Wednesday, March 26, 2003

GENERAL: Coalition forces undertake numerous challenges in Iraq – getting to Baghdad, fighting through blinding sandstorms, rolling on through muddy conditions caused by rain following sandstorms, rushing humanitarian aid to Iraqi people…Reports indicate Iraqi civilians revolting against Saddam’s henchmen in Basra – analysts question whether it could be a civil war waiting to happen? Morning newscasts indicate Iraqi troops have leveled artillery guns on the protesting civilians  – on their own people… Still smoky in Baghdad, too, with highs in 80s, lows in 50s…IA MIAs: Iowans await word about Marine Sgt. Bradley Korthaus of Davenport and Army Spec. James Kiehl, whose wife DSM native Jill is at her parents home in Des Moines. Both missing in action in Iraq combat. (More on Iowa MIAs below.)…Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) reports four arrested during campus anti-war protests yesterday, charged with disorderly conduct after blocking downtown Iowa City intersection …British prime minister Tony Blair scheduled in U. S. to meet at Camp David with GWB. On Blair’s agenda, an apparent appeal to persuade Bush the U. N.  should be involved in overseeing Iraq after Saddam has been defeated…Former President Clinton – emphasis on “Former” -- scheduled to speak before packed house tonight at Hawkeye-Carver Arena in Iowa City. His lecture topic: “Embracing our Humanity: Global Security in the 21^st Century.” Speaking of liberals working the Iowa circuit, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa has announced that syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman will address their 4/12 annual dinner. For those inclined to waste money, dinner tickets $50 per person or $150 for dinner and a private reception with Goodman…Headline from the Daily Iowan: “After vandalism, ROTC drops uniforms” Report by Amy Jennings says, “An act of vandalism against a symbol of the U. S. military on the UI campus over Spring Break prompted leaders Monday to stop requiring cadets to wear uniforms to class.” Campus police are looking for a person who broke two glass doors at the ROTC office and spray-painted anti-war slogans on four other buildings late last week. “I’m not concerned for the safety of the cadets, but I worry that their uniforms may provoke attention from a person who is looking to aim his antiwar sentiments at someone,” said Lt. Col. Carol St. John, a military science professor who e-mailed about 150 University of Iowa students enrolled in the ROTC program after last week’s incident.  Cadets now have the option of wearing uniforms or their standard campus attire. 

CANDIDATES/CAUCUSES: Gore supporters do everybody a favor – highlight poll numbers indicating Gore is “still the strongest challenger” against GWB, but he’d still lose if election held now and besides he’s not even running. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: So, where does that leave the other Dem wannabes?)  DraftGore.com – slogan: “Now More Than Ever” – says mid-March Zogby International poll shows Bush would get 51% with Gore at 42% and, “All other Democrats lag behind Bush by 12 points or more.” The 1,129 respondents were “asked to indicate a preference between George Bush and each of several likely Democratic contenders.” Gore was preferred over Bush by 42% of respondents, followed by Hillary Clinton (39%), Richard Gephardt and Joe Lieberman (38%), John Kerry (36%) and John Edwards (32%). In addition, DraftGore.com said: Gore also “enjoys the greatest support” among Democratic voters (74%), followed by Clinton (70%), Gephardt (70%) and Kerry (65%)...Political assault continues on IA and NH first-in-nation status in presidential nominating process. District of Columbia mayor Anthony Williams has signed proposal to give Washington the first primary on 1/13/04 – a week before planned Iowa caucuses and two weeks ahead of scheduled New Hampshire primary. Meanwhile, back in N. H. – which is facing challenges from D. C. and Michigan – Dem and NH state leaders say they probably won’t change their date – or challenge the DC date -- in response to Washington move, but will likely act if another state tries to move up schedule… From Greg Pierce’s “Inside Politics” column in yesterday’s Washington Times: “Democratic presidential candidates who tone down their opposition to President Bush’s policy on Iraq while the United States is at war ‘don’t deserve to run for president,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said. ‘Don’t be too cowardly to speak now,’ said Mr. Sharpton, a candidate himself, before an audience of activists from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), at their legislative conference blocks away from the Capitol…’No one loves the troops and supports the troops more than us, because the troops are our brothers and sisters,’ Mr. Sharpton told the largely black audience. ‘We loved the troops before they left home.’” He also accused GWB of neglecting domestic problems to pursue an “undefined, unnecessary battle.” Sharpton said instead of spending billions for the war, the Bush administration should focus on funding education, housing and prescription drugs for military families and other low-income Americans…Under the headline, “Division on war imperils Democrats” on the Washington Times online, Donald Lambro writes: “Democrats remain so bitterly divided over the U. S. war in Iraq that some of the party’s advisers fear it could damage its prospects in the 2004 presidential election. President Bush’s offensive to disarm and topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is supported by 70 percent of Americans, while the Democrats are embroiled in a messy, partywide fight over what to do in Iraq. Some Democratic strategists think the war could come back to haunt them next year, either by fracturing their political base or by raising troubling questions about the Democrats’ credibility on national-security issues.”

MORNING SUMMARY: Top front page headline, Des Moines Register: “Troops repel Iraqi raid…Heavy enemy losses reported” Chicago Tribune online head: “Troops March Within 50 Miles of Baghdad” QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) top headline: “Q-C Marine is MIA in Iraq” re Sgt. Bradley Korthaus (see below)…Omaha World-Herald online headline: “U. S. troops fend off Iraqi ground attack”…The world’s largest land-based wind power production facility will be built in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy Co. announced yesterday the $323 million project will consist of 200 wind-driven turbines and is expected to produce 310 megawatts of energy in Iowa by 2006. No exact word on where the turbines will be located, but northwest and/or north-central Iowa are most likely possibilities. KCCI-TV (Des Moines) reported Iowans currently get only 3% of their energy from wind power – but Iowa is third largest producer of wind energy. At a DSM news conference, Vilsack said he expects other IA energy companies to announce wind generation projects in the coming months…Also from MidAmerican news conference: Company officials announced they will freeze electric rates through 2010…Dallas County (Perry, Adel) voters yesterday approved one-cent local option sales tax – 3,372 (65%) to 1,840 (35%) – that is expected to generate nearly $75 million for the county’s 11 school districts…Major fire yesterday at Sioux City airport as two World War II era buildings – former military barracks – threatened, one destroyed by the blaze. 

WAR/TERRORISM: Grassley says president’s request for $74.7 billion to support combat and post-war operations in Iraq is “probably a fair figure.” Grassley adds, however, it would be difficult for even the commander-in-chief to come up with a firm figure “when you’re firing cruise missiles at a million dollars a missile. How many cruise missiles are going to be shot?” In somewhat related item, WHO-TV reports that online survey indicates two-thirds (66%) believe the nearly $75 billion expenditure is “worth it” while 24% opposed and the rest (10%) don’t know…Iowa MIAs: QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) reports Marine Sgt. Brad Korthaus, who was assigned to a Peoria (Ill.) reserve unit, and another Marine – Cpl. Evan James of LaHarpe, Ill. – disappeared while trying to cross the Saddam Canal in southeastern Iraq. Korthaus’ father Steve, who served in Vietnam, said his son “wanted to be a Marine since he was 10 years old.” In Des Moines, WHO-TV reported DSM native Jill Kiehl was among relatives of at least 10 troops from a Texas-based Army unit awaiting word about their loved ones. Jill Kiehl has been at her parent’s home in DSM watching war coverage to find out more about fate of her husband James – who was among soldiers ambushed Sunday about 230 miles southwest of Baghdad...From VOA News (Voice of America): Headline, “Arab League Calls for US Withdrawal from Iraq” Excerpt: “Arab League foreign ministers are calling for the immediate withdrawal of U. S. and British forces. This, observers say, was the least these governments could do in the face of recent public protests against the war. At the end of their day-long meeting in Cairo, foreign ministers in the Arab League condemned what they call ‘the U. S. and British aggression against Iraq.’ Kuwait was the only country that expressed some reservations about the resolution … Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri warned his Arab neighbours, saying those who stabbed Iraq in the back would bear that responsibility in history.”…WHO Radio reports IA GOP Congressman Leach warns Iowans that post-war situation in Iraq could be difficult due to the different factions in the country. One drawback, according to Leach, is that there aren’t any former Iraqi leaders in exile who can return and reunite Iraqis. Leach added he would not support sanctions against France for opposition to Iraq military invasion, but that there “should be virtually no role” for the French in post-war Iraq…Radio Iowa reports eight National Guard soldiers – from units in Fairfield and Davenport -- have been assigned to assist law enforcement in guarding two Mississippi River railroad bridges. The bridges – identified by federal homeland security officials as among 250 sites nationwide requiring heightened security – cross the Mississippi at Clinton and Fort Madison… VOANews headline from Tokyo: “Japan Set to Launch Spy Satellites” Amy Bickers reports, “As concerns grow about North Korea’s nuclear weapons ambitions, and fears that Pyongyang could test another ballistic missile, Japan plans to launch its first reconnaissance satellites on March 28. Japan’s scheduled launch of two spy satellites comes at a tense diplomatic moment…Pyongyang, which refuses to give United Nations inspectors access to its nuclear facilities and has withdrawn from an international non-proliferation treaty, is warning Tokyo that the satellites could damage relations.” North Korea claimed again yesterday that the U. S. may attack them after the Iraq war and create “a second Iraqi crisis.” Pyongyang has charged that the U. S. is inciting a dispute over the nuclear weapons program to create an excuse for invasion against North Korea…CBS News reported an “e-bomb” – a highly classified bomb that the Pentagon won’t even acknowledge with sophisticated microwave technology that can fry computers, blind radar, etc. – knocked Iraqi TV off the air for several hours yesterday. Reports indicate the station returned with a weaker signal a few hours later, but apparently was silenced again in a matter of hours. Update: CNN reported this morning that Iraqi TV is back on air.

FEDERAL ISSUES: Uncertainty about status of proposed Bush tax cuts after three Republicans joined Dems in Senate yesterday on vote to slash the cuts in half. Twenty-four hours ago, Senate leaders were confident most of the tax cuts – except for $100 billion removed for the Iraq war and $13 billion for veterans programs – would survive and final vote would come this afternoon (4 p.m. EST). On a 51-48 vote, the $726 billion proposed tax cut – which was approved by the House last week – was reduced to $350 billion by the Senate. The three GOPS joining 48 Dems – Snowe, Chafee, Voinovich. All Dem presidential candidates – obviously – supported the tax cut reduction …The topic – and debate – on Mickelson’s talk show yesterday on WHO Radio (Des Moines) centered on wisdom of putting women into combat. Mickelson suggests that some “won’t be happy until there are an equal number” of male and female POWs. He says it is “bent logic” and a “ridiculous proposition” to put women near combat zones – “It is a wicked response to say that if women want to be treated as equals we’ll put them in harm’s way.” Callers indicated women in military want to be more involved to enhance rank and benefit opportunities, but Mickelson responded, “The military does not exist for benefits and equal opportunities. It exists for the purpose of defending the country.”

STATE ISSUES: The Iowa House, on a 94-1 vote, has approved legislation allowing draft age men to register for the Selective Service when obtaining or renewing their driver’s licenses. A report by Charlotte Eby on QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times): “Rep. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, who sponsored the bill, said there appears to be a lack of awareness on behalf of young men that they must register. He said informing the 18- to 25-year old men about the registration requirement is especially needed with the nation at war.”

OPINION: Des Moines Register editorial, “On to Tehran?” Excerpt: “What about Iran? That’s the question lurking out there somewhere beyond the immediate focus on the war against Iraq and concern about North Korea.”…Register columnist Rekha Basu: “What if Americans were sold a bill of goods on Iraq war?” …Both Dem members of the state’s Washington delegation drew criticism in letters to the editor in yesterday’s Des Moines Register. Stu Bassman of Des Moines wrote Harkin is “an embarrassment to most Iowans” for his continuing criticism of GWB and added that Harkin “insists on playing political games when he should be supporting the commander in chief of the United States military.” Under the headline, “Boswell’s naiveté is bogus,” Jennifer Dumas of West Des Moines writes about Boswell’s decision to break his three-term-limit pledge to seek re-election in 2004 – “He is savvy enough to break the pledge early do that it will be ‘old news’ by the time voters make a decision…He had all the facts when he made the pledge. After all, the main argument being advanced by term-limit opponents at the time was that seniority mattered…the claim of naiveté about the importance of seniority in a legislative body is bogus.”

SPORTS: The Iowa women – the last team standing among state’s high school, college and university teams this year – eliminated last night 70-64 in Women’s NIT by Creighton in Iowa City. Hawkeye women end season with an 18-15 record…Most Iowans now await start of football season next fall – with spring practice underway this week. Spring games for both Iowa and Iowa State scheduled at same time – 1 p.m. 4/19…The Des Moines Menace will open the season with a home exhibition match against the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. The Wizards visit on 5/6 will be the first by an MLS team to Iowa…Indianola native Casey Blake – who’s been batting .477 during spring training – has been installed as the opening day third baseman for the Cleveland Indians. He spent past two seasons with Triple-A Edmonton, a Minnesota Twins farm team.

WEATHER: DSM 5 a.m. 37, fair. High today 65, chance showers. Low tonight 48, chance thunderstorms. High Thursday 65, showers & T-storms…IA temperatures range from upper 20s to low 40s this morning – Estherville and Mason City at 26 to 45 in Fort Madison… Report from WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas: “Turning much colder on Friday with a chance of rain mixing with snow. Highs early on will be in the low forties. Partly sunny on Saturday, with highs in the low forties. Mostly sunny on Sunday, with highs in the low fifties.”

IOWAISMS: Under the headline “Farmers wait for overdue rainfall,” QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) reports, “Since Sept. 1, much of the Quad-City area has a precipitation deficit of more than 10 inches…According to the drought monitor kept by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, or NOAA, the area immediately south of the Quad-Cities is suffering a severe drought, while the region north is suffering a moderate drought.”…From the “police long” in the Daily Iowan: “Thomas Mark Powley, 47, North Liberty, was charged Monday with domestic assault causing injury after allegedly placing a laundry basket on his girlfriend’s head and striking her during an argument.” Reports said she suffered red marks on her arms. 

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