McCain Credits Fall Of Berlin Wall To Global Human Rights Appeal

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) addressed a crowd of students, teachers and press at John Hopkins University about the historic event's impact on global human rights.

“The Berlin Wall fell for many reasons... Economic power had a lot to do with, for without the combined wealth of the west, we would never have overcome our darkest hours of need. Military power also had a lot to do with, for without the strength to defend ourselves, our dreams of peace would have remained just that. But beyond all of this, what truly toppled the Berlin Wall and ended the Cold War, was a deeper power, a moral power. The universal appeal of human rights and the support of the west for all those who struggled with these values from behind the Iron Curtain," McCain said.

The Arizona Republican, who last year ran for President against Barack Obama, stressed the need for the U.S. to continue to set the worldwide standard for individual freedom.

“The United States has a special responsibility to champion human rights in all places for all peoples and at all times. Why us? The answer, I think is simple. It’s who we are.”

McCain's remarks came just days before Obama sets out on his first presidential trip to Asia; a visit in which he is expcted to address human rights abuses in Singapore and Tibet.

"If we believe in the power and appeal of our values, they can supply us all at once with the strength to push for what we believe is right, the patience to endure what are often generational struggles, and the confidence to know that we are on the right side of history," he said.

Sen. Dorgan: KBR Still Using Burn Pits

By Laura Smith, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

According to Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who chairs the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, military contractor Kellogg, Brown, and Root [KBR] is continuing to dispose of waste in Iraq using burn pits that reportedly give off toxic fumes.

“The Army and the contractor in charge of this waste disposal Kellogg, Brown, and Root, made frequent and unnecessary use of these burn pits and exposed thousands of U.S. troops to toxic smoke...burn pits are still used at the Balad Airbase in Iraq, which is the largest U.S. base in that country.”

Dorgan went on to list toxins that could be contained within a smoke plume from a burn pit, included carcinogens, respiratory threats, cardiovascular toxins, nervous system toxins and other toxins.

Burn pits have been used since 2003 in Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of waste and other harmful materials.

Retired Lt. Col. Darrin L. Curtis, Ph.D., P.E. said one of the first things he noticed when he arrived to Balad Air Base was the smoke from a burn pit. “The smell was noxious and looked like a very thick fog hanging low to the ground,” he said.

Curtis said that while he was at Balad Air Base, he conducted sampling of the smoke plumes and “the sample results were used for the U.S. Army’s Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM) health risk assessment published in May 2008 in which CHPPM stated that ‘adverse health risks are unlikely.’"

“Since then, the Department of Defense (DoD) has relied on this report to conclude that ‘long-term health effects are not expected to occur from breathing the smoke’ at Balad Air Base,” he added.

Rick Lamberth, a former KBR employee, returned home from Iraq in July of this year, and said, “since returning home in July, I have suffered from a number of respiratory problems related to the exposure. Now the military will not pay for my medical care. They claim that these conditions are existed prior to service (EPTS).”

Lamberth said he worked with direct contact for the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) and with KBR. He said, “under the LOGCAP contract, waste disposal by private contractors must comply with Army regulations, federal EPA and the Defense Logistics Agency’s regulations for waste and hazmat removal and disposal."

Lamberth went on to say that “the LOGCAP Statement of Work explicitly conforms to Army Technical Bulletin 593, which allows for the use of burn pits “only in emergency situations until approved incinerators can be obtained.’”

House Republicans Urge Congress To Listen To Afghanistan Vets

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

A collection of Republican Representatives urged Congress Thursday to listen to soldiers who have served in Afghanistan.

“This is about Congress being informed about how our decisions affects those people out there fighting ... this is not a partisan deal,” said Hunter during a press appearance with the organizations Vets For Freedom. “This is about winning in Afghanistan and then bringing our troops home victoriously. That’s what this is all about.”

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who joined Hunter, said the appearance was held to back up President Obama, and not in opposition, noting that when Obama was campaigning for President he offered support to the families of those overseas.

“As he was campaigning, he made it very clear that the best way to protect American families was to defeat the terrorists in Afghanistan,” Wilson said.

Pete Hegseth, Chairman and Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, said his organization had one non-partisan message, and that was to “support and listen to the commanders on the ground.”

“You’ve appointed General McCrystal. He’s the smartest guy we’ve got on Afghanistan. He’s lead the counter-terrorism fight for the last five years in Iraq and Afghanistan. If there’s anybody that who knows how to kill bad guys, it’s General Stan McCrystal,” said Hegseth.

“Our message today on the Hill is: ‘Let’s give that commander the assets and resources he needs to finish the job. It’s a very simple message. Give him what he needs to finish the job,” Hegseth added.

RNC Chairman Congratulates GOP Gubernatorial Winners, Claims They Signal "Republican Renaissance"

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele congratulated new Republican Governor elects, Bob McDonnell for Virginia, and Chris Christie for New Jersey, citing their victories as signs of a "Republican renaissance."

"The Republican renaissance has begun," said Steele. “The message was sent yesterday. It’s not about the change we need, it’s about the change we want.”

“As recently as a couple of months ago, Republicans were written off," Steele added. "Many of you were writing our epitaph."

He went on to say that independents played an important role Tuesday night, explaining that Republicans won independents 2-1.

“The real heroes last night, who brought home the victory, are the Republicans, Independents and yes, even Democrats, who spoke up against an incredibly arrogant government in Washington that has put our country our freedoms and our economy at risk with unprecedented spending,” he said.

A reporter asked Chairman Steele if he thought the loss of third party conservative candidate Dough Hoffman in New York's 23rd Congressional district should have been a warning to conservatives that they should back off the local party process. Steele responded, “There should have been, in New York 23, a primary process. There should have been a process that involved something other than having individuals in coordination with the state party make that decision. This is what happens in hot contestant races when you have that type of process in place.”

Chancellor Merkel Addresses Joint Session Of Congress, Warns Against Nuclear Armed Iran

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated Tuesday during an address to a joint session of Congress that the international community should show no tolerance toward a nuclear armed Iran.

“Zero tolerance needs to be shown when there is a risk of weapons of mass destruction falling, for example, into the hands of Iran, infecting our security,” said Merkel.

“Iran needs to be aware of this. Iran knows our offer. But Iran also knows where we draw the line. A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian President who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist, is unacceptable,” she added.

The Chancellor also urged support for Israel.

“Not just Israel is threatened, but the whole of the free world is threatened. Whoever threatens Israel, threatens us.”

She said Germany has shared former president George W. Bush’s view on terrorism after the attacks on September 11, 2001 and Germany felt they had to prevent Afghanistan from harboring a threat again. Germany has been on the ground in Afghanistan since 2002, and they hold the third largest troop contingent.

Merkel’s address to Congress comes just a few days before the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

She is the second German Chancellor to address Congress, but the only to address a joint session. The first Chancellor to address Congress was Konrad Adenauer, who addressed separate sessions in 1957.