Many Senators still not sure about her
WASHINGTON, October 19 – Harriet Miers will begin her confirmation hearings in the first week of November, starting on the Monday the 7th. Republicans have been pushing to get her confirmed before Thanksgiving but Democrats are reluctant to cooperate since Sandra Day O’Connor will stay on the bench until her replacement has been confirmed.
It’s still undecided whether there will be a Republican opposition against her nomination as associate justice on the Supreme Court. Many conservatives have been hoping for a very outspoken conservative judge with a strong opinion on ethical dilemma’s like abortion rights and the death penalty. Miers is most experienced as a corporate lawyer, making her an odd choice for the Supreme Court. Her lack of experience with any position as judge has created quite a stir but Republicans seem to ease down on the situation and some say she might face a quite big support eventually.
Democrats are most likely to oppose her confirmation, documents from Miers’ career suggest that she’s against abortion rights and she is feared to change milestone rulings like Roe vs. Wade.
This is the trial Iraqi’s have been waiting for
BAGHDAD, October 18 – In less than 24 hours from now the long-awaited trial of former dictator Saddam Hussein will start in Iraq. He will face five judges in a heavily secured courtroom in Baghdad, facing the charges of crimes against humanity for the killing of over 140 Shiite muslims 20 years ago.
Although many have hoped this day would come soon it could be a slight disappointment because an early adjournment can cut the day short. It is likely that Saddam’s defense will enter motions for either delay or dismissal. Saddam’s head lawyer Kalil Dulaimi has announced he will challenge the legitimacy of the court, this could take up quite some time. Fact is that the court was setup under U.S. occupancy and the court has been funded by Washington, this has many lawyers concerned about the impartiality of the court. Many human right groups have also raised concerns against this court, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have addressed concerns like the fact that defendants can be convicted simply by the “satisfaction” of the judges. The actual proof or guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is not a factor. Also it is not clear whether the death penalty can be assigned yes or no so there is still much work to do in their opinion.
Saddam Hussein’s defense has only had 45 days to prepare for the case, the huge stack of evidence to go through might give them a valid request to delay the trial so they can be properly prepared. If adjourned it is likely that the court will not resume before December, dissatisfying to many Iraqi’s without doubt.
Possible solution to ethical dilemma
WISCONSIN, October 17 – Stem cell research has reached a tremendous breakthrough. A team of researchers compiled by the Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology and the University of Wisconsin have made a significant discovery.
This team of researchers has discovered that it is possible to retrieve stem cells from an embryo without influencing its’ viability for life. This means that the embryo can be used for implantation into a fetus and a natural pregnancy will follow without any complications. So far the technique has only been tested on mice but the researchers intend to do the same on human embryos.
Stem cell research is one of the most restricted areas of medical science. Current medical knowledge only provided one way to extract stem cells, by taking them from the embryo itself and thus killing it. This method is very disputed because some believe life begins at the conception and such an extraction would be the equivalent to murder. This new discovery could solve this ethical dilemma by not affecting the embryo at all.
The reason stem cell research is so interesting though is because these cells are the key to regenerative medicine. Stem cells have the ability to multiply indefinitely and form any kind of human tissue needed. It is no surprise that this stem cell research is one of the most important medical areas in modern time yet also much disputed and thus tightly restricted.
Is the much-touted pandemic inevitable?
Not really, there have been no known cases of transfer between humans, only from bird to human. However the nature of viruses is to find a suitable host and spread therefore a new strain consisting of the very deadly H5N1 virus and the human influenza is likely.
So why is everyone getting their panties in a twist about it?
First of all the poultry industry will take a gigantic hit whether it stays at the current strain or evolves. The virus is potentially dangerous for humans so every infected or possibly exposed bird is killed to prevent widespread infections. Turkey and Romania have been recently hit by the deadly virus so it is likely that other European countries will experience the virus as well in the near future. The possibility of this becoming a killer influenza is high, history has taught us that a deadly influenza strain hits society every decade or so.
Are there any risks to humans already?
Yes actually, for example is Asia there have been over 120 cases reported to date of which a steady 50% died. Bird to man infection is very easy through contact with infected birds.
What would happen if the killer virus evolves?
Well if we are faced with a human strain of the H5N1 virus it is almost sure that a global pandemic will occur. Modern traveling is the biggest issue, someone can fly across the globe in a few days and thus an infected person could spread it throughout several countries. Death tolls of anywhere between five million and 150 million have been named, which would be devastating. Public life would be disrupted and the health care demand would be unmanageable.
Is it likely to happen this winter?
No it’s not likely to happen this winter. We would first need an epidemic among birds before the virus will be ready to evolve into an human strain. Things can go fast though, as soon as there is an human strain the pandemic could spread as fast as a several weeks.
Are the governments doing anything?
Most governments are stocking up on the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, this drug is the only anti-viral drug that has been proven to work in a majority of the cases. Survival rates are about 70% when the symptoms are discovered early and the treatment is followed strictly. It has been reported that in some cases a double dose was needed to treat the disease. However there is no “real” cure for the avian flu yet.
Will everyone receive such a treatment?
Sadly no, the stocks are not high enough to provide everyone with a treatment. Infected people and high-risk persons will be treated first. Most governments have about 25% of their countries’ population covered included standing orders for this drug. The manufacturer is not able to produce enough to cover all orders quickly though, for example the United States will not receive their recent order until mid next year.
Is there a cure available?
No, quite simply there is no way to develop a successful vaccine without the actual disease. The strain first has to evolve into a human version before there can be any research done on a cure.
City covered in darkness hours before the referendum
BAGHDAD, October 15 – Today is a historical day for the nation of Iraq. The day of the referendum which will decide whether the constitutional draft will be approved has started and many Iraqi’s headed out to the various polling stations throughout the nation.
The evening before the referendum started in almost total darkness. Insurgents struck their last big blow before the referendum by attacking the main powerline to Iraq. More than 70% of the city was covered in darkness with only a few “bright” spots breaking the black skyline. One of the main towers of the powerline was struck by what seemed to be a rocket attack. In other insurgent attacks four polling stations were struck by attacks yet no casualties have been reported yet.
Most parties agree that this constitution is only a temporary solution. Vital matters are still to be discussed, like the oil riches the country contains and the influence of the Islam on the law and political system. Shiites and Kurds will likely approve the draft but the Sunnis have been largely advised to vote against it. It is possible that they will overturn this draft and thus evaporate all the efforts that have been made to compose this constitution.
Have they gone mad?
BAGHDAD, October 14 – After the extremely last-minute deal with the Sunni Party by the National Assembly on Wednesday night, the insurgents have now turned against their own political party. Some slight changes were introduced into the constitutional draft to sway the Sunni Party into backing the plan and voting “yes” on Saturday.
This drop of the opposition against the constitutional draft is seen as betrayal by many Sunnis. The leader of the party is now seen as a betrayer and many Sunnis marched to the head office of the party today to demonstrate against this, in their eyes, treacherous move. Early in the morning the house of the main cleric of the party was struck by a grenade but no one was harmed by this. Later the party’s office in Baghdad was struck by a bomb and in Falluja the head office was set on fire by a raging crowd.
In Baghdad near one of the soon-to-be polling stations four civilians were wounded by a roadside bomb. In Kirkuk at the office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party a car bomb was detonated wounding five civilians.
All morning clerics at mosques all over the country have urged Sunnis to vote “no” on Saturday. The constitutional draft is viewed upon as a document written by foreign hands and should not be approved in any way.
It is expected that tomorrow will be the worst day in the string of attacks. It is likely that insurgents are preparing to strike polling stations all over the nation to disrupt the referendum.
