Third Week Blog... International

Study blames alcohol for half of 1990s Russian deaths

By DOUGLAS BIRCH

The Associated Press

An international team of health researchers have been hosting a study showing that over half of Russia's deaths are due to drinking.  The findings were off a survey of 49,000 deaths between 1990 and 2001.  The study included 3 industrial towns with 1990 Russian mortality patterns.  The study is to find what the causes of spike in mortality among Russians.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/1282973.html

It is crazy to think that these deaths could've been prevented.  But by the decisions of these people, their lives were cut short.  I am also somewhat surprised that Russia's statistics were so high.  I understand their laws are more lax than ours, so in a way it does make sense.  But perhaps if they would've had laws restricting alcohol these statistics would vary.

Third Week Blog... National

Town rallies behind convicted soldier

After he's found guilty in the execution-style murder of 4 Iraqis, friends and family campaign for leniency.

By Joel Hood 
June 30, 2009

A conviction of an Army soldier has family and friends outraged.  Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr. was convicted of premeditated murder in execution-style of four Iraqi men.  He was sentenced to life in prison.

Leahy and his unit were driving toward a village when they were fired upon.  They were not sure where the shots were coming from, but discovered four men and followed them to a nearby house where they found weapons.  They then captured the Iraqi men, blind folded them, and tied their hands behind their backs and were shot execution-style.  It was questioned whether they should take the Iraqi men back to base; however, the soldiers thought there wouldn't be enough evidence to withhold them.  Two weeks prior, two soldiers in their unit were killed by militiamen.  Soldiers testified that an officer said these murders were a retaliation against the two soldiers killed.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-iraq-soldier30-2009jun30,0,2638861.story

In my opinion, this case is crap.  Prosecutors have no idea what it is like to be in a foreign country, risking their lives every day.  They don't know the feeling of adrenaline that pumps through a soldier's veins as he is being shot at.  They do not understand the stress of a soldier as he has to not only protect himself, but everyone around him, and on top of that, abide by strict rules that make his job even harder.  This type of thing happens all the time in war, but yet we can't do anything like it because it is so heinous and vulgar.  How are these troops supposed to do their jobs while being tied on a leash allowing them to only "fight so much?"

Until these men who sit in an air-conditioned building with their expensive suits actually enlist and go out and fight, they have no right to judge a soldier's actions. 

Third Week Blog... Local

Peterson reflects on Sooners career

• Jono Greco/The Daily

Monday, June 29, 2009

OU football legend, Adrian Peterson, coached children this week in the fundamentals of football.  Peterson said it brought back old memories.  The Old Spice Adrian Peterson Football Camp was a three-day camp for children that had Peterson looking back on the days he wore crimson and cream.  He was a player with outstanding statistics even though he never got a Heisman or a National Championship to prove it.

He is currently in the NFL racking up stats as he did in college, even though the competition is one step above.  His goals are to win the NFC North and just be a "complete player." 

http://oudaily.com/news/2009/jun/29/peterson-reflects-sooners-career/

I think it is great that Adrian Peterson comes back to host a camp at the college that jump-started his career.  After reading the his statistics and realizing that he didn't win a Heisman or  a National Championship, it seems as though he was 'robbed'.  He as a great player, and a great team leader whose cards just didn't play out.  It is good that he realizes the past is the past and there is nothing one can do to change that.  He has a great career now that he is focused on which is outstanding.  Peterson seems like an athlete that uses the past to help push him forward and advance himself in anything he does.

And On With Two... International

Motorcycle bomb kills 19 in Baghdad market

USA Today

A motorcycle in Baghdad laced with nails and ball bearings, exploded just after 9 a.m. in a youth-filled market.  The explosion killed 19 and wounded at least 50.  "The attack occurred four days before the deadline for U.S. combat troops to withdraw from the cities."

There has been a large amount of violence this week resulting in over two hundred deaths.  This raised doubts in the Iraqi forces as to whether they can provide stable security as American forces are slowly being weeded out.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2009-06-26-baghdad-bomb_N.htm

I think that these events should raise suspicion as to whether the Iraqi forces can take on the role of security within their own borders.  It is a huge deal for America to step to the side and allow Iraq to fend for itself.  I do think America should help out other countries when they are in need due to the fact that we have the ability to do so.  However, having said that, there is only so much help we can give.  Not every country is meant to have a democracy, no matter how great the idea sounds.  I do not think we should extend our stay in Iraq due to the rush of deaths.  We have expended many resources and American lives trying to help them.  But where do we cross the line?

And On With Two... National

USA Today:

By Donna Leinwand, Andrea Stone andAlan Levin, USA TODAY

DC commuter train crash kills 7

An investigation is still underway as to why a Washington commuter train rear-ended another one that was stopped on the tracks killing seven and injuring 70.

An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board said that the train was part of an aging fleet that officials were trying to phase out on account of safety concerns.  

The transit system didn't do what was asked, and despite warnings beginning in 2006, kept the trains on the tracks.

The crash occurred after two senators requested Congress to approve funding for a new railroad safety devise that would prevent trains from crashing, "positive train control."

The article on this topic was a little more extensive, having quotes from victims and those who witnessed the crash. It was interesting to read, but this sums it up.  There was a quote in the article as follows:  "'We'll find out what happened," said John Catoe, transit general manager.  "We'll fix what happened.'"  This was an insensitive statement in my opinion.  You can't "fix what happened."  You cant fix lives that were lost.  There is no coming back from that.  The only thing you can do is make sure it doesn't happen again.  Warnings were ignored, and the ignorance cost 7 lives.  If people are failing to maintain railroad  transits, it makes me wonder.  What else is being neglected that could affect me?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-06-22-metro-collision_N.htm?poe=HFMostPopular

And On With Two.. Local

The Oklahoman:

Oklahoma Panhandle wreck claims Oklahoma girl, woman

Published June 9, 2009

A car crash in Texas County, Tuesday, June 9, 2009, resulted in the deaths of a young girl and a woman.  Lourdes Martinez ran a stop sign while headed south on State Highway 95 and crashed into a box truck killing both her and Analy Nevarez, 11.  The truck driver suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from a Kansas hospital the patrol said.

I understand that this accident occurred at the beginning of the month and in Texas County; however, it hit home for me.  The accident occurred right down the road from where I live.  I drive it to and from my house whenever I go home.  So this is an instant where, "that could have been me."  Also, the little girl that died went to a school not far from me.  Her and a close family friend of mine played sports together growing up.  I didn't know Analy well, but it is hard when friends have to endure the pain of losing someone.  The article was very straightforward with what happened, it is just the "what happened" part that still shocks me.

http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-panhandle-wreck-claims-oklahoma-girl-woman/article/3376411

Current Events 1

LOCAL

An 11-month-old baby was pulled from a swimming pool in southeast Oklahoma City when she had stopped breathing.  Sources said she was pulled out after a 3-year-old tried to take her swimming.  The baby en route to the hospital in a private vehicle when the driver pulled over and called for assistance.  An ambulance was on its way.  The baby will be okay according to a fire spokeswoman.

http://newsok.com/baby-pulled-from-swimming-pool-in-oklahoma-city-is-fine-fire-department-reports/article/3378320?custom_click=pod_headline_oklahoma-city-news

To me, this article was very dry.  It included facts, yes; however, the only 'interesting' part that caught my attention was the fact that a baby was pulled from a swimming pool.  It was a very short piece and would have been better if more detail were added, even only a few more lines.

NATIONAL

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a former top special operations commander, recently took charge of 90,000 U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.  The top priority is to protect Afghan civilians from violence.

Violence levels along with military deaths have hit record highs with President Hamid Karzai pressuring U.S. forces to prevent civilian deaths.

"The Afghan people are at the center of our mission. ... We must protect them from violence, whatever its nature," McChrystal said.

President Obama has issued 21,000 troops to Afghanistan with a total of 68,000 to be expected there by the end of the year.

http://newsok.com/u.s.-vows-to-protect-afghans/article/3378169?custom_click=headlines_widget

This story struck me as interesting because my brother is a United States Marine currently stationed in Afghanistan.  This article appears to draw the reader towards a certain angle.  It states that violence and death levels are at an all-time high; however, we are sending more and more troops there.  Yes, we are trying to help their people, but what about our own?

INTERNATIONAL

South Korea's president ordered his top security officials to deal with North Korea's new warnings of a nuclear war.  He traveled to Washington to speak with President Obama about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.  The trip was after North Korea threatened to open war on any country that stops its ships on the high seas under new sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council.  Along with this threat, they also stated they would "weaponize" all its plutonium along with acknowledging a uranium enriched program.

http://newsok.com/s.-korea-u.s.-to-discuss-nuke-plan/article/3377929

This article had pieces of good information in it, but it was slightly confusing when I read it.  Frankly, North Korea is threatening war on a possibly anyone.  I was unsure of the sanctions approved the U.N. Security Council and wish the writer would've included that in the article.  I am also curious as to whether N. Korea has conflict with the United States.  Should we be worried about this?