Troops, families mixed over Obama's Afghan surge
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Battle-weary troops and their families braced for a wrenching round of new deployments to Afghanistan, but many said they support the surge announced Tuesday as long as it helps to end the 8-year-old conflict. As President Barack Obama outlined his plan to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan — while pledging to start bringing them home in 2011 — soldiers, Marines and their families interviewed by The Associated Press felt a tangle of fresh concerns and renewed hopes. Some took in the televised announcement as they played darts in a barroom near their base, while others watched from their living rooms.
Case closed but Woods scrutiny continues
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods didn't have to say a word to get Florida troopers off his case. The same strategy may be harder to pull off when it comes to the tabloid media probing his private life. The police inquiry into the early morning car crash involving the world's most famous athlete came to a close Tuesday, even though Woods refused to talk to the Florida Highway Patrol. Woods was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 fine and four points on his driving record.
'Teflon John'? NY charges don't stick to Gotti
NEW YORK (AP) — Will he become known as "Teflon John"? A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday at the racketeering trial of John "Junior" Gotti — the son of the late Gambino crime family mob boss often called "Teflon Don."
Jurors defend verdict that led to Texas execution
CORSICANA, Texas (AP) — David Martin is sickened by the suggestion that Texas executed an innocent man when Cameron Todd Willingham was put to death for setting a fire that killed his three children. The veteran defense attorney represented Willingham at trial. He looked at all the evidence. And he has no doubt that his client deserved to die.
Congress scrutinizes Obama's Afghanistan plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday the Obama administration's new surge-and-exit troop strategy in Afghanistan is aimed more at wringing reforms from President Hamid Karzai than mollifying a war-weary American public. Appearing on network news shows a day after President Barack Obama announced his plan to send in 30,000 more U.S. forces, Biden said the principal aim of the new policy is to protect the United States from further terrorist attack while also keeping the Taliban from overrunning the country.
WH gate-crashers went without confirmed invitation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Copies of e-mails between the White House party crashers and a Pentagon official undermine their claims that they were invited to President Barack Obama's first state dinner. Tareq and Michaele Salahi pressed the friendly Pentagon aide for four days to score tickets to the big event. By their own admission in the e-mails, they showed up at the White House gates at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 without an invitation — "to just check in, in case it got approved since we didn't know, and our name was indeed on the list!"
Marines to hold hearing for officer on Iraq deaths
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) — A Camp Pendleton Marine officer whose criminal charges of failing to investigate the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians were dismissed must clear one final hurdle before retirement. An administrative military panel will begin an inquiry Wednesday to determine if Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, of Rangely, Colo., should be demoted in retirement — something his attorney says could cost Chessani millions of dollars in lost pension, health and retirement benefits.
Baltimore mayor's guilt may not mean speedy exit
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore's mayor has vowed to fight a misdemeanor conviction that could lead to her removal from office, saying the verdict won't slow down City Hall. A jury found Sheila Dixon guilty Tuesday of a single charge of taking gift cards from a program intended for the city's poor children and using them to buy electronics. Her attorneys said they will appeal.
Manhunt ends with cops slayings' suspect's death
SEATTLE (AP) — An ex-con accused of gunning down four police officers patched the gunshot wound to his belly with gauze and duct tape and managed to elude a massive manhunt until a lone officer stopped to check out a suspicious vehicle in the middle of the night. Moments later, Maurice Clemmons was dead.
Atlanta mayor's race too close to call
ATLANTA (AP) — With a slim lead of 620 votes, a former state senator claimed victory in the race for Atlanta's mayor early Wednesday, though the contest was too close to call and could be headed for a recount. Kasim Reed led with 99 percent of precincts reporting, but city councilwoman Mary Norwood told supporters that she was not conceding and was open to a recount. Under Georgia law, the runner-up can petition for one when the margin of victory is less than 1 percent of the total vote. Voters cast 84,076 ballots, so the margin would be within the percentage.
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NASCAR is the worst of the worst when it comes to GREED in American sports! The underdog will NEVER win a title again in this league. Its the Hendrick, Rousch, RCR racing league. Founder big Bill Sr. has rolled over in his grave 2 times already and France Jr. at least a dozen times, I should know, I hear it when they do. I live in Daytona where they are buried.
185 million $'s combined in operating costs each year for the 3 big teams in the Cup league, yet homeless all over our streets here in Daytona Beach. If I had it my way, I would have NASCAR EXECS locked up for fraud. Afterall, they are using 110 million $'s in tax breaks from Bush Jr., (always wondered why Presdent Bush went Lesa Kennedys house to visit after recieving a substantial donation to Bushs' Republican party in 2004), just so they can make their track "prettier". Yet ALL (not some) NASCAR EXECS drive brand new vehicles, As if they cant afford their own! The corporate GREED of America, congrats to NASCAR and to all those that support it, how does it feel to contribute to the downfall of American values! NASCAR your a form of entertainment, not a society of yours to make it as you wish, some people might take offense or might *********!
2.
J.C. France, (LMAO)
Here is a son of the founding family of NASCAR , The France Family, working in the "most family orientated form of sport in human history" Bill sr. said back in 1988. J.C. France has NEVER worked a day in his life, if someone calls spending the families money for cocaine, travel, women and giving police officers a hard time ANY time he gets a chance; a job, well ok, he at least works hard at those things. I personally have spoken to this piece of sh*t. He is, without a doubt, the most narcistic, self- sensational person I have ever met. Yet he drives in the Grand Am league that Bill France Jr created back in 2002. Who let this guy out of his cage? Many people have known for a long time that he is known as a "player" locally, and it is no secret that he loves spending the families money. So what has he done? http://www.wftv.com/countybycounty/21242628/detail.html
lets see how strong your fans are and call out J.C. France and the Grand AM and prove to those greed eating, my underwear dont stink types, money wont buy you happiness and have J.C. France banned to never be seen behind a wheel of a sportscar EVER again! I know I wont be in the seats watching this sport with the risk of a cocaine addict killing himself and other on and off the track. I know I'll be the first to sign a petition!
GRAND AM, did you drug test this guy or does he have "carte blanche" being his league literally? Double standard I see. This is not the first time this guys been in trouble with the local authorities.