NPR 2009-08-24

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More troops needed in Afghanistan, that's the message today from NATO military commanders to President Obama's envoy¹. A resurgent Taliban has taken hold in many areas thought to be stabilized² by US forces in that country. Security has deteriorated³, putting more pressure on the administration to send in more troops in hopes of regaining⁴ control. This is at a time when the White House is having a tough time selling health care overhaul⁵ to the public because of the looming⁶ budget deficit⁷. A recent Washington Post, ABC poll, shows that most Americans think the war in Afghanistan is not worth fighting.
 
The Iraqi government announced the arrest of the plotters behind twin truck bombs that targeted government buildings last week in the heart of Baghdad. Iraqi television broadcast their confessions⁹. NPR's Deborah Amos reports from Baghdad.
 
Amid strong recriminations that the Iraqi security service failed the country, after nearly 100 people died in last week's attacks, the Iraqi government has produced a dramatic confession⁸ by one of the alleged¹⁰ masterminds. Iraqi state television broadcast a short statement from one man. He said he was a high-ranking member of the Baath Party in Saddam's regime. He said his cell members bribe¹¹ security guards outside the Foreign Ministry¹² to get close enough to set off the bombs. Iraq's chief military spokesman said the entire cell that planned the attacks had been arrested. Small segments of the confession will be played over the evening. A holy month of Ramadan began this week, the dawn-to-dust fast means that Iraqi families are gathered around the television at the evening hours. Deborah Amos, NPR News, Baghdad.
 
Greek firefighters appeared to have broken the back of a massive fire that continues to burn just east of the capital Athens. But they are not out of the woods yet, as we hear from John Psaropoulos.
 
Firefighters finally seemed to be winning against most of the major fronts they faced during the second 24 hours of a massive forest fire. It has taken enormous resources and international assistance. The fire service reports 162 firetrucks, 70 tankertrucks, 14 waterbombing aeroplanes and seven helitankers in operation in this fire alone on Sunday. It filled in 650 men, the army and police hundreds more. But as night fell on the capital, fires were still burning and the chances of flare-ups where fires have been put out were high. Thousands of acres of pristine¹³ pine forest have been lost along a 25-mile swath of countryside which can only further choke the smoke-infested city of five million. For NPR News, I'm John Psaropoulos, East of Athens.
 
A 54 year-old man died in rough surf caused by Hurricane Bill off the coast of Florida today. Authorities say the Orlando man washed ashore¹⁴ on Smyrna Beach this afternoon, he was unconscious. Strong rip currents and tempered waves were poured off Florida. The storm has moved north toward Canada and is now about 60 miles east of Halifax.
 
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Switzerland is in an uproar¹⁵ over the government's decision to apologize to Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi for the arrest of his son Hannibal and daughter-in-law last year in Geneva for abusing their domestic servants. Libya had demanded an apology as the price of re-establishing normal relations. Lisa Schlein has details from Geneva.
 
Libya was quick to retaliate¹⁶ against Switzerland. It arrested two Swiss businessmen and imposed a series of economic sanctions. Switzerland resisted Gadhafi's demand for an apology for more than a year but finally gave in. Swiss Member of Parliament Luza Strom accuses the government of giving in to blackmail¹⁷. "The country should not do that because if the country starts to do this, any terrorist in the world could start hijacking¹⁸ somebody and then, um... our country would be forced to make concessions¹⁹." Critics in Switzerland accused the government of caving in to Gadhafi because its interest in Libyan oil. Similar charges are being made against Scotland in the wake of its decision to release the Lockerbie bomber²⁰. For NPR News, I'm Lisa Schlein in Geneva.
 
The quirky fantasy war film, by Quentin Tarantino, starring Brad Pitt came in NO.1 at the box office this weekend, Inglorious Bastards²¹ earned 37.6 million dollars in its debut²². That's Tarantino's best opening ever. Coming in NO.2 was the film District 9, at 18.9 million dollars and G.I. Joe was third place taking in 12.5 million dollars.
 
The man, who penned the novel of Good Old Boy that was later made into a TV movie starring Tommy Lee Jones, has died. Elmer Kelton died yesterday of natural causes, according to a spokesman in Texas. Kelton was 83.