Stories from 2004-03-25

"Team chief Col. Virgil Patterson said one in four soldiers surveyed reported moderate or severe emotional, alcohol or family problems. More than half reported low or very low morale and almost three-quarters reported low or very low unit morale." [more]

"Every Muslim in Pakistan must strive to topple this agent government, which will continue to surrender to the Americans until it destroys Pakistan and helps the Indians control it." [more]

"'We know for sure this is a fabricated story from A to Z. Would you believe that a 13 or 14-year old would agree to blow up himself in return for a hundred shekels which he would receive after his death?'" [more]

"A conservative party in Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's coalition government presented legislation Wednesday to limit the building of new mosques, calling them 'political places' used to spread hatred for the West." [more]

"Some exercises Kerry could try, according to Peabody, are to imagine he is talking in a church, then imagine he is talking to someone over the noise of a subway car, then to an audience of children, then to an ailing patient. Kerry should also do breathing exercises to "uncover parts of the voice that may be unfamiliar or covered by habit," Roth said. In giving a speech, she added, he needs to be willing to go "off the page" in the manner of Clinton or Martin Luther King Jr., adjusting to the audience." [more]

"Although the complete Land Warrior System -- a modular, integrated fighting system that includes everything an infantry soldier wears or carries on the battlefield -- is not due to be fielded until 2007, troops in the field already benefit from several of its components." [more]

"After a few more slides, there was a shot of Bush looking under furniture in the Oval Office. 'Nope,' Bush said. 'No weapons over there.' More laughter. Then another picture of Bush searching in his office: 'Maybe under here.' Laughter again." [more]

"Before last week's Mosul attack, some of the new Christian arrivals volunteered that they were handing out Christian tracts and seeking converts. Now they are quick to claim themselves to be non-proselytising humanitarian workers or evangelists who confine their activities to the Christian community." [more]

"Mr Latham said the attacks were 'ludicrous' and he would not back down. He repeated that the 850 troops in and around Iraq would be withdrawn when power was handed to an Iraqi administration - scheduled for June 30 - even if it requested they remain." [more]