Ghadhafis neuster Einfall: 777 Billionen Dollar Entschädigung für Afrika gefordert
NZZ ONLINE: Der libysche Revolutionsführer Ghadhafi hat neue Vorschläge angekündigt, die bei der kommenden Uno-Vollversammlung in New York für Aufregung sorgen dürften: So fordert er von den früheren Kolonialmächten eine finanzielle Entschädigung für Afrika.

Die westlichen Industrienationen sollten als Wiedergutmachung für «den Kolonialismus und die Sklaverei» 777 Billionen US-Dollar an die afrikanischen Staaten zahlen. Des Weitern will Ghadhafi für den afrikanischen Kontinent einen ständigen Sitz im Uno-Sicherheitsrat fordern.

Diese Forderungen äusserte er bei einem Treffen mit afrikanischen Stammesführern in der libyschen Hauptstadt Tripolis in der Nacht zum Donnerstag. Die nächste Uno-Vollversammlung beginnt am kommenden Dienstag. Libyen übernimmt dann für ein Jahr den Vorsitz. Neuer Präsident wird der ehemalige libysche Aussenminister Ali Abdessalam Triki. Antrag gegen Schweiz ohne Chance >>> sda/dpa | Donnerstag, 10. September 2009

Enya: Caribbean Blue

Obama Takes the Americans Down the Road of Socialism to a National Health Service
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama gave an emotional, sometimes contentious address to Congress on Wednesday, combining tough talk to opponents with olive branches on policy in a bid to break the impasse on revamping the health-care system.

Calling the initiative "my plan," Mr. Obama set the size of a health-insurance plan at $900 billion over 10 years, a figure smaller than versions approved in the House and fully paid for, he said, by spending cuts and tax increases. Most individuals would be required to purchase health insurance, but the costs would be mitigated by generous tax credits. Large employers would also face a requirement to offer health coverage to employees or pay a fine, while most small businesses would be exempt.

The president pledged to tackle medical-malpractice lawsuits in an overture to Republicans. He singled out his former presidential rival, Sen. John McCain, in embracing one of the Arizona Republican's health-care proposals. And he promised new cost controls that could scale back his plan if health-care inflation isn't brought under control.

But Mr. Obama chastised Republican leaders who talked of death panels. The president called it "a lie, plain and simple." He warned, "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it....If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution, not this time, not now."

Republicans in turn held aloft copies of health-care bills they have drafted in a quiet rebuke to a president who has said they have offered nothing constructive. One, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, shouted "lie" when Mr. Obama said his plan wouldn't cover illegal immigrants, though the Democratic bills circulating in Congress do exclude illegal immigrants from eligibility for subsidies. Mr. Wilson late Wednesday issued a statement apologizing to Mr. Obama for "this lack of civility."

Overall, Mr. Obama tried to make the case to consumers that his plan would provide more stability for those who already have insurance, and coverage for those who don't. Republicans said the plan is too expensive and will lead to excessive government control. President Makes His Pitch: Health Plan Cut to $900 Billion With Tax on Premium Coverage; GOP Unconvinced >>> Jonathan Weisman and Janet Adamy | Thursday, September 10, 2009





Barack Obama Makes Passionate Case for Health Care Reform
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama has condemned the "collective failure" of Americans to provide health care coverage for all, presenting reform as a moral imperative while lambasting opponents for "scare tactics".

His prime-time speech to both houses of Congress was punctuated by standing ovations but when Mr Obama said it was "false" that his plan would cover illegal immigrants one Republican congressman shouted out: "You lie!"

Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina later apologised for his dramatic outburst, which shocked Mr Obama and drew a disapproving shakes of the head from Michelle Obama, the First Lady.

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," Mr Wilson said in a statement.

"While I disagree with the President's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility." Mr Obama's speech alternated between high-minded calls for Americans to come together to show the strength of the nations character with hard-edged partisan attacks on Republicans.

The time for "bickering" was over, he insisted, and asked politicians to "replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress".

But he also blasted Republicans for mounting a "partisan spectacle" over the summer. "Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics," he said. Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise." Although he did not use her name, he left no doubt that he was calling Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, a liar. >>> Toby Harnden in Washington | Thursday, September 10, 2009

Barack Obama Health Care Speech: Republican Calls President a Liar
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama opened his key address on health care by noting that he wasn't the first American head of state to grapple this most intractable of issues, but that he was determined to be the last.

Joe Wilson: Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, pointing angrily at the president, blurted at the top of his voice: 'You lie!' Photo: The Telegraph
That remains to be seen, though after a passionate and self-confident speech, he is more likely than not to get his way.

But about half way through his 40-minute address, Mr Obama certainly became the first president in living memory to be called a liar in front of a joint session of Congress.

The president was dispelling a list of myths and "bogus claims" spread by opponents of his plan, when he denied the assertion that his proposed reforms would not provide health insurance to illegal immigrants.

Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, pointing angrily at the president, blurted at the top of his voice: "You lie!"

His outburst prompted cries of "Shame!" from the Democratic benches, while the president looked startled and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, shot a furious look to the left of the dais. First Lady Michelle Obama, watching from the public gallery, shook her head in dismay. Even the Republican colleague to Mr Wilson's left patted his arm to calm him down.

As soon as the president had uttered the last word of his speech, Mr Wilson bolted from the chamber of the House of Representatives on a media-evasion mission. Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff and a former whip in the House, moved rapidly towards the area where Mr Wilson had been sitting and remonstrated with Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina and whichever Republicans were listening.

Veteran Congress watches had never heard anything like it. Previous presidents have been subjected to the odd ironic chortles, a disapproving murmur or perhaps a jocular heckle, but not a full-throated insult like this. >>> Alex Spillius in Washington | Thursday, September 10, 2009

THE TELEGRAPH:
Barack Obama health care speech in full >>> | Thursday, September 10, 2009

President Obama in Passionate Plea on Health Reform in Live Broadcast
TIMES ONLINE: President Obama vowed last night to honour “the character of our country” and the legacy of generations of reformers by forcing through sweeping reforms of a healthcare system that had led the United States “to breaking point”.

In a passionate and often pleading address to both houses of Congress, he confronted head-on critics who have threatened to derail his presidency by accusing him of plotting a government takeover of the healthcare industry.

He called rumours that proposals in Congress would lead to the establishment of “death panels” for the elderly “a lie, plain and simple”. Minutes later he was himself accused of lying from the floor. The heckler was identified as Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who later apologised.

Challenged to stamp his authority on a debate that has drained his authority and split his own party, Mr Obama insisted that “the time for bickering is over”. He said that his door was still open to constructive proposals from any party — and won a rare standing ovation from Republicans by promising medical malpractice law reforms that they have long sought — but in a warning to the scaremongers who have dominated the health debate for months, he added: “Know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it”.

The 45-minute speech was carried live on every major network and was partly a last-ditch effort to persuade the millions of Americans who are happy with their coverage that the $900 billion (£544 billion) plan he supports is affordable and necessary. >>> Giles Whittell in Washington | Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Santé: les Américains désaprouvent Obama
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: ÉTATS-UNIS | 52% des Américains ne sont pas d'accord avec la façon dont Obama gère la réforme de système de santé.

Une majorité d’Américains, 52%, disent désapprouver la façon dont Barack Obama gère le dossier de la réforme de l’assurance-santé, selon un sondage Associated Press-Gfk publié mercredi à quelques heures du discours que doit prononcer le président américain devant le Congrès.

D’après cette enquête, 52% des personnes interrogées désapprouvent en septembre la gestion du président américain sur ce dossier, contre 43% lors du dernier sondage en juillet. Quarante-deux pour cent disent l’approuver, contre 50% lors de la précédente enquête.

Par ailleurs, 50% des personnes interrogées se disent satisfaites de l’action de Barack Obama en tant que président, contre 55% en juillet. Le nombre de mécontents est en hausse, 49% contre 42% il y a deux mois. Ce sondage a été réalisé par téléphone (fixe et portable) du 3 au 8 septembre sur un échantillon de 1.001 adultes, avec une marge d’erreur de 3,1 points. >>> AP | Mercredi 09 Septembre 2009

Union Européenne : La Turquie, atout stratégique pour l’Europe
LE TEMPS: Des personnalités européennes lancent un appel pour sauver la perspective de l’adhésion. Ils critiquent Nicolas Sarkozy et Angela Merkel, qui ont prôné un «partenariat privilégié» comme substitut à l’adhésion

L’Europe, qui aspire à jouer un rôle de puissance, doit se ressaisir si elle ne veut pas gâcher les opportunités que lui offre la candidature de la Turquie. Celles-ci sont multiples: un relais d’influence auprès du monde musulman, une capacité renforcée de projection en politique étrangère vers des régions diverses comme le Moyen-Orient, le Caucase, l’Asie centrale, autant de zones où se jouent des enjeux stratégiques, notamment pour les approvisionnements en énergie.

L’Europe doit se ressaisir, car à force de laisser le dossier des négociations turques s’enliser, elle est en passe de perdre un partenaire précieux. C’est en substance l’appel lancé, lundi 7 septembre, par un groupe de personnalités politiques européennes, dont le prix Nobel de la paix 2008 et ancien président finlandais Martti Ahtisaari, l’ancien premier ministre français Michel Rocard, et l’ancienne commissaire européenne Emma Bonino (Bronislaw Geremek, l’ancien ministre polonais, mort en 2008, avait aussi participé à ce groupe).

L’Europe a décidé, en décembre 2004, de lancer des négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie. Un pays dont le rang de «candidat» à l’intégration avait été formellement reconnu en 1999 et qui postule au club depuis… 1963. Comment sauver le processus? Dans son rapport publié lundi, la Commission indépendante sur la Turquie rappelle à quel point les choses semblent aujourd’hui encalminées, avec le blocage de la moitié des chapitres de négociation. >>> Natalie Nougayrède Le Monde | Mercredi 09 Septembre 2009

Saudi Men Spend Fortune On Hair Transplants
ONE INDIA: Dubai: Saudi men spend some 720 million Saudi Riyal (Rs eight billion) every year on hair transplants with five out of every ten people in the Kingdom undergoing the procedure in their lives.

Quoting Dr Muhammed Abu Shwarib, an expert in hair transplantation from Banan Medical Center in Riyadh, Al-Hayat Arabic daily reported that young Saudis regularly visit clinics not only for head hair tranplants but for transplants to their chests and eyebrows. Others seek hair for the moustache and beard.

Hair transplants can be done quickly with few side effects.

Areas that have undergone transplantation may need to be bandaged overnight, but one can expect to return to normal activities within a day, Al-Hayat daily added.

Strenuous activities are to be avoided during the first few days after the surgery, as on rare occasions implants can be ejected from [sic] the scalp.

The rate of baldness in the Kingdom is higher than in Europe, something which attributed to the popularity of headwear such as baseball caps and the traditional Arab headdress, as well as the type of water used in washing. [Source: One India] UNI | Undated

Saudi Arabia Wages 'War of Minds'
THE WASHINGTON TIMES: Summer camps for youths target extremist ideology

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Young men spray hoses in a car-washing contest and play pool. Children make paper crowns in an art class, while their parents have a picnic. Alongside the fun and games, Muslim clerics answer questions about jihad or give lectures about the proper dress for women.

This is Islamic summer camp, and it's part of Saudi Arabia's campaign to eliminate al Qaeda.

Saudi Arabia says it's waging a "war of minds" against extremist ideology, alongside the fierce security crackdown that has killed or led to the arrest of many al Qaeda leaders over the past six years. To do so, the kingdom plans to expand a broad public campaign aimed at preventing young people from being drawn to radicalism.

"We are working on the men of the future," Abdulrahman Alhadlaq, general director of the Interior Ministry's Ideological Security Directorate, told the Associated Press.

Islamic summer camps are a key part of the program, attended by thousands of families who consult with government-backed clerics instilling what Saudi authorities call a moderate message.

The teachings at the camps are still ultraconservative, in line with the kingdom's strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam - but the clerics drill the message that youths should turn to approved religious authorities for guidance, not radical preachers. For example, on the issue of jihad, or holy war, they teach that it can only be waged on the orders of the head of state.

"It is ... essentially about obedience, loyalty and recognition of authority," said Christopher Boucek, an associate at Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who has studied the camp programs. "That is what is stressed over and over again in these programs: Loyalty to the state and recognition that there are certain correct and qualified sources to follow."

Mr. Boucek said it would take a long time to evaluate the programs' effectiveness. "In many ways, these are generational projects," he said.

The kingdom's emphasis on ideological campaigns is a stark change from the defensive stance it took immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. >>> Donna Abu-Nasr, Associated Press | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

India: White Skin Commercials

Donald Stewart-Whyte, Muslim Son of Tory Agent ‘Went Off the Rails’
TIMES ONLINE: The most unlikely defendant in the crowded dock at Woolwich Crown Court was Donald Douglas Stewart-Whyte, son of a former Conservative Party election agent, half-brother of a fashion model and a Muslim for less than five months before his arrest.

Mr Stewart-Whyte, 23, an art student, admitted in the witness box to dealing cannabis and having possession of a Baikal 9mm handgun with ammunition but denied that he was part of any terrorist mass murder plot.

The prosecution alleged that he was a “footsoldier” who had signalled his willingness to take part in a mid-air suicide mission, but he claimed that he knew nothing of the airline plot and had turned to Islam as a route away from anxiety attacks, mental health problems and drug use. Soon after his conversion in March 2006, he wrote and published a leaflet entitled Look at Islam, Not Muslims, in which he argued that Islam and terrorism were not synonymous.

Mr Stewart-Whyte, who lived with his mother, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was suffering from panic attacks that kept him away from Amersham and Wycombe College, where he was studying fine art before his arrest. The Crown alleged that his religious mentor was another of the defendants, Umar Islam, also a convert to the Muslim faith. >>> Sean O’Neill | Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Jack And Mohammed Are Most Popular Names
YAHOO! NEWS: Jack and Olivia have been revealed as the most popular names for babies born last year - with Mohammed leaping into second place for boys.

Jack retained its top spot for the 14th year in England and Wales, while Olivia rose two places from 2007, the Office for National Statistics said.

Mohammed comes in at number two when its various spellings, such as Muhammad and Mohammad, are included.

Without the variations Mohammed has shot up 18 places over the last year to 16th.

There were no new entries in the top 10 most popular names for baby boys - and only three in the top 100 - while Evie made its debut in the list of top 10 girls' names.

The top 10 baby names for boys were, in order of popularity: Jack, Oliver, Thomas, Harry, Joshua, Alfie, Charlie, Daniel, James and William.

And the top 10 baby names for girls were: Olivia, Ruby, Emily, Grace, Jessica, Chloe, Sophie, Lily, Amelia and Evie.

Jack, which first claimed number one in 1995, was the most popular boy's name in all-but-one month last year. >>> © Sky News | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Ankara fordert Beschleunigung der Beitrittsverhandlungen
DER STANDARD: Außenminister Davutoglu: Beispielloser Reformprozess begonnen

Stockholm - Der türkische Außenminister Ahmet Davutoglu hat die Europäische Union aufgefordert, die Verhandlungen über einen Beitritt Ankaras zu beschleunigen. Die Türkei habe einen beispiellosen Reformprozess begonnen, um den EU-Forderungen nachzukommen, schrieb Davutoglu in einem am Samstag veröffentlichten Kommentar der schwedischen Zeitung "Dagens Nyheter".

Brüssel dürfe nun nicht zulassen, dass der Zypern-Konflikt die Verhandlungen verzögere. Die EU müsse auf die griechischen Zyprioten Druck ausüben, auf eine "konstruktive Einstellung" bei den Gesprächen über die geteilte Mittelmeerinsel einzuschwenken, forderte Davutoglu. [Quelle: Der Standard] APA/AP | Sonntag, 06. September 2009

Mayor Who Tried to Ban Gay Pride Praises Taliban 'Family Values'
PINK NEWS: The Doncaster mayor who tried to ban funding for gay Pride marches has caused shock by claiming people should look to the Taliban as a good example of family values.

Peter Davies, an English Democrat who was elected in June, claimed that under the Taliban, Afghanistan had an "ordered system of family life".

Referring to recent child abuse scandals in the town, he added: "The one thing that can be said about the Taliban is that they do have an ordered society of some sort and that they don't have hundreds of cases of children under threat of abuse from violent parents as we do in Doncaster."

Although the mayor has been praised by some for his crusade against 'political correctness', his latest pronouncements have drawn rather less support. >>> Jessica Green | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Netanyahou serait allé en Russie lundi
leJDD.fr: Certains médias israéliens affirment mercredi que le Premier ministre Benjamin Netanyahou s'est rendu en secret à Moscou lundi, dans l'espoir de dissuader la Russie de vendre des armes à l'Iran. A Moscou, un porte-parole du Premier ministre, Vladimir Poutine, a démenti l'information. Un porte-parole de Netanyahou a déclaré de son côté que le cabinet du chef du gouvernement s'en tenait au communiqué rendu public lundi, qui stipulait qu'il avait inspecté une installation militaire quelque part en Israël. [Source: leJDD.fr] Mercredi 09 Septembre 2009

CIA Director Announces Visit to Dearborn, Mich.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: DEARBORN, Mich. - A planned visit by CIA Director Leon Panetta to a Detroit suburb with one of the nation's largest Arab populations is drawing criticism.

Panetta announced Tuesday he will attend an invitation-only dinner and speech with 150 leaders of the Arab and Muslim communities in Dearborn on Sept. 16.

But Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tells The Detroit News officials chose "entirely wrong night" because it's the 27th night of Ramadan. He said that's when many devout Muslims and imams spend the entire night worshipping in the mosque.

Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Dearborn, said he and other community leaders should take the blame, not the CIA. [Source: Chicago Tribune] Associated Press | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Iranian Cleric Stands His Ground Against Authorities
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Under threat of arrest, Mehdi Karroubi continues to lead the charge against the state's crackdown on dissent after the disputed presidential election. 'I won't go underground,' he says.

Reporting from Tehran and Beirut - The white-turbaned cleric is an unlikely enemy of the Iranian state. He was a confidant of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and served seven years as speaker of parliament.

But at 72, in the wake of Iran's disputed presidential election, Mehdi Karroubi has become the fiery heart of a protest movement that has shaken the republic's foundations.

"I feel I am obliged to defend the rights of people," Karroubi said Monday during a rare interview with a Western news organization at his sparse north Tehran office. "I want it to be remembered in the future by coming generations that somebody someday from the clerical establishment stood up for his stances and principles to defend the people."

On Tuesday, authorities stormed his party's headquarters in west Tehran. They seized documents, computers and photographs and arrested Mohammad Davari, editor of his website, a party spokesman said. They also arrested Ali-Reza Beheshti, the top aide to Karroubi's ally Mir-Hossein Mousavi, reformist websites reported.

Karroubi's popular daily newspaper was shut down weeks ago. Hard-line commanders of the Revolutionary Guard and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have repeatedly called for his arrest.

But Karroubi has continued to defy authorities, calling for opposition supporters to join in street rallies Sept. 18 during Quds Day celebrations, an annual march in support of Palestinians and against Israel. >>> Ramin Mostaghim and Borzou Daragahi | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

L'adresse d'Obama aux enfants américains fait polémique
LE MONDE: Travailler avec acharnement", "construire son propre avenir" et "écrire son destin"... L'appel lancé, mardi 8 septembre, par Barack Obama aux élèves américains continue de faire polémique, à la veille du discours du président au Congrès sur la réforme du système de santé. Dénonçant un exercice de propagande "socialiste", plusieurs élus républicains et des parents d'élèves accusent le président de vouloir endoctriner les enfants américains.

Dans son adresse, dont le texte a été diffusé lundi par la Maison Blanche, Barack Obama se livre à un plaidoyer sur "l'éthique du travail". "Nous avons besoin que chacun de vous développe ses talents, ses compétences, son intelligence afin que vous puissiez aider à résoudre nos problèmes les plus difficiles", a déclaré le président. "Si vous ne faites pas cela, si vous abandonnez l'école, vous ne vous abandonnez pas seulement vous-mêmes, vous abandonnez votre pays", a-t-il ajouté.

Barack Obama a cité son propre exemple d'enfant élevé par sa seule mère : "Il y avait des moments où je me sentais seul. Je n'étais pas toujours aussi concentré que j'aurais dû l'être (...) Mais j'ai eu de la chance. J'ai eu de nombreuses secondes chances et j'ai pu aller à l'université." Le président a ensuite souligné que, quelles que soient les difficultés de la vie, "ce n'est pas une excuse pour négliger [son] travail scolaire ou adopter une mauvaise attitude". Pour encourager ceux qui connaissent l'échec, M. Obama se réfère au basketteur Michael Jordan, qui a "perdu des centaines de matches et raté des milliers de lancers" avant de réussir. >>> LMonde.fr avec AFP | Mardi 08 Septembre 2009

Obama Lectures Students

Oppositionsbewegung: Khomeinis Enkelin kämpft für die iranischen Frauen
WELT ONLINE: Zahra Eshraghi ist die Enkelin von Ayatollah Khomeini und eine der zentralen Figuren innerhalb der Oppositionsbewegung gegen das Regime im Iran. Ohne sich von ihrem Großvater zu distanzieren, kämpft sie gegen die Benachteiligung der Frauen. Ins politische Abseits gedrängt, leistet sie Widerstand gegen die Konservativen.

Zahra Eshraghi, Enkelin von Ayatollah Khomeini, zählt zu den ausdrücklichsten Gegnern des Regimes in Teheran. Immer wieder hat sich die Frauenrechtlerin gegen die repressive Politik der Konservativen ausgesprochen. Sie ist nicht die Einzige: Zahlreiche Revolutionsväter und ihre Nachkommen stehen heute auf der Seite der Opposition.

Als Enkeltochter von Ayatollah Khomeini zieht sie aus ihrer Abstammung maßgeblichen Einfluss; jedem Wort Zahra Eshraghis wird in der islamischen Republik Iran erhebliches Gewicht beigemessen. Doch das, was die schmale, blasse 45-Jährige zu sagen hat, stellt für die Führung des Landes eine Bedrohung dar: Zahra Eshraghi, Reformpolitikerin, Menschenrechtsaktivistin, Feministin, zählt zu den wortmächtigsten Kritikern des Regimes, das die Revolution unter Führung ihres Großvaters hervorgebracht hat. „Das ganze Land steht unter erzwungener Stille, bettelt danach, Fragen zu stellen“, sagte sie in einem Interview im vergangenen Jahr, „doch leider protestiert niemand innerhalb des Regimes.“ >>> Von Gabriella M. Keller | Dienstag, 08. September 2009

Tea Party Express Hits the Road in Protest at Obama Healthcare Plans
TIMES ONLINE: On a warm, wet night in Michigan, Jan Crandall stands to attention while Taps is played on the sound system in honour of America’s war dead. Then she explains why she is carrying a placard bearing an astonishingly large number: $11,801,149,166,949.

It is the US national debt — and it is rising by $3.5 billion a day. “We came out tonight because of the excessive spending,” she said. “We don’t like the Government trying to take over everything. We are for healthcare reform, but they are not going about it the right way.” After a pause Mrs Crandall added: “Gee, are we going to talk about Barack Obama? We might get on his hit list.”

A powerful cocktail of hard-headed conservatism and wilful paranoia is driving a quixotic bus convoy from California to Washington, where Mr Obama will try tonight to rebut its claims and regain the initiative in the most important domestic policy speech of his presidency so far.

The Tea Party Express has no leader, no big donors and no formal goal except to “take back our country” from an Administration it believes has fundamentally misunderstood the role of America’s federal Government — and from Republicans who abandoned fiscal restraint to bail out the country’s banks last year.

The convoy consists of two 12-berth coaches built for rock band roadies and a permanent crew of two singers, two speakers and a supporting cast of mild-mannered political consultants from California. It would be no more than a fringe attraction had its members not already wrong-footed the White House in the health reform debate with talking points for hundreds of Republican town hall meetings over the summer. One of the brains behind the movement is Sal Russo, of Russo, Marsh and Associates, a Sacramento campaigning firm, formerly an adviser to Ronald Reagan and Rudy Giuliani.

The Tea Party people are now targeting congressional districts won last year by Democrats that they think can be won back in next year’s midterm elections. The coaches have stopped for four rallies in Michigan in the past two days, including one attended by Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher — known to followers of John McCain’s presidential campaign as Joe the Plumber. Yesterday he railed against big government at a meeting in Brighton, and signed copies of his new book, Fighting for the American Dream.

Mr Obama’s version of that dream has always included universal healthcare. His speech tonight to both houses of Congress will be a “very forceful” argument for wholesale reform, aides said, and a reply to a misinformation campaign by opponents that has encouraged conspiracy theories about state-run “death panels” and “population control experiments”.

The President’s problem is that no US legislation this ambitious has ever been passed with a majority of Americans opposed to it. A Gallup poll yesterday showed that only 37 per cent of voters back the Bill now being worked on by the Senate Finance Committee.

Tonight’s speech will, therefore, stop short of demanding the public insurance plan — the “public option” — even though Mr Obama still supports the idea and even though it is considered non-negotiable by about 40 liberal Democrats in the House. >>> Giles Whittell in Jackson, Michigan | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Obama vor seiner bisher wichtigsten Rede: Bei Gesundheitsreform Kompromissbereitschaft signalisiert
NZZ ONLINE: Präsident Obama steht vor der vielleicht wichtigsten Rede seiner bisherigen Amtszeit. Vor dem Kongress wird er seine Gesundheitsreform darlegen. In einem Interview hat er bei den bisher stark umstrittenen Plänen Kompromissbereitschaft signalisiert.

Im Streit über die geplante Gesundheitsreform hat US-Präsident Barack Obama Kompromissbereitschaft signalisiert. In einer Rede vor dem Kongress am Mittwoch wolle er zeigen, dass er offen sei für neue Ideen, um das Vorhaben umzusetzen, sagte Obama dem Sender ABC. Er wolle den Menschen ausserdem klarmachen, wie seine Vorschläge genau aussehen. Die geplante Reform hat während des Sommers zu hitzigen Debatten und handfestem Streit zwischen Anhängern und Gegnern geführt. >>> ap | Mittwoch, 09. September 2009

«Ma main reste tendue vers Obama et son peuple»
LE FIGARO: INTERVIEW - Le président vénézuélien Hugo Chavez, dans une interview exclusive au Figaro, appelle les États-Unis à mettre en place un grand plan Marshall en faveur de l'Amérique latine.

Lundi soir, Hugo Chavez a volé la vedette aux stars du cinéma en apparaissant au festival de la Mostra de Venise. Il a aussi accepté de répondre aux questions du Figaro, exprimant notamment ses positions sur l'Iran et Israël.

LE FIGARO. - Monsieur le président, vous terminez une grande tournée diplomatique qui vous a mené à Tripoli, Alger, Damas, Téhéran et qui se termine par Moscou et Madrid. Vous qui êtes allié et ami du président iranien Ahmadinejad, avez-vous la certitude et les preuves que l'Iran n'est pas sur le point d'acquérir une bombe atomique ? 
Hugo CHAVEZ. - Je suis effectivement ami avec le président Ahmadinejad. Je suis son allié. Je le remercie d'ailleurs pour les transferts de technologie de l'Iran au Venezuela. Nous avons signé un nouvel accord la semaine dernière à Téhéran. L'Iran a le droit de développer son énergie nucléaire comme le font la France, de nombreux pays et le Venezuela, pourquoi pas. Je parle au nom du Venezuela et, pour moi, l'usage de la bombe serait une catastrophe. C'est pourquoi il faut en finir et aller vers un désarmement généralisé.

Vous ne répondez pas sur l'Iran ? 
Je suis certain que l'Iran n'est pas en train de produire la bombe. Personne d'ailleurs n'en a apporté la preuve.

Mais, si c'est le cas, pourquoi l'Iran ne répond-il pas aux demandes formulées par les Européens et les Américains ? 
Je ne peux pas répondre pour l'Iran, mais le président Ahmadinejad et le guide suprême Khamenei ont accepté les visites et les contrôles de l'Agence internationale de l'énergie atomique (AIEA). Mais ils n'accepteront jamais qu'on les mette sous tutelle. Si l'Europe et les États-Unis sont inquiets, à mon avis à tort, qu'ils soient cohérents et proposent un pacte sous les auspices de l'ONU pour aboutir à l'élimination totale des armes nucléaires.

Vous avez, il y a quelques jours, à propos d'Israël, parlé d'un État «génocidaire» ; ces propos sont inacceptables car ils signifientque le gouvernement israélien a un plan d'extermination des Palestiniens comparable à celui d'Hitler vis-à-vis des Juifs... 
Ce n'est pas que les Israéliens veulent exterminer les Palestiniens. Ils le font ouvertement. Rappelez-vous la dernière agression israélienne contre Gaza. De quoi s'agit-il sinon d'un génocide. >>> Propos recueillis à Venise par Étienne Mougeotte | Mercredi 09 Septembre 2009