At least 70 killed in Lahore attacks

Bombing and firearms attacks in Pakistan targeting houses of worship for a persecuted religious minority killed at least 70 people Friday, a senior government official said. The strikes took place at two mosques in Lahore belonging to the Ahmadi religious group, police and rescue officials said. At the Baitul Noor place of worship in the Model Town region, two attackers on motorbikes fired at the entrance of the building and tossed hand grenades, a rescue official told CNN. Police said one of the attackers is critically injured. The other, clad in a suicide jacket, was detained. At a mosque in the Garhi Shahu neighborhood, one witness there told CNN he saw two attackers armed with AK-47s and another witness said he saw at least four gunmen. Sajjad Bhutta, the senior official, said the heads of three suicide bombers were discovered there. Bhutta said at least 78 people were injured in the violence. Ahmadis regard themselves as Muslim. But the government says they aren't and many Muslim extremists have targeted them. Sunni and Shia Muslims do not regard followers of the religion as Muslims because they do not regard Mohammed as the last prophet sent by God.

It is time to put a stop to the billions the West gives to Pakistan each year. The West should support India - the only real democracy and stabilizing force in the region that everybody knows without doubt is 100% anti-terror. Indians are the biggest victims of Pakistan's most well-known export: Terror. Trusting Pakistan to fight terror is like trusting Nazis to fight racism. We need to fight the Taliban, but the forces to do that should be an international army contributed by countries that are unremittingly anti-terror. Pakistan is a failed state. The international community has no choice but to contain and clean up the mess.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/28/pakistan.violence/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Senate panel, House approve 'don't ask, don't tell' compromise plan

The U.S. House and a Senate committee approved amendments to a military bill Thursday that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring openly gay and lesbian soldiers from military service, but only after some conditions are met. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 to approve compromise language on the repeal in an amendment to the military policy bill. The panel then voted 18-10 to send the bill to the full Senate. In the House, the chamber voted 234-194 to add the amendment to its version of the defense policy bill. A final vote on the full bill was expected Friday. President Obama praised the votes. "I am pleased that both the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee took important bipartisan steps toward repeal tonight," Obama said in a statement. "This legislation will help make our Armed Forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity." Human Rights Campaign calls congressional votes historic. Repeal would happen after military review, presidential OK.

Let those willing to serve do it openly and honestly with integrity and dignity. President Truman integrated the military in 1948 by executive order over the objections of the service chiefs because it was the right thing to do. Yes there was a negative impact, but the military adjusted and is better for it. Colin Powell is a fine example of what can be accomplished with equal opportunity.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/28/congress.military.gays.policy/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

BP calls Gulf oil leak 'environmental catastrophe'

This picture is of a porpoise that died due to the BP oil spill.

BP's top official, who had previously said the environmental impact on Gulf of Mexico would be modest, upgraded his assessment Friday to an "environmental catastrophe." Also Friday, engineers in the Gulf tried the "junk shot" method in an attempt to stop a massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, BP's chief executive Tony Hayward said. The procedure involved shooting debris such as shredded rubber tires, golf balls and similar objects into the blowout preventer in an attempt to clog it and stop the leak. The goal of the junk shot is to force-feed the preventer, the device that failed when the disaster unfolded, until it becomes so plugged that the oil stops flowing or slows to a relative trickle. The company plans to resume its "top kill" method, pumping heavy mud into the leak. BP admitted it delayed "top kill" pumping for 16 hours on Thursday. President Obama to visit Louisiana coast on Friday to assess damage from oil spill. Scientists say BP spill now largest in U.S. history.

I think that BP needs to work harder on getting this preventer fixed because they delayed their work for 16 hours yesterday. You can't just stop working to prevent the leak from continuing when its turned into an "environmental catastrophe." They should be working around the clock to stop this mess because now its the largest leak in U.S. history. I don't exactly know what President Obama plans to assess or what he's going to do about what he sees. But whatever it is, hopefully he gets things figured out down there and gets the leak plugged.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/28/gulf.oil.spill/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Clinton urges China for greater access for U.S. businesses

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed for greater commercial access for American businesses in China today, urging Beijing for a "level playing field." Clinton spoke to American and Chinese business executives in Shanghai, where she had finished touring the World Expo. She was headed to Beijing for two days of talks that will touch on a wide range of issues of shared interest to the United States and China. "For trade to work in any economy, for it to produce the benefits we know it can, there must be a level playing field where domestic and international companies can compete freely and openly," Clinton said. Clinton is taking more than 200 administration officials to China for the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan are expected to be discussed at the meeting. The U.S. faces a stronger China in wake of a global economic crisis. China began their Expo 2010that, much like the 2008 Summer Olympics, is viewed as part of China's coming-out party as a global player. The fair lasts from May 1st to October 31st and is expected to bring in over 70 million visitors.

I believe that China definitely is coming out as one of the world's top global players. They are really booming in their economy. In the article, it also said that they pumped $58 billion into this Expo 2010 and thst 189 countries are participating in it. So obviously this thing is expected to bring in some big bucks! Clinton is trying to "level the playing field" with China because I think that she's scared that China is going to become better than the U.S. in terms of our economy.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/23/clinton.china.visit/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

At least 85 killed, scores wounded in Iraqi violence

At least 85 people have been killed and nearly 300 wounded in a string of bombings and shootings across Iraq, the country's Interior Ministry reported late Monday. Attacks were launched in six provinces, including Basra, Wasit and Babil -- which tend to be less violent than others -- in violence reminiscent of what was typical during the height of the sectarian war. The deadliest attack happened in Hilla, in the southern province of Babil. Three bombings there killed at least 36 people and wounded 140. First came a double car bombing that killed at least 23 people and wounded 110, the Interior Ministry said. Then a suicide bomber struck as medics and security forces responded to those blasts, killing and wounding more. The first two bombs in Hilla detonated near a weaving factory busy where employees were leaving work. Other attacks happened in Baghdad, Mosul, Falluja and in cities north and south of Baghdad. The attacks come at a critical time in Iraq, as the country is struggling to form a government after contentious national elections.

It is heart-wrenching that some people have enough anguish and turmoil in their life that they feel they need to commit suicide. But to kill others while you do it? That's just cruel and inhumane. None of those 85 people deserved to be killed and none of the 300 wounded ones deserved that either. There is definitely no place in my heart for the person who committed this terrible act. Gosh, it just makes me so mad that someone would do such a thing. And especially when it comes at such a terrible time for the country when they're trying to establish their government.

The picture shown is a bus that was devastated in a suicide bomb today in Baghdad.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/05/10/iraq.violence/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Obama names Kagan as Supreme Court nominee

Obama calls Kagan "consensus builder," "open to a broad array of viewpoints". Kagan received her law degree from Harvard, she later served as dean of the law school. Kagan has argued several high-profile cases before the Supreme Court. Conservative critics say she is too inexperienced to serve on the high court. Some people don't like Kagan's credentials, though. "Among Supreme Court nominees over the last 50 years or more, Kagan may well be the nominee with the least amount of relevant experience," said Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, former law clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia, and former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kagan had never argued a case before the Supreme Court or any appeals court before she became solicitor general about a year ago.

I believe that Kagan's credentials are a bit weak but I also believe that President Obama wouldn't nominate her if he didn't have complete confidence in her and her abilities. Kagan has a lot of work to do to become better qualified for this position but if President Obama has faith in her then so do I.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/10/scotus.kagan/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29