4/11/09: Your Weekly Address

The President discusses the multitude of problems and opportunities before the world through the prism of Passover and Easter.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.26.08

NY Philharmonic gives concert in North Korea.

The New York Philharmonic is now the first major American cultural group to have performed in North Korea. The orchestra began the performance earlier today with North Korea's national anthem and continued with The Star-Spangled Banner. Both reportedly received standing ovations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il apparently wasn't in attendance. The U.S. government agreed on the Philharmonic's visit when there was major progress to end the country's nuclear weapons program.

Thousands of Palestinian protesters are calling for an end to an Israeli blockade on Gaza. They're burning tires and forming a human chain with nearly 40 thousand people along the strip's 25-mile length. Israel has threatened to use deadly force if the march became an attempt to surge across the border into Israeli territory. Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas violently took control of Gaza in June.

The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is projected to grow as more soldiers leave Iraq. That's according to the Defense Department that says 4 thousand more soldiers will be deployed there by last summer. The move would bring U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan to an all-time high...about 32 thousand forces. Government officials say forces in Iraq will start to leave this summer because the temporary troop buildup is over there in July. About 140 thousand troops are predicted after the drawdown happens.

Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens could learn by the end of the week whether he'll be referred to the Justice Department for a perjury investigation. Clemens has testified before a House committee saying he never used steroids or human growth hormone. But his words contradict the testimony of his former trainer Brian McNamee. It's unclear whether the Justice Department would be asked to investigate only Clemens or also McNamee.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.17.07

Lieberman to endorse McCain for president.

Senator Joe Lieberman will back Senator John McCain for president. The Democrat turned Independent is planning to announce his plan today. An aide to Lieberman says the senator decided to endorse the Republican presidential hopeful because he considers him the most capable commander in chief and the best candidate to unite the country against Islamic extremism. The aide says the move isn't an endorsement of the Republican party, only the person. Lieberman will reportedly continue to caucus with the Democrats.

Russia says it's begun to deliver fuel to an atomic power station in Iran that's been the center of concern over Tehran's nuclear program. A Russian nuclear equipment monopoly is reportedly building a $1 billion nuclear plant in that country under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Construction on the Russian-designed facility has continued despite pressure from the U.S. The Russian Foreign Ministry says the Iranian side has provided written guarantees that fuel can only be used at and for that plant.

Baghdad is calling on Turkey to stop military assaults on northern Iraq. This comes after yesterday's air strikes aimed at Kurdish rebels that killed a woman, injured four people, and destroyed a health clinic, a school, and bridges. Tensions have been high along the Iraqi-Turkish border, with Turkey threatening to launch a full-scale offensive against separatist guerrillas from the Kurdistan Worker's Party, or PKK.

The U.S. is reviewing its mission in Afghanistan amid rising concerns about lagging progress there. The study is looking at the efforts of U.S. troops placed along Afghanistan's rugged border with Pakistan. U.S. commanders say they've seen an increase in attacks by the Taliban there. They also say the movement has become more diverse with warlords, drug bosses and local fighters joining in. This comes as officials boast about progress in Iraq, saying the country is experiencing its most significant dip in violence since the first year of the invasion.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.05.07

Bush says Iran is still a danger.

President Bush says there'll be no change in U.S. policy on Iran. That's after a report was released this week saying the country halted a secret nuclear weapons program four years ago and hadn't resumed work as of this year. Bush said he still believes Iran is dangerous and the international community must remain vigilant.

Meanwhile, Iran has welcomed that new U.S. intelligence report. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the report a "declaration of victory" for the country's nuclear program. Another government official said that his government would welcome any countries wanting to correct their views toward Iran. Officials didn't address the intelligence report's finding Iran was actively trying to build nuclear weapons before 2003.

Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is calling on his supporters to end what's known as "push-polling." Push-polling is a tactic that offers negative information about a candidate's rivals in ads. A group founded by some of Huckabee's supporters launched a series of automated calls to Iowa Republican voters over the weekend. But the group's executive director says he doesn't plan on stopping since the effort is completely independent from Huckabee for president campaign. The former Arkansas governor oftentimes boasts about running an above-the-mud campaign that doesn't smear his GOP rivals.

A staff member of Senator Maria Cantwell is facing child sex charges. The 28-year-old staffer was arrested by federal agents last Friday after he allegedly tried to arrange to have sex with a 13-year-old boy. A spokesman for the Democratic Washington Senator said the man was immediately fired. He added that Cantwell has zero tolerance for crimes against children.