Washington Whispers

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
U.S. News & World Report
November 19, 2007
Pg. 18
By Anna Mulrine
Going an Extra Mile for U.S. Troops
The United Service Organizations, aka USO, just revealed the winners of its first annual Above and Beyond awards for Americans who have helped the troops in extraordinary ways. Patti Patton-Bader, the great-grandniece of Gen. George Patton, organized a network of volunteers who now send 100 care packages a day to soldiers. Walter Fricke, who lost part of his leg in Vietnam, flies families free in his helicopter, so they can reunite with wounded relatives. And when students Brittany and Robbie Bergquist heard about a soldier who'd run up an $8,000 phone bill, they tapped their piggybank—$21—then turned to friends. So far, they have raised nearly $1 million and collected more than 450,000 donated phone cards for soldiers. In case you're wondering, that's 2.5 million minutes of talk time.
Italy Wants In on Iran Nuke Talks
The already sluggish diplomacy surrounding Iran's nuclear program could get even trickier shortly. Right now, the United States is part of a six-nation group—which includes China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany—developing international sanctions and incentives for Iran. It turns out, though, that Iran's top trading partner in Europe is actually Italy—and it wants in on negotiations. American officials support the move, but France and Germany are opposed, says an Italian official. And that could present a problem, since Italy has a lot of business to lose through strong sanctions—and more leverage with Iran than some others. "Italy," the official says, "wants to be included."
Shortwave Static Plagues Russians
It looks as if Russia may be dusting off its old over-the-horizon radar system to offer up to America in the hopes that pols would then drop plans to build a base in the Czech Republic (to detect missiles launched from Iran). It's a problematic plan on a number of fronts, but radio fans in particular are abuzz: The Russian system generates such a racket on shortwave frequencies that it is called the "Woodpecker." A possible side effect: Listeners in developing countries hit the off switch, keeping Voice of America from getting its message out to the Third World.
 
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