Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6708
Influential critic of war, dead at 77 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff- mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capi- tol Hill and later an out- spoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He was 77. The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering from complications from gall- bladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Cen- ter in Arlington, Va., with his family at his bedside, the hospital said. In 1974 Murtha, then an officer in the Marine Reserves, became the first Vietnam War combat vet- eran elected to Congress. Ethical questions often shadowed his congres- sional service, but he was best known for being among Congress' most hawkish Democrats. He wielded considerable clout for two decades as the ranking Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending. Murtha voted in 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq, but his growing frustration over the administration's handling of the war prompted him in Novem- ber 2005 to call for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. ''The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion,'' he said. Murtha's opposition to the Iraq war rattled Wash- ington, where he enjoyed bipartisan respect for his work on military issues. On Capitol Hill, Murtha was seen as speaking for those in uniform when it came to military matters. Chances slim for health care deal WASHINGTON (AP) — Could this turn into something more than political theater? Presi- dent Barack Obama's televised dialogue with Republican lawmakers on health care, promised for later this month, has the makings of an entertain- ing exchange. But the dif- ferences between the basic Democratic and GOP ideas are stark — and the two sides have increasingly hardened their positions in this election year. Yet, in a story with more twists than a soap opera, Obama's invitation to congressional leaders of both parties to attend a Feb. 25 meeting can't be dismissed as a mere diver- sion. Although many Americans have doubts about the Democrats' sweeping plans to cover the uninsured, Republi- cans can't afford to be perceived as oblivious to the health care insecuri- ties of middle-class fami- lies. ''My expectations? Probably below 50 per- cent, but not zero,'' said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D- Va., a moderate who serves as president of the Democratic freshman class in the House. ''At some point, the public is going to demand that Republicans participate like mature adults, and not just say 'no' to every- thing.'' It's the Democrats' big-government approach — not the Republicans — that's the problem, insist- ed Rep. Dave Camp, R- Mich., author of the House GOP bill. ''The president has got to show that he has heard what the American people are say- ing. He's got to make clear we are not going to start off with the current bill.'' But where to start? Iran moves closer to warhead VIENNA (AP) — Iran pressed ahead Monday with plans that will increase its ability to make nuclear weapons as it formally informed the U.N. nuclear agency of its intention to enrich urani- um to higher levels. Alarmed world powers questioned the rationale behind the move and warned the country it could face more U.N. sanctions if it made good on its intentions. Iran maintains its nuclear activities are peaceful, and an envoy insisted the move was meant only to provide fuel for Tehran's research reactor. But world powers fearing that Iran's enrich- ment program might be a cover for a weapons pro- gram were critical. Britain said the Islamic Republic's reason for fur- ther enrichment made no sense because it is not technically advanced enough to turn the result- ing material into the fuel rods needed for the reac- tor. France and the U.S. said the latest Iranian move left no choice but to push harder for a fourth set of U.N. Security Council sanctions to pun- ish Iran's nuclear defi- ance. NY Gov. lashes back at rumors ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson is lashing back at what he calls an assault on his character that includes accusations about woman- izing and drug use. The Democratic gover- nor told The Associated Press on Monday that news media and New York politics have hit new lows. He says it won't stop him from serving in office or seeking election to a full term in the fall. He cited a New York Post report that he was caught by state police in the mansion with a woman other than his wife as fab- ricated. He said the room in which he was reported- ly caught doesn't even exist. He would address other accusations only broadly but denied all sexual rela- tionships and drug use that are among the accusations. He calls them orchestrated and scandalous. The Post did not imme- diately respond to Pater- son's remarks. Mid-Atlantic cleans up from massive snow storm WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal workers and school children got a day off Monday as the Mid- Atlantic region dug out from as much as 3 feet of snow that made travel near- ly impossible and knocked out power to tens of thou- sands of people. Federal agencies that employ 230,000 in Wash- ington were closed, as were many local governments, businesses and school dis- tricts. Utilities warned it could be days before power is restored to everyone. With more snow expect- ed Tuesday into Wednesday — as much as a foot in some places and close to another foot and a half in Philadelphia — stranded travelers wondered when they might escape the icy, gray mess. At Washington's Reagan National Airport, where flights had resumed after more than two days, the ''on time'' flights on the depar- ture board started to out- number the canceled ones by mid-afternoon. But many people still didn't know when they might get out. Mark Burroughs, the mayor of Denton, Texas, needed to be back for a vote Tuesday, but he and his wife, Annie, were on stand- by. They made it to a week- end snowball fight in Dupont Circle that they called ''great fun,'' but by Monday they were ready to go home. Lookout of tallest tower shuts down DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The world's tallest skyscraper has unexpectedly closed to the public a month after its lavish opening, disap- pointing tourists headed for the observation deck and casting doubt over plans to welcome its first permanent occupants in the coming weeks. Electrical problems are at least partly to blame for the closure of the Burj Khalifa's viewing plat- form — the only part of the half-mile high tower open yet. But a lack of information from the spire's owner left it unclear whether the rest of the largely empty building — including dozens of elevators meant to whisk visitors to the tower's more than 160 floors — was affected by the shutdown. The indefinite closure, which began Sunday, comes as Dubai struggles to revive its international image as a cutting-edge Arab metropolis amid nagging questions about its financial health. 4A – Daily News – Tuesday, February 9, 2010 658 Rio St Red Bluff www.UCAREA.net HOGSBACK FOOTHILL VIEWS • 2/1 mobile home, 8x10 workshop • Fresh paint & carpet • On rented acreage @ $100/mo $39,900, Owner May Carry EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY DRE # 01174300 529-4111 Open everyday 9:00am to 6:00pm 345 So. Main Street • Red Bluff • (530) 527-4588 COME TO US FOR ALL YOUR PET SUPPLIES! YOUR PET FOOD SOURCE • Nutro • Chicken Soup • Diamond Naturals • California Natural • Natural Balance • Avoderm • Canidae TRY OUR NEW ADDITIONS RANDAL ELLOWAY DDS, INC. 2426 SO. 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