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Bush Lays Out "Strategy for Victory" in Iraq; Radio address highlights military, political goals - In his weekly radio address June 25, President Bush recalled his June 24 meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari at the White House and previewed his scheduled June 28 address to the American people, in which he intends to speak of "our mission in Iraq, why it remains important to our safety here at home, and our two-track strategy for victory."

The first track is military, according to the president, in which the United States must "defeat the terrorists and continue helping Iraqis take greater responsibility for defending their freedom" against "terrorists [whose] ... objective is to break the will of America and of the Iraqi people before democracy can take root."

Bush said that so far the enemy has not succeeded: "Two years ago, they tried to intimidate the Iraqi Governing Council - and failed. Last year, they tried to delay the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq - and failed. This year, they tried to stop the free Iraqi elections - and failed." - More...
Sunday - June 26, 2005

United States wants action, not talk from Syria, secretary of state says - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Syria June 23 to take action against cross-border activities contributing to the insurgency in Iraq and to stop supporting terrorist groups trying to destroy the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

In a press conference with other Group of Eight (G8) foreign ministers after their meeting in London, Rice also expressed the hope that an outward-looking European Union will continue its expansion.

Asked about cross-border insurgents entering Iraq from Syria, Rice said, "I would simply say to the Syrian government, let's not have more words about what they're prepared to do about Iraq, let's have action. This is a government that can take action on its border to prevent these cross-border activities that are really contributing dramatically to insecurity in Iraq. So if they're prepared to do it, they should just do it." - More...
Sunday - June 26, 2005

Bush Confident Iraq's Democracy Will Be Successful - Speaking Friday with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari at the White House, Bush said, "I'm confident the Iraqi people will continue to defy the skeptics as they assume greater responsibility for their security and build a new Iraq that represents their diversity."

"We're optimistic that more and more Iraqi troops are becoming better trained to fight the terrorists. We're optimistic about the constitutional process. There is a political track that's moving forward in parallel with the security track," Bush said. - More...
Sunday - June 26, 2005

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters Fortunate Son By Norbert Chaudhary - Sunday SHAME By Nancy Jensen - Sunday DSM: THE ORIGINAL IS STILL OUT THERE By Nelson Guyther - Sunday Naha Bay Preservation Coalition By Lisa Grogan - Sunday DSM hearings By Matt Connell - Sunday Downing Street memo originals By Doug Basham - Sunday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Credit fraud fee By: Larry Wright The Detroit News Distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons, Inc. Political Cartoonists Note: Roger Maynard, Ketchikan Editorial Cartoonist will not be updating his website for awhile. Ketchikan Calendar, Meetings, Events Today's Forecast City Police Report 06/23/05 AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Classifieds & Announcements June 2005 Click on the date for stories and photos published on that day... S M T W T F S        01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30     Front Page Archives

Experts Assess Likelihood of Nuclear, Biological Attacks - In the next 10 years, the world faces a 29 percent chance there will be a nuclear attack, in part because four new nations will be added to the nuclear weapons club, according to a survey compiled by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Richard G. Lugar.

The survey of arms control and national security experts also indicated there is a 30 percent chance there will be a major chemical or biological attack, Lugar said in a prepared statement released June 24.

"The prospects of a dirty bomb attack were pegged at 40 percent," he said. A dirty bomb is a high explosive that has been contaminated with radioactive materials. - More...
Sunday - June 26, 2005

As court's session winds down, speculation about vacancies ramps up By MARGARET TALEV - At least one Supreme Court justice may announce a retirement this week as the nation's highest court prepares to end its term and close up shop until October.

The most anticipated possible retirement has been that of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the 80-year-old conservative jurist who has been undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. But Rehnquist may wait out the summer, since the Senate might not be able to act quickly enough to confirm a new justice anyway before its month-long recess in August. Some of his fans even hope that if doctors, in the meantime, give him a decent prognosis, Rehnquist surprises everyone and postpones retirement indefinitely. He isn't saying. - More...
Sunday - June 26, 2005

Many farmers embracing 'Frankenfoods' By LANCE GAY - A decade ago, critics called them "Frankenfoods" and forecast that these "sci-fi" foods grown from gene-altered seeds would turn America's fertile lands into unwanted and barren deserts.

But a milestone in genetic engineering passed in relative silence this spring, as farmers planted more than 1 billion acres in genetically modified seeds. An estimated 85 percent of the soybeans and 50 percent of the corn crop growing in the United States this year has at least one biotech trait, and bioengineering seeds are available for canola, papaya, cotton, potatoes and tomatoes. - More...
Sunday - JUne 26, 2005

United States Commits to Global Strategy for Protecting Cargo - The United States has committed to adopt a new strategy by the World Custom Organization (WCO) to protect cargo moving through ports around the world against terrorism and crime.

In a June 24 press release, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Commissioner Robert Bonner submitted the document affirming U.S. commitment to implement the WCO standards framework - just one day after its adoption by the WCO Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium. - More...
Sunday - June 26, 2005

Laine Welch: Guaranteeing Younger Fishermen A Future - Younger fishermen will be guaranteed a future thanks to a new program being crafted in Bristol Bay that will keep fishing permits in the hands of local residents. The effort stems from a unique regional, state and federal partnership that will provide permit loans to the next generation of salmon fishermen.

A cornerstone of the lending program is a $750,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Administered by the Bristol Bay Native Association (BBNA), applicants will be able to borrow money from a "community development bank" to be used as a down payment on a permit. The program also got a huge boost from the state Division of Investments, when Director Greg Winegar "came riding in on a white horse," according to Terry Hoefferle, chief executive office of BBNA. - More ...
Saturday - June 25, 2005