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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tejek who wrote (208133)	10/22/2004 2:02:18 PM
From: tejek	Respond to of 1575523

U.S. Expat Voters Out in Record Numbers in Germany Fri Oct 22, 2004 10:19 AM ET (Page 1 of 2) By Erik Kirschbaum BERLIN (Reuters) - American expatriates in Germany are turning out in record numbers for the presidential election, spurred on by the German public, U.S. military commanders or a newfound sense that every vote could be decisive. Both the Republicans and Democrats Abroad groups have reported huge jumps in registration this year. A few who missed absentee ballot deadlines are so determined that they even plan to fly to their home states next month just to vote. The fourth largest U.S. expatriate community in the world, the 270,000 Americans in Germany have traditionally leaned toward Republicans because the large number of soldiers, generally seen as more conservative, and the coordinated efforts of the military to get absentee ballots to the 100,000 troops. But with the 2000 election decided by 537 votes in Florida, large numbers of civilians have also registered and sent ballots to their home states, many for the first time in decades. "It's wild, we've had a 10-fold increase in registration," said Henry Nickel, chairman of the German chapter of Republicans Abroad. "I used to have a job in property development but helping people register and vote is all I do now." The war in Iraq and President Bush's foreign policies, both unpopular in Germany, have electrified the German public, which polls show would overwhelmingly back Democratic challenger John Kerry if they could vote in the United States. Some Germans have channelled that energy into campaigns to persuade Americans in Germany to register and vote -- which can be an arduous battle with bureaucracy. "We're getting involved because America's policies have a big impact on our lives," said Sarah Voigt, one of about 50 Germans working for a pro-Kerry organization that is helping the 20,000 Americans in Berlin register. Her group has also staged rallies urging Germans to pressure their American friends to vote in the Nov. 2 election. GERMANY A "SWING STATE?" The parties have paid close attention to expatriates since 1988. In senate elections that year Florida Democrat Kenneth MacKay had led voting when polls closed but absentee ballots -- most from overseas -- gave Republican Connie Mack the win. Continued ... reuters.com

To: tejek who wrote (208133)	10/22/2004 2:04:16 PM
From: Road Walker	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 1575523

Tenet thinks the war in Iraq was "wrong". Go figure... Tenet: CIA made errors By ANNA CLARK / H-P Correspondent BENTON TOWNSHIP -- Although he emphasized that the Central Intelligence Agency boasts "tremendously talented men and women," former CIA Director George Tenet said it "did not live up to our expectations as professionals" regarding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the search for nonexistent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. "We had inconsistent information, and we did not inform others in the community of gaps in our intelligence," Tenet said. "The extraordinary men and women who do magnificent work in the CIA are held accountable every day for what they do, and as part of keeping our faith with the American people, we will tell you when we're right or wrong." Tenet called the war on Iraq "wrong" in a speech Wednesday night to 2,000 members of The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center. He did not elaborate. Despite proclaiming to be "as forthcoming as I can," Tenet made light of a question about whether or not the United States made an error in committing intelligence to the search for nonexistent WMDs in Iraq rather than exploring terrorism elsewhere. Tenet apologized for being rude but did not answer the question. He did add that he doesn't think the Iraq war was wholly bad. "When I look at the regime (Saddam Hussein) ran, and the elaborate depth he took to deny us the ability to build our intelligence, I can't say it was a waste," Tenet said. "I believed he had weapons of mass destruction. He didn't. At the end of the day I have to stand up accountable for that. In the meantime our nation needs to honor the commitment we made in Iraq." Tenet was faulted in April's 9/11 Commission report for not having a strategy to battle terrorism before the terrorist attacks. He also took responsibility for a later discredited line in President George Bush's 2003 State of the Union address, which alleged that Iraq was trying to buy uranium from Africa. Tenet said the CIA had seen and approved the speech in advance, and he assumed responsibility for the error. Tenet said that while the Iraq war was "rightly being challenged," the CIA was making important strides toward success in the greater war on terrorism. He said the United States is "winning the war on terror" due to the CIA's efforts to "capture or kill" three-quarters of al-Qaida's leaders, pinpointed before 9/11. He expects to see Osama bin Ladin captured. Tenet highlighted places throughout the world, including Iran and North Korea, that are potential terrorism threats, while commending the cooperation of Pakistan and Libya with U.S. efforts. He said the Pakistani president "came to our side" after 9/11 and allowed for important al-Qaida captures in a nation the terrorist organization once considered safe. Libya initiated contact with the CIA and explicitly committed to dismantling its weapons program - the first time any such program was self-dismantled without a shot being fired, Tenet said. "Demographics and distribution trends are something we also need to keep an eye on," Tenet said. "The developed world is not reproducing at levels to maintain its position, while developing nations who cannot afford it, mostly Muslim ones, are exploding." Tenet said a developing nation's low per capita income, high unemployment among young men and high infant mortality rate strongly increase its likelihood of becoming a "terrorist safe haven." "In 2010, 100 million people outside of Africa will be infected with HIV," Tenet said. "The secondary implications of this are staggering." He said the work of public health officers, missionaries and literacy teachers in third world nations are crucial to the war on terrorism, because terrorists build supporters by spinning poverty as a form of humiliation caused by wealthy nations like the United States.