Texas aircraft ambulance crash..[1394 ]

Patient among 5 dead in Texas air ambulance crash

(AP) – 1 hour ago

ALPINE, Texas  July 5,2010 —AP

A patient and his wife were among the dead when an air ambulance crashed shortly after takeoff from a West Texas airport, killing all 5 people on board.

The crash happened about 12:15 a.m. Sunday about a mile east of Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport, around 200 miles southeast of El Paso. The twin-engine Cessna 421 had just taken off for Midland International Airport in Midland when it went down in an open area, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The aircraft was carrying a patient and his wife to Midland, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. It identified the dead as 78-year-old patient Guy Richard Folger of Alpine, his 59-year-old wife, Mary Folger; two flight nurses, 49-year-old Sharon Falkener of Fort Davis, and 42-year-old Tracy Chambers of Alpine; and 59-year-old pilot Ted Caffarel of Beaumont.

Caffarel was apparently trying to make an emergency landing when the plane hit a rut in the muddy field, overturned and burned, the DPS said.

The FAA listed the aircraft as registered to O'Hara Flying Service II LP of Amarillo. Company owner Denny O'Hara declined to comment to The Associated Press.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Corey said.

Ο Γκοβού στον Παναθηναϊκο..[ 1393 ]

Γκοβού: "Ο Σισέ με έπεισε..."

Contra.gr - :04/07/2010 10:25

Ο Σιντνέ Γκοβού αφίχθη το βράδυ του Σαββάτου στο Ελ. Βενιζέλος και γνώρισε την αποθέωση από τους φίλους της ομάδας που είχαν συγκεντρωθεί. Λίγο αργότερα, εντυπωσιασμένος από τις εκδηλώσεις λατρείας, παραχώρησε την πρώτη του συνέντευξη στα Πράσινα Νέα, αποκαλύπτοντας: "Ο Σισέ με έπεισε ότι έκανα τη σωστή επιλογή".

Ακολουθεί απόσπασμα της συνέντευξης:

-Ποια είναι τα πρώτα σου συναισθήματα ως ποδοσφαιριστής του Παναθηναϊκού; Οι φίλαθλοι περιμένουν πολλά από σένα.
«Είμαι πολύ χαρούμενος που βρίσκομαι εδώ. Ο Παναθηναϊκός είναι ένας πάρα πολύ μεγάλος σύλλογος. Έχω να πω ότι θα αγωνιστώ με τον τρόπο που με έχουν μάθει όλοι. Θα τα δώσω όλα στον αγωνιστικό χώρο και επιθυμώ να βοηθήσω την ομάδα μου να νικήσει όσα περισσότερα παιχνίδια είναι δυνατό».
-Στον Παναθηναϊκό θα συναντήσεις έναν συμπατριώτη σου και καλό σου φίλο, τον Τζιμπρίλ Σισέ. Είσαι έτοιμος για να αποτελέσετε ένα δυνατό δίδυμο;
«Το γνωρίζω αυτό. Είμαι έτοιμος. Άλλωστε ήμασταν μαζί στο Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο και βρεθήκαμε στην ενδεκάδα στο τελευταίο παιχνίδι. Μίλησα πολλές φορές μαζί του πριν έρθω και μου είπε τα καλύτερα για την ομάδα και τον κόσμο. Με έπεισε ότι έκανα τη σωστή επιλογή».
-Τι σε έκανε να επιλέξεις τον Παναθηναϊκό και όχι κάποια άλλη ομάδα;
«Ο Τζιμπρίλ και οι άνθρωποι της ομάδας μου εξήγησαν τους στόχους της, με έπεισαν ότι είναι υψηλοί. Επίσης, πληροφορήθηκα για την ζωή στην Ελλάδα και το ελληνικό πρωτάθλημα και θεωρώ ότι με καλύπτουν όσα έμαθα».

Διαβάστε ολόκληρη τη συνέντευξη του Σιντνέ Γκοβού στα Πράσινα Νέα

American Independence day Festival.. [ 1392 ]

Americans Kick Off Independence Day Festivities

AP

July 3: Fireworks explode over Butte, Mont., as part of the city's Fourth of July celebration.

The United States celebrates its independence Sunday with everything from fireworks to franks.

Published July 04, 2010

| FoxNews.com

Boston, New York and Washington are among many cities putting up traditional fireworks displays, warming up crowds with entertainment events during the day.

And what Big Apple Fourth of July would be complete without Coney Island's embrace of two of America's biggest loves: hot dogs and competition.

In a dogged victory, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut took down 54 franks in 10 minutes to take his fourth consecutive title - and the coveted mustard yellow belt -- at the 95th annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on New York’s Coney Island Sunday.

Budget woes have put a damper on official government activities in some cities and towns.

But from big cities to small towns everywhere, families and friends gather for cookouts parades and other outdoor activities.

Meantime, the financial crisis has affected everything including the Fourth of July as some towns won't be lighting the night sky with traditional fireworks displays.

A number of cities and towns have been forced to pull the plug because of tight budgets and even Dallas almost lost its fireworks when organizers couldn't find enough corporate sponsors. A last-minute donation saved the show, although it'll be held on July 5.

Cedar Grove, N.J., Mayor Robert O'Toole and his son, State Sen. Kevin O'Toole, are splitting the $7,000 cost themselves.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company ran an online contest and then awarded $10,000 grants to 10 cities to help them continue their July Fourth celebrations.

The fireworks industry itself seems to be nearly recession proof. Industry sales last year were just under a billion dollars.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Turkey wants to play it like the USA in Afghanistan..?..[ 1391 ]

       Should Turkey Declare War on Iraq ?            

From the usak-isro.blog., Saturday, 3 July 2010

Assoc. Prof. Sedat Laciner

The United States invaded Afghanistan, as it kept a group of terrorists. After refusal of the Taliban with regard to the extradition of Osama Bin Laden, the U.S. decided to invade Afghanistan. According to Americans, Afghanistan was now a source of terrorism and terrorist attacks like 9/11 were carried out by those who came based in Afghanistan. As a consequence of preemptive approach, the U.S. intervened to Afghanistan and pushed other allies to come to the country behind herself.

It can be definitely said that the U.S. was not successful in the past nine years: Currently, Afghanistan turned into a bigger source of terror and has made her neighborhood resemble herself. Despite her definite and clear failure, the U.S. has maintained her military-based policies in Afghanistan and expects international society to support herself with no hesitation.

By following the same logic, Turkey has to invade Iraq immediately: There are 5,000-6,000 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, and they regularly cross the Turkish border in order to attack Turkey and return to Iraq. Places where all terrorists stay are evident. Unlike Bin Laden, they do not live in unknown caves. The coordinates of their camps are known by several states' security agencies. Moreover, different from Al Qaeda, they live in the Kandil Mountains, which can be besieged easily. If logistic support to the Kandil Mountain is prevented and crossing paths are controlled, it is clear that the PKK will be in trouble. Furthermore, hundreds of PKK terrorists leaving the camps move around in Iraqi territory. In other words, terrorists pass across areas already patrolled by U.S. soldiers and Barzani's Peshmergas, also under the control of U.S. air forces and satellites towards Turkey. Just after carrying out terrorist attacks, they return to the Kandil in front of the same eyes.

The PKK killed more than 5,700 civilians so far. The number of children killed by the PKK is over 370. In other words, if the PKK is not a terrorist organization, then who could be a terrorist? The PKK is enlisted as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Britain, Germany, France and many other states. Like the former U.S. President George W. Bush, the new President Barack Obama declared the PKK as a 'common enemy'.�American presidents said there is no difference between Al Qaeda and the PKK. Despite the situation and rhetoric, the PKK has managed to survive in Iraq, which everyone has known for years. In addition, from the 2003 Iraq War up until today, the PKK has multiplied its number almost three times under the wings of the U.S. forces.

Under these conditions, it is necessary to ask, should Turkey, just like the U.S., invade Iraq to stop terrorists' maneuvers? In the same way, should Turkey, likewise the U.S., seek help for counter-terrorism assistance as it is cited in Article 5 of the NATO alliance's agreement in case of being attacked by terrorists from outside?

Our American friends, in the face of these criticisms, present the difficulties of geography in Iraq, armed PKK militants etc. as an excuse. But in vain, it is strange that the U.S., a country that has taken the risk for many years to fight in Afghanistan, hesitates to involve in fighting against the PKK in a relatively easy geography.

Moreover, at this point it is necessary to ask how many PKK terrorists have been neutralized in Iraq by the United States since 2003. Let us ask our questions in a simpler way, since 2003, has a single PKK terrorist been harmed by the U.S. forces? Zero. The number of PKK terrorists who were captured, killed or harmed by U.S. forces is zero. In the last 7 years none of the 6,000 PKK militants was captured by the American friends.

Turkish people think the U.S. supports the PKK against Turkey. All surveys, studies and observations clearly prove that there is strong mistrust among the Turkish people against the U.S. PKK policies. Unfortunately, the statements we have described above reinforce these perceptions. Even some American journalists wrote that the U.S. provides financial assistance, ammunitions and training for the branches of the PKK.

The U.S. declares Syria and Iran on the lists of countries that support terrorism. Should Turkey prepare a similar list and includes the U.S.? Has the U.S., which has declared anyone as a terrorist, ever reviewed its own reports for Turkey in a sincere manner?

Clearly, it would be impossible to improve the relations between Turkey and the U.S. as long as the U.S.’s stance against the PKK remains the same. Under these conditions, the U.S. and Turkey can operate neither in the case of Iran nor in the fight against terrorism. In this context, the U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who claims Turkey walked away from the West due to errors of the European Union, has to consider the American mistakes as well. Obama says the PKK is a common enemy for Turkey and the U.S. while only Turkey, Syria and Iran fight against the PKK.


* Assoc. Prof. Sedat Laciner is the general coordinator of the International Strategic Research Organization, or USAK.

Presidential elections in Poland..[ 1390 ]

Poles vote in tight presidential run-off

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, presidential candidate of Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS), speaks to the media next to Marta (C), daughter of the late Polish President Lech Kaczynski, her husband Marcin Dubieniecki (R) and their daughter Martyna outside a polling station in Warsaw, during presidential elections July 4, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Slawomir Kaminski/Agencja Gazeta

By Rob Strybel and Patryk Wasilewski

WARSAW | Sun Jul 4, 2010 7:52am EDT

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poles voted on Sunday in a presidential election run-off that will help to decide the speed and scale of economic reforms, and set the tone for Warsaw's relations with its European Union partners and Russia.

The election was called after President Lech Kaczynski and many other top officials died in a plane crash in Russia on April 10.

It pits Kaczynski's identical twin Jaroslaw, the combative eurosceptic leader of the main right-wing opposition party, against Bronislaw Komorowski, candidate of Poland's ruling centrist Civic Platform (PO).

Most opinion polls have signaled a victory for Komorowski, who automatically became acting president on Lech Kaczynski's death in his role as speaker of parliament.

However, polls usually underestimate support for Kaczynski, who has narrowed the gap in recent weeks and lagged by just five percentage points in a first round of voting on June 20.

Financial markets favor a Komorowski presidency, expecting him to work smoothly with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's market-oriented government as it tries to rein in a big budget deficit while keeping a fragile economic recovery on track.

But Kaczynski's blend of Catholic piety, his opposition to spending cuts and privatization and his distrust of big business, EU bureaucrats and Poland's historic foe Russia strike a deep chord, especially among older and poorer voters.

"I voted for Kacyznski because he is honest, trustworthy and a true patriot who will do what is best for Poland," said Ryszard Krysztofik, 80, a retired TV repairman, after voting.

In Poland, the government led by the prime minister sets policy, but the president can propose and veto laws, appoints many key officials and has a say in foreign and security policy.

VETO FEARS

Investors fear Kaczynski would use his presidential veto to block reforms, just as his brother Lech did before his death.

A musician who gave his name as Leslaw, aged 38, said: "Only Kaczynski can block the bills those free-market sharks and crooks will try to force through for the sake of their cronies."

Economists say the zloty and government bonds would weaken in the event of a Kaczynski victory, although not too sharply.

Casting his vote after attending mass at a church in a leafy Warsaw suburb, Kaczynski said: "I appeal to everyone to vote because that is a great value of democracy."

The Komorowski camp fears that the mid-summer timing of the election, combined with unusually hot weather, will help Kaczynski as its younger, wealthier core voters are more likely to take holidays and fail to cast their ballots.

Around 30 million Poles in a total population of 38 million are eligible to vote. Turnout in the first round was 54 percent. Polling stations will close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) and exit polls showing final estimated results will be published immediately.

Komorowski, a moustachioed, bespectacled father of five, hopes the government's success in averting recession in Poland during the global economic crisis -- the only country in the 27-strong EU to do so -- will help propel him into the top job.

"Komorowski suits me better, especially his program which is more pro-market," said Maciej Palasz, 33, an engineer.

"We've seen what the Kacyznskis can do, so now let's give Komorowski a chance and see how he performs," said Arkadiusz Navrocki, 25, a cook.

Though seen as capable, Komorowski lacks charisma and has also avoided sharp attacks on Kaczynski due to the latter's bereavement.

Kaczynski, a bachelor who was very close to his twin, has benefited from public sympathy since the crash. The flag above the presidential palace is still flying at half-mast until the arrival of a new head of state.

Kaczynski served briefly as prime minister in 2006-07 when his nationalist views strained ties with the EU, Germany and Russia. But he has struck a conciliatory tone on the campaign trail in a bid to win over middle-of-the-road voters.

Victory would crown a remarkable comeback for a politician who looked weak and marginalized before his brother's death, his party lagging well behind Tusk's pro-business, pro-euro PO.

(Writing by Gareth Jones, editing by David Stamp)

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