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Clem's Chronicles: Afghanistan Attacks and US Policy/Pakistan Attacks and Clinton Visit/Detroit FBI Raids

October 28, 2009 9:36 PM

another busy night...here's some of what we're working on

AFGHANISTAN/UN ATTACK-Another day, another reminder of the dangers of being in Afghanistan. This morning it was the capital city Kabul where early risers were met, Jim Sciutto tells us on WORLD NEWS, “with the sound of explosions and gunfire. The target? This small hotel housing UN staff, many of them election workers.” Sciutto explains what happened: “Three attackers wearing suicide vests under military uniforms shot their way inside. A fourth remained outside to hold off police. The others fired grenades, setting the building on fire.” When it was over, 11 people were killed including three of the militants. Why the attack? Sciutto: “A Taliban spokesman said the attacks today were a warning to people not to take part in the November 7th presidential run-off.” We also were reminded today of the perils of covering these conflicts. Sciutto notes that “just as the (attack on the guest house) was ending nearby, explosions rocked our own hotel. Our camera crew (up on the hotel roof) filmed the first rocket and its’ impact.” Subsequent explosions were heard after ABC NEWS personnel and other hotel guests “were immediately evacuated to an underground bunker”. Luckily no one at the hotel was hurt and Sciutto was able to resume reporting less than an hour after the incidents. The attack is likely not the last-Sciutto says that “The Taliban  is threatening more attacks in the coming days.”

AFGHANISTAN/US POLICY-Today’s attack in Kabul. Yesterday’s IED incidents that killed 8 American soldiers. Monday’s helicopter incidents that killed 14 Americans. The Taliban’s stated goal may be to disrupt the Nov. 7th elections, but these incidents that have happened, are they also pressuring the White House to announce and implement a troop increase? Sen John McCain, an ardent support of troop increases said yesterday “Every day that goes by without that decision being made, the more days there are where young Americans are unnecessarily in harm’s way in my view.” Charles Gibson had a discussion with Martha Raddatz and George Stephanopoulos about that very subject on WORLD NEWS earlier this evening. Gibson asked Raddatz whether McCain’s public statement “reflects what military leaders are saying privately.” Raddatz didn’t think so, adding “the people I’ve talked to, the senior officials say they are not sending young men and women out on missions that are anymore dangerous (than usual)….but there is a perception that the enemy is taking advantage of this situation.” One senior official told Raddatz “it seems quite clear that the Taliban and others are trying hard to influence the decisions regarding additional troop deployment.” Raddatz continues: “Who I think (the waiting process) is really hard on is the families.” Gibson asked Stephanopoulos if there was a better idea of when the decision may be announced and what it might entail? Stephanopoulos noted that “we’re seeing an emerging consensus. No troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.” Stephanopoulos continues: “The question is how many more to send? Most discussed are (figures) as low as 10 thousand up to the full 40 thousand (troops) requested by General McChrystal.” Their role? Stephanopoulos: “those troops would concentrate on protecting the major cities in Afghanistan. The President has rejected having nation-building. They would focus on training the Afghan Army and building up the Afghan government. Tied to this there will be efforts to reconcile with the less radical Taliban and at the same time, this strategy of sending special forces and drones after the hard-core al-Qaeda…is going to continue.”

PAKISTAN/PESHAWAR VIOLENCE AND CLINTON VISIT-Afghanistan wasn’t the only place for violence today. Peshawar, Pakistan was the scene today of the deadliest attack in this country for two years. One hundred people, most of them women and children, were killed when a car bomb exploded in a crowded market. Nick Schifrin, filing for WORLD NEWS, noted “this market once sold dresses and toys. But today it was destroyed by a bomb so large dozens of victims were unrecognizable.” Not exactly the backdrop Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was looking for as her visit to Pakistan also began today. Secretary Clinton was several hours from the carnage in Peshawar, meeting with government officials in the capital city of Islamabad. For Pakistani TV viewers, Schifrin tells us, “local TV broadcast this split screen. On the right, Peshawar. On the left, Hillary Clinton trying to repair a damaged relationship.” Schifrin continues on Clinton’s trip: “Clinton is also trying to ensure the Pakistani military continues its operation against the Taliban along the Afghan border…an operation that has sparked much of the recent violence, including today’s attack.” Security officials certainly know what’s at stake-Schifrin tells us that “security is so tight for Clinton’s visit, this is as close as any car can get to where she’s staying…which is at least 3 checkpoints and 1 mile away.” Clinton would also like to reassure Pakistanis that their fight with extremism is also the US’s fight-that may be quite an uphill fight if the media is any indication. A skeptical local press peppered her with questions like “why is it that you are constantly using drone attacks inside Pakistan?” and “why are US officials free to break Pakistani law?” Clinton’s response: “That’s why I’m here. I want to clear the air.” On this trip anyway, she’ll have a couple of more days to do so.

FBI RAIDS/MICHIGAN- We learned that late Wednesday afternoon - while conducting an arrest warrant - FBI agents exchanged gunfire and fatally shot the leader of a radical Sunni Islam group and an FBI dog. Pierre Thomas and Jason Ryan report that FBI agents at a warehouse in Dearborn were trying to arrest Luqman Ameen Abdullah, and 10 other people on charges that included conspiracy to sell stolen goods and illegal possession and sale of firearms. Abdullah refused to surrender, fired a weapon and was killed by gunfire from agents. In a court filing, the FBI said Abdullah, also known as Christopher Thomas, was an imam, or prayer leader, of a radical group named Ummah whose primary mission is to establish an Islamic state within the United States. No one was charged with terrorism. But Abdullah was "advocating and encouraging his followers to commit violent acts against the United States." Members of the national group mostly are black and some converted to Islam while in prisons across the United States. Jason Ryan adds that the FBI has been increasingly concerned that fundamentalist prison converts like this could pose a threat.  (thanks to Jason Volack for this entry)

SWINE FLU LATEST-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius gave reporters on Wednesday an update on the productions delays with have delayed production of the swine flu vaccine. They said production problems have largely been fixed and called for patience for those who have been waiting to get the vaccine. More than 23 million doses of swine flu vaccine are now available. The U.S. has ordered 250 million doses of swine flu vaccine. John McKenzie in his World News piece reports on just how antiquated America’s vaccine production really is; utilizing tens of millions of chicken eggs in a process that was developed a half a century ago. He adds that there are about a dozen faster and more reliable ways to make vaccines that avoid using chicken eggs. One company even has found a way to produce the vaccine using the cells of a caterpillar. (thanks to Jason Volack for this entry)

DUDE! KILLER POWDER AT VAIL!!!!!!-Ready or not, here comes the first super snowstorm of the year.  A winter storm warning remains in effect through 8 pm EDT Thursday. Snow will become widespread this evening and continue into Thursday. Snow will be heavy at times especially thru the night this evening. Snowfall accumulations will range from 12 to 24 inches (Denver metro area) with up to 3 feet possible in some areas in the Foothills (west of Denver-mountain communities). North to northeast winds at 15 to 30 mph will produce extensive blowing and drifting snow in open areas. 

BCCI-As Roman Polanski sits in a Swiss jail –facing extradition another fugitive is back in business in the US after fleeing the country more than 20 years ago. Brian Ross reported on World News that accused crooked banker Saad Shafi fled to Pakistan after he was charged with helping launder money  for Columbian drug bosses. He quietly returned to the US after prosecutors in the Shafi case dismissed the charges against him to clear the books because they believed they would never be able to get the fugitive banker back in the US for trial. He now has American citizenship, a home in California, and a job running a FDIC insured bank in downtown Los Angeles. Ross reports that Shafi makes no apologies and said everything was approved through the proper channels.   (thanks to Jason Volack for this entry)

BERNARD KERIK/HOMEWARD BOUND?....NOT-From Rich Esposito: “Disgraced Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik's appeal for relief from the revocation of his bail was denied in Manhattan Federal Court today. During the Second Circuit Court of Appeal hearing, Judge Reena Raggi had harsh words for the Kerik legal team in court today, noting that massive amounts of paperwork supporting their arguments for relief were poorly organized, arrived in dribs and drabs and came to the court late in the day yesterday. The Second Circuit panel ruling let stand the revocation of bail by Judge Stephen Robinson who had made the decision based on what he saw as sufficient probable cause that disgraced former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik had violated a court order and may have committed a felony by sharing material under seal with a person who was not retained as part of his defense team.
Kerik's trial date, which was slated for earlier this month, as a result of delays associated with the revocation of bail and the appeal, is now set for Nov. 9th. He stands accused of tax fraud, and numerous charges of corruption."

PELOSI TO UNVEIL HOUSE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL TOMORROW-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be tentatively unveiling the House version of health-care reform tomorrow morning at 10:30am ET at the West Front of the Capitol Building. Jon Karl tells us this will be the bill that the House will debate and vote on-probably next week. So what’s in it? Karl’s got an idea: “According to sources familiar with Pelosi’s plans, here are some key elements of her bill:
----It includes a public option, but it will not be the Medicare-like public option she wanted.  The government-run insurance company created by her bill would negotiate payment rates with health care providers just like private insurance companies.  Pelosi simply could  not get the votes to pass the ‘robust’ version she prefers.
----The total cost is about $900 billion.  The Congressional Budget Office is still crunching the numbers, a final number is expected tonight.
----The bill would cover an additional 35 to 36 million people by 2019; this is more than the Senate bill, which would cover an estimated 29 million additional people.
----There’s an individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance, although the penalties for non-compliance are lower than the Senate’s (which imposes a maximum fine of $1500 for families who forgo insurance).
----There’s an employer mandate.  Companies who don’t offer health insurance will be slapped with an 8 percent fine (small businesses are exempt).
----The bill will be paid for, in part, with a 5.4 percent surtax imposed on those with incomes over $500,000 for individuals, $1 million for families.
----There’s a long list of insurance reforms:  banning denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, mandating wellness and prevention coverage, capping out of pocket expenses and prohibiting caps on benefits.”

OTHER STUFF-
--BAY BRIDGE CLOSURE- Officials can't say yet when the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will open to traffic again. Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney said during a briefing Wednesday that he did "not have a time when the bridge will potentially open." When asked if he could be more specific, Ney said the bridge would "probably not be available for tomorrow morning's commute."
--STUDY/CLOSING FAILING SCHOOLS DOESN’T DO MUCH GOOD-One way to improve our education system is to shut down the failing schools. That’s the believe of Education Secretary Arne Duncan (and former head of the Chicago Public School System), who Mary K. Bruce tells us “highlights his efforts in Chicago to shut down failing schools.” But does it help? Bruce: “a new study shows school closures in Chicago have reaped little academic gain. The University of Chicago study found that the majority of relocated students in Chicago were transferred from one low-performing school to another and thus did not significantly improve academically.”
--AIR FARES FALL TO 11-YEAR LOW- Average domestic air fares fell to their lowest level since 1998 in the second quarter of 2009 (April to June).  Air fares were down 13% over the same period in 2008, the largest year-to-year decline on record according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The $301 average fare does not include checked first, second or third bag, drink, meal, snack, seat assignment, priority boarding, leg room, pillow, talking to an actual person or any other fee that may now be tacked on as airlines struggle to turn a profit. (Matt Hosford)
--SOMEBODY GET SEARS A CALENDAR/BLACK FRIDAY IN OCTOBER?- I guess it’s never too early for a gimmick. Sears says it will offer what it calls "Black Friday doorbuster" deals beginning this Friday, nearly a month before the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving sales. Sears says the offers will rotate each week and be available 7a.m.- noon each Saturday. However, it's kicking off the effort with a special markdown this Friday. (Susan Caraher/AP)

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