open Office in China
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Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says FDA presence in China is
first step in global strategy
The United States has opened a Food and Drug Administration office in Beijing,
as the first step in an FDA strategy to try to improve food and drug safety
standards
around the world. The moves comes one week after the United States placed a
temporary ban on dairy products imported from China, which is still recovering
from a scandal involving tainted milk. Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
Beijing retiree, Mr. Ling, says recent scandals involving tainted foodstuffs in
China have him worried.
Ling says he cannot be so scared that he stops eating altogether. He says
although some businessmen who sold tainted milk to consumers have no
conscience, he generally trusts his
government and, in the end, still has to eat.
The safety of Chinese food products also concerns the United States, which
imported more than $4 billion worth of foodstuffs from China in 2007.
In recognition of the importance of China as a growing source for US edibles,
the Food and Drug Administration opened its first overseas office in Beijing
Wednesday. Eight FDA staffers
eventually will be based in three Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzhou.
Mike Leavitt talks to reporters in Beijing, 19 Nov 2008U.S. Health and Human
Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said FDA's China presence is the first step in
a global strategy that will see FDA offices also open in India, Latin America,
Europe and the Middle East in coming months.
"The opening of offices around the world is part of a desire we have to both
build regulatory capacity with host governments, in other words, to improve our
relationships and to work
jointly, in collaboration," he said.
Leavitt said having US inspection personnel on the ground, around the world,
means they will be able to respond more rapidly to any problems that could
occur.
China in recent months has been embroiled in a scandal involving milk tainted
with melamine, an industrial chemical that gives the false appearance of higher
protein content. The
tainted milk has killed at least four babies and sickened tens of thousands of
others.
Melamine was also found to be the culprit in contaminated pet food ingredients
imported to the United States from China in 2007, after pet cats and dogs died.
Last week, amidst the latest scandal, the United States imposed a ban on
imports of Chinese dairy products, unless importers could certify they are free
of melamine.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday said his country regrets
the US decision, and called for the ban to be lifted as soon as possible.
He also told reporters China plans to send "relevant" Chinese food safety
officials to the United States.
Qin gave no specifics, but said China hopes the arrangement will help the two
countries strengthen communication and cooperation on food quality and safety.
The posting of FDA officials in China was based on two agreements on the safety
of food, feed, drugs and medical devices US and Chinese officials signed last
December.
------------------------------------------------------
New Report Calls Nuclear Terrorism Serious Risk
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'Securing the Bomb 2008' urges President-elect Barack Obama to make reducing
risk a top priority of US security policy and diplomacy
A new report says the world still faces a serious risk that terrorists could
obtain a nuclear bomb and urges President-elect Barack Obama to make reducing
that risk a top priority of U.S. security policy and diplomacy. VOA
correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.The new report, called
"Securing the Bomb 2008," says major progress has been made to reduce the
danger of nuclear terrorism.The report warns, however, there are still major
gaps in these efforts and says the risk of terrorists acquiring a nuclear
weapon remains unacceptably high.The author of the report, Harvard professor
Matthew Bunn, says the potential for a disastrous attack is very real."That
would incinerate the heart of a major city," he said. "It could turn the
center of Washington, D.C. or the center of Manhattan into a smoking,
radioactive ruin that would be unusable for decades to come. That would have
profound and catastrophic affects on our society, really reverberating around
the world."The study is the seventh annual report from Harvard University's
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and was commissioned by the
Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonproliferation group based in Washington, D.C.
The report details a series of events around the world in recent years it says
highlights the risk of poor security at nuclear installations.These include an
armed break-in at a South African site with hundreds of kilograms of highly
enriched uranium, the arrest of a Russian colonel for soliciting bribes to
overlook violations of nuclear security rules and the increasing terrorist
threats amid the ongoing strife in Pakistan.The report says the materials for a
nuclear bomb exist in hundreds of buildings in dozens of countries.Professor
Bunn says there are currently about 130 research reactors around the world that
still use highly enriched uranium for fuel."I think they are a quite serious
concern because many of these facilities have very minimal security measures,"
he said. "Some of them are on university campuses and other locations where it
is really not plausible that you would ever have the kind of security that in
my view is required when you are talking about potential nuclear bomb
material."The report says there has been progress in the former Soviet Union in
recent years. It says U.S.-sponsored security upgrades have been completed for
75 percent of the buildings that contain weapons-grade material and for about
65 percent of Russia's nuclear warhead sites. The study says major issues
remain, however, ranging from insider theft and corruption to chronic
underinvestment in nuclear security.The report also recommends expanding
efforts to secure nuclear materials in China, India, Pakistan and South
Africa.The study contains an agenda for the next U.S. president to prevent
nuclear terrorism and Professor Bunn says President-elect Barack Obama needs to
accelerate efforts to combat the threat."They really need a comprehensive
strategy to prevent nuclear terrorism, starting with locking down nuclear
stockpiles all over the world, making sure that every nuclear weapon, every
kilogram of plutonium or highly enriched uranium, wherever it may be, is secure
and accounted for," he said.Professor Bunn says the Obama administration should
appoint a senior White House official, with direct access to the President, to
supervise all efforts focused on preventing nuclear terrorism.
------------------------------------------------------
Space Shuttle Endeavour Crew Begin Space Station Repairs
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Astronauts begin first of four space walks planned for current mission
Two astronauts from the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour began a series of repairs
on the International Space Station Tuesday. The space walk is the first of
four that the astronauts have planned for the current mission. VOA's Catherine
Cannon has this report from Washington. TS-126 space walker Heide
Stefanyshyn-Piper rides the International Space Station's Canadarm2 to space
shuttle Endeavour's payload bay, 18 Nov 2008The first mission for Endeavour's
crew began as astronauts Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen left the
station for a more than six-hour walk in space. The astronauts' main task for
all four space walks is to repair and lubricate massive joints that turn the
station's solar panels toward the sun. The solar panels must face the sun in
order to produce the maximum amount of electricity for the station. During
the first space walk, Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen cleaned and lubricated the
starboard solar alpha rotary joint. Tuesday's mission included the transfer
of a nitrogen tank assembly from a storage platform on the space station to the
shuttle Endeavour so it can be brought back to Earth. NASA technicians
described the work as the astronauts carried out the mission."Steve Bowen as he
moves hand-and-hand back to the cargo carrier where he will help
Stefanyshyn-Piper install that for return home to Earth," a NASA official
explained.Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who will participate in the next space
walk, is this walk's choreographer or intravehicular officer. Mission
specialist Don Pettit is in charge operating the Canadarm2, a robotic arm that
helps the space walkers move materials.To prepare for conditions outside the
space station, Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen spent the night in lower air
pressure to remove nitrogen from their systems. Stefanyshyn-Piper will also
participate in the crew's second space walk. The astronauts will continue to
clean and repair the joints on the space station in two days.
------------------------------------------------------
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