005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3A
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1,2005
Military may have paid for Iraq coverage
BY LOLITA C. BALDOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military offered a mixed message Wednesday about whether it embraced one of its own programs that reportedly paid a consulting firm and Iraqi newspapers to plant favorable stories about the war and the rebuilding effort.
Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a military spokesman in Iraq, said the program was "an important part of countering misinformation in the news by insurgents." A spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, however, called a report detailing the program troubling if true and said he was looking into the matter.
"This is a military program initiated with the Multi-National Force to help get factual information about ongoing operations into Iraqi news," Johnson said in an e-mail. "I want to emphasize that all information used for marketing these stories is completely factual."
Details about the program were first reported by the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. It marked the second time this year that Pentagon programs have come under scrutiny for reported payments made to journalists for favorable press, leading Congress' Government Accountability Office to condemn one, the Education Department, for engaging in illegal covert propaganda.
The Los Angeles Times quoted unidentified officials as saying that some of the stories in Iraqi newspapers were written by U.S. troops and while basically factual, they sometimes give readers a slanted view of what is happening in Iraq. Some of those officials expressed fear that use of such stories could hurt the U.S. military's credibility, the newspaper said.
Defense Department officials did not deny the story's allegations, and Rumsfeld spokesman Bryan Whitman said he was looking into the program.
Whitman said the department had clear principles for dealing with news organizations, "so this article raises some question as to whether or not some of the practices that are described in there are consistent with the principles of this department."
He would not specify the questions he felt the article raised.
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned the program Wednesday.
A Jayhawk quartet
From left to right, Jonathan Andrews, KU alumnus, Shaun Whisler, KU alumnus, Dylan Hilpman, Lawrence sophomore, and David Price, Salina junior, sing in their quartet, Against the Grain, at Central United Methodist at 16th and Massachusetts streets. They are practicing for their performance in the KU Holiday Vespers on Sunday at the Lied Center. The independent quartet has performed for one more than a year around the University and Lawrence.
Doctor cleared in death
ABORTION
BY JOHN HANNA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA — Regulators say George Tiller wasn't responsible for the January death of a Texas woman who received a late-term abortion, but protesters against his Wichita clinic aren't satisfied with that finding.
The Board of Healing Arts closed a nine-month investigation without taking any disciplinary action. The board concluded that Tiller and his staff complied with state abortion laws and health care standards in performing the procedure on the woman.
Larry Buening, the board's executive director, notified Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of the board's findings in a Nov. 23 letter. Her office released a copy of the letter Wednesday, a day after the governor received the finding.
The governor received the findings.
Buening wrote, referring to Tiller:
"The unfortunate death of the patient was not caused by any act or failure to act by Licensee or his staff."
Anti-abortion groups questioned whether the board's investigation was thorough and suggested Sebelius influenced its outcome. A supporter of abortion rights, she has received financial support in past campaigns from like-minded groups and individuals, including Tiller.
"The board has now concluded all inquiry and review of the matter and closed the investigation." Buening wrote.
"I know she doesn't care about the unborn, but you'd think she'd give some semblance of care to the women involved," said Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, the state's largest anti-abortion group. "She is in bed with the abortionists."
Tiller declined comment. He hasn't discussed the specifics of the case, citing privacy reasons but has said the clinic complies with all state laws.
Abortion opponents have cited the woman's death as evidence that tougher regulation of clinics is needed, and they accused Tiller or his clinic of causing the death.
The woman was a 19-year-old resident of Keller, Texas, north of Fort Worth, and according to the autopsy report, she was mentally retarded. She was 28 weeks pregnant when she had the abortion, which was completed on Jan. 11.
The report said she was vomiting two days later when her family took her to a Wichita hospital. After her health deteriorated, "family members decided to provide comfort care only," the report said.
The family did not complain to the state or seek an investigation of the clinic, Buening said.
CORRECTION
- An article in Tuesday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. The article, "Vinyl turns back technological trend," misspelled the names of Kelly Corcoran and Wayne Youngblood.
ON CAMPUS
ON THE RECORD
♦ Latin American Solidarity is holding a Latin American food festival at 6 p.m. Saturday at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. The cost is $7. Proceeds will benefit disaster relief in Guatemala.
ON THE RECORD
◆ A 22-year-old KU student reported to Lawrence police a burglary and a theft of Apple and Hewlett Packard computers, computer monitors and other items between 3 p.m. Nov. 23 and 6 p.m. Sunday from the 900 block of Kentucky Street. The items are valued at $7,605.
♦ A 21-year-old KU student reported to Lawrence police a theft of some DVDs and other items between 10 p.m. Friday and 11 p.m. Saturday from the 1300 block of West 24th Street. The items are valued at $406.
- A 19-year-old KU student reported to the KU Public Safety Office a burglary and a theft of an Xbox console and other items between 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday from Ellsworth Hall. The console is valued at $150.The other items are valued at $85.
CRIME
Long-lost Vegas burglar
LAS VEGAS — A former armored car driver turned herself in after more than a decade in hiding after a $2.9 million heist in Las Vegas.
Heather Talchief, 33,
pleaded guilty to bank and
credit union embezzlement
and passport fraud. She could
get up to 40 years in prison
at sentencing March 2, but
her lawyer was confident she
wouldn't receive more than 10.
The Associated Press
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
December 1,2005
Stop AIDS Keep the Promise
All proceeds benefit Douglas County AIDS Project. Sponsored by AURH, Watkin's Health Center, Peer Health Educators, AbleHawks and Hawks for Health
World AIDS Day
December 1st is World AIDS Day. Show your support by wearing a red ribbon and by donating at the following locations: The Kansas Union, Wescoe, Mrs. E's.
is a class centered around a service learning trip that will take place March 18-25. Groups of seven KU students will travel to locations across the country for a week of volunteer work.
TABOR Forum:
Alternative Spring Break
Applications & information online at www.ku.edu/~albreaks or contact albreaks@ku.edu
*Application deadline is December 2nd
*$50 deposit required
*Turn in Room 428 KS Union,
and don't forget to sign up for an interview time!
Discussion and Questions (Taxpayers Bill of Right)
PAID FOR BY KU
Tickets: aasu@ku.edu
Reserved: $12 couple,$7 single
At the Door: $ 15 couple $8 single
What does it mean for Kansas?
Thursday,Dec.1st 7:00-8:00
What is TABOR?
Big 12 Room, Kansas Union
How does it affect the economy?
How does it affect higher education?
What does it mean for taxpayers?
Answers to all of these AND MORE!