Closing Guantanamo will be a slow process
Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently acknowledged that closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will be a much slower process than originally anticipated. While President Obama signed an executive order during his first week in office to set a January 2010 deadline for closing the facility, Gates and Senator John McCain have predicted that this deadline will not be met due to legal complications. Currently, more than 220 detainees remain at Guantanamo, with another 550 having departed since 2002.
William Safire dies at age 79
William Safire, a former speechwriter for President Nixon and a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times, died this Sunday at age 79 after battling pancreatic cancer. He joined the Times as a columnist in 1973 and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1978. In 2006, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. His wife, Helene, two children and one grandchild survive him.
Floods devastate Atlanta
Storms last week dumped 22 inches of rain on parts of metro Atlanta over the course of 35 hours. The result was at least nine deaths in Georgia and some $250 million in damages. Much of the hefty cost is due to the fact that many families in the area did not think their houses would flood and so did get flood insurance. President Obama has declared a major disaster to free up federal funds for the area and insisted that Vice President Biden travel to Atlanta.
World
U.N. Security Council adopts nuclear weapons resolution
On Sept. 24, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution aimed at ridding the world of nuclear weapons. The resolution, which was drafted by the U.S., coincides with the heightening of international tensions that has occurred as a result of both North Korea and Iran’s nuclear tests, as well as Iran’s resistance to greater international oversight for its nuclear program. The resolution was approved unanimously by the 15-member council, which includes China, Russia, and Great Britain.
Tropical storm floods Manila
On Saturday, Tropical Storm Ketsana flooded the Philippine capital of Manila with over 13 inches of rain. This is the worst flooding the Philippines have seen in over four decades. So far, over 5,000 people have been rescued from severe flooding and mudslides so far, but tens of thousands more await help. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has reported at least 83 dead and 23 others missing.
Iran tests short-range missiles
Iran tested a missile-launching system as well as two types of missiles this past Sunday. The two types of missiles included the Fateh-110, a short-range ground-to-ground missile, and the Tondar-69, a short-range naval missile. Iran has plans to test this Monday a third long-range Shahab missile. These missile exercises have been staged in order to promote the armed forces’ defense capabilities, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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