USA UK and Malta News
03/12/2007 21:47

Editoweb: USA today, 03 dec 2007

U.S. report contradicts Bush on Iran nuclear program - Bush administration hails Chavez defeat - US: Al-Qaida active in Afghanistan - Clinton cranks up rhetoric against Obama - Heavy doubt for Edwards' big promises.



U.S. report contradicts Bush on Iran nuclear program
A new U.S. intelligence report says Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and it remains on hold, contradicting the Bush administration's earlier assertion that Tehran was intent on developing a bomb.
The new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released on Monday could hamper U.S. efforts to convince other world powers to agree on a third package of U.N. sanctions against Iran for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment activities.

Bush administration hails Chavez defeat
The Bush administration on Monday hailed as a victory for democracy the rare electoral defeat handed to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on proposed changes to Venezuela's constitution.
With the final vote tally showing the changes losing by a margin of 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent, the defeat reinvigorated a Venezuelan opposition humbled by 11 straight election defeats.

US: Al-Qaida active in Afghanistan
The U.S. military is seeing early signs that al-Qaida may be stepping up its activities in Afghanistan, a senior defense official revealed for the first time Monday as Secretary Robert Gates made his third trip to this country.
Gates said he has not yet seen data on any uptick in al-Qaida activity, but he said increasing levels of violence in the country are a concern and he plans to talk about it with other defense leaders from NATO nations operating in Afghanistan.

Clinton cranks up rhetoric against Obama
Hillary Rodham Clinton suggested Monday that Barack Obama has too little experience and perhaps too much ambition, pressing an increasingly aggressive campaign against her chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Both candidates were in Iowa, one month before the nation's leadoff caucuses with new polls showing Obama had whittled away her early lead and they were virtually tied among Democrats in the state.

Heavy doubt for Edwards' big promises
John Edwards, who has pledged that as president he would strip health coverage from congressional members if they did not adopt universal healthcare, faced sharp voter skepticism Sunday over whether he could achieve that and other campaign goals.
On the first day of a two-day drive around iced-over north-central Iowa, Edwards was asked by 62-year-old retired teacher John Nordman whether it was "credible" for Edwards to say that as president, he would have the power to strip Congress of its health coverage.

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