President Bush and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

President George W. Bush and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor share a moment backstage March 3, 2005, prior to the swearing-in ceremonies for Michael Chertoff as secretary of Homeland Security.

In response to the Justice’s resignation, President Bush called her one of the most admired women of her time and said he was proud to know her. File photo. White House photo by Paul Morse.

more at President Bush or Supreme Court

Deep Impact Kicks Off Fourth of July

Deep Impact Kicks Off Fourth of July With Deep Space Fireworks 07.04.05

This image shows the initial ejecta that resulted when NASA's Deep Impact probe collided with comet Tempel 1 at 10:52 p.m. Pacific time, July 3 (1:52 a.m. Eastern time, July 4) . It was taken by the spacecraft's medium-resolution camera 16 seconds after impact. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD

Download Full High Resolution Image and View Image Gallery

After 172 days and 431 million kilometers (268 million miles) of deep space stalking, Deep Impact successfully reached out and touched comet Tempel 1. The collision between the coffee table-sized impactor and city-sized comet occurred at 1:52 a.m. EDT.

"What a way to kick off America's Independence Day," said Deep Impact Project Manager Rick Grammier of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "The challenges of this mission and teamwork that went into making it a success, should make all of us very proud."

This mission is truly a smashing success," said Andy Dantzler, director of NASA's Solar System Division. "Tomorrow and in the days ahead we will know a lot more about the origins of our solar system."

Official word of the impact came 5 minutes after impact. At 1:57 a.m. EDT, an image from the spacecraft's medium resolution camera downlinked to the computer screens of the mission's science team showed the tell-tale signs of a high-speed impact.

"The image clearly shows a spectacular impact," said Deep Impact principal investigator Dr. Michael A'Hearn of the University of Maryland, College Park. "With this much data we have a long night ahead of us, but that is what we were hoping for. There is so much here it is difficult to know where to begin."

The celestial collision and ensuing data collection by the nearby Deep Impact mothership was the climax of a very active 24 hour period for the mission which began with impactor release at 2:07 a.m. EDT on July 3. Deep space maneuvers by the flyby, final checkout of both spacecraft and comet imaging took up most of the next 22 hours. Then, the impactor got down to its last two hours of life.

"The impactor kicked into its autonomous navigation mode right on time," said Deep Impact navigator Shyam Bhaskaran, of JPL. "Our preliminary analysis indicates the three impactor targeting maneuvers occurred on time at 90, 35 and 12.5 minutes before impact."

At the moment the impactor was vaporizing itself in its 10 kilometers per second (6.3 miles per second) collision with comet Tempel 1, the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft was monitoring events from nearby. For the following14 minutes the flyby collected and downlinked data as the comet loomed ever closer. Then, as expected at 2:05 a.m. EDT, the flyby stopped collecting data and entered a defensive posture called shield mode where its dust shields protect the spacecraft's vital components during its closest passage through the comet's inner coma. Shield mode ended at 2:32 a.m. EDT when mission control re-established the link with the flyby spacecraft.

"The flyby surviving closest approach and shield mode has put the cap on an outstanding day," said Grammier. "Soon, we will begin the process of downlinking all the encounter information in one batch and hand it to the science team."

The goal of the Deep Impact mission is to provide a glimpse beneath the surface of a comet, where material from the solar system's formation remains relatively unchanged. Mission scientists expect the project will answer basic questions about the formation of the solar system, by offering a better look at the nature and composition of the frozen celestial travelers known as comets.

The University of Maryland is responsible for overall Deep Impact mission science, and project management is handled by JPL. The spacecraft was built for NASA by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation, Boulder, Colo.

For information about Deep Impact on the Internet, visit nasa.gov/deepimpact .

DC Agle (818) 393-9011, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Dolores Beasley (202) 358-1753, NASA Headquarters, Washington

Lee Tune (301) 405-4679, University of Maryland, College Park

2005-109 more at NASA or Deep Impact and Tempel 1

Sailors, Soldiers Killed Near Asadabad, Afghanistan

Sailors, Soldiers Killed Near Asadabad, Afghanistan, Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense announced July 2 the death of eight Soldiers and eight Sailors who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Soldiers killed were:
- SSgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio.
- Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minn.
- Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Fla.
- Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Ind.
- MSgt James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tenn.
- Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Conn.
- Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Va.
- Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Fla.

All of these soldiers were assigned to the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.

Sailors killed were:
- Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, La.
- Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H.
- Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, Calif.
- Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Ore.
- Lt. Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., 30, of Portville, N.Y.
- Petty Officer 2nd Class James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.
- Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric S. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nev.
- Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, W.Va.

Healy, Patton and Suh were assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Fontan, Kristensen, Lucas, McGreevy and Taylor were assigned to SEAL Team 10, Virginia Beach, Va.

All 16 were killed while conducting combat operations when the MH-47 helicopter that they were aboard crashed in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan, in Kumar Province on June 28.

For further information related to the Army personnel listed in this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

For further information related to the Navy personnel listed in this release, contact Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs at (619) 437-5133.

Story Number: NNS050702-01, Release Date: 7/2/2005 10:53:00 PM For more news from the Department of Defense, visit defenselink.mil. For more news from around the fleet, visit navy.mil. More at Asadabad or Afghanistan

Grafting Watermelon Makes Firmer, Healthier Fruit

Grafting Watermelon Makes Firmer, Healthier Fruit

By Jim Core, July 1, 2005

Image Number K7181-9 In Lane, Oklahoma, ARS scientists are grafting watermelon stems onto squash or gourd rootstock to produce firmer melons. This trait could help watermelon take the lead in the fresh-cut produce industry, possibly surpassing the huge fresh-cut salad and vegetable market. Photo by Keith Weller

Packaged, cut-up watermelon is convenient for consumers and represents a rapidly expanding market. But the fruit can quickly lose crispness when cut, presenting a challenge to the "fresh-cut" market that demands a firm, attractive fruit.

One way to meet this challenge is to graft watermelon tops onto gourd or squash rootstock, according to Benny Bruton, an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist with the agency's South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, Okla. Bruton and his colleagues found that grafted watermelons are resistant to Fusarium wilt, a widespread and costly plant fungus.

Fruit from certain grafted plants was also at least 25 to 30 percent firmer and was resistant not only to Fusarium, but to many other soilborne pathogens, according to Bruton and cooperators Warren Roberts and Wayne Fish. Roberts is a horticulturalist with Oklahoma State University's Wes Watkins Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Lane, and Fish is an ARS biochemist at Lane.

Fusarium fungi live in the soil and attack plants at all stages of growth. Until now, watermelon growers in the United States have dealt with Fusarium-infested soil by treating with methyl bromide to kill the fungus, rotating the fields or growing partially resistant cultivars.

The U.S. watermelon industry did not embrace grafting previously because it was considered too expensive. However, the first two solutions to Fusarium wilt control are becoming less workable as land becomes less available for field rotation, and agricultural use of methyl bromide is being discontinued because of its negative impact on the ozone layer.

A number of watermelon cultivars are available that have varying resistance to Fusarium, but not to the degree of grafted watermelon, and not with the added benefit of fruit firmness that was found with grafting. Because of the improved fruit quality characteristics of grafted watermelon, they may eventually be targeted for the "fresh-cut" market.

Read more about the research in the July 2005 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.

07/01/2005 08:11 AM, USDA Agricultural Research Service, The United States Department of Agriculture

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NASA Gives Go for Space Shuttle Return to Flight

NASA Gives Go for Space Shuttle Return to Flight

NASA has cleared the Space Shuttle to Return to Flight. After a two-day Flight Readiness Review meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, senior managers approved a July 13 launch date for Discovery.

Commander Eileen Collins and her crew are scheduled to lift off at 3:51 p.m. EDT on the first U.S. space flight since the February 2003 loss of the Shuttle Columbia.

"After a vigorous, healthy discussion our team has come to a decision: we're ready to go," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said after the meeting. "The past two and half years have resulted in significant improvements that have greatly reduced the risk of flying the Shuttle. But we should never lose sight of the fact that space flight is risky.

"The Discovery mission, designated STS-114, is a test flight," Griffin said, noting that astronauts will try out a host of new Space Shuttle safety enhancements. In addition, Discovery will carry 15 tons of supplies and replacement hardware to the International Space Station. July 13 is the beginning of three weeks of possible launch days that run through July 31.

NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Readdy, chaired the Flight Readiness Review, the meeting that traditionally sets launch dates and assesses the Shuttle's fitness to fly.
m
"Today's decision is an important milestone in returning the Shuttle to service for the country. Our technical and engineering teams are continuing their in-depth preparations to ensure that Eileen and her crew have a successful mission," he said.

- end - Dean Acosta/Allard Beutelmm, Headquarters, Washington. (Phone: 202/358-1898/4769)

Michael J. Rein, Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Phone: 321/867-2468)

Source: NASA RELEASE: 05-171 more at NASA and Space Shuttle

Geldof, Bono praise Bush before Group of Eight Summit in Scotland

U.S. Aid to Africa Hits Record Levels, Geldof, Bono praise Bush before Group of Eight Summit in Scotland

By Jim Fisher-Thompson, Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- President Bush is not a rock star or a producer but he has used the power of his presidency to aid Africans beset by the seemingly intractable challenges of poverty and disease more than anyone on the planet, according to two celebrity activists who are dedicated to keeping Africa's plight in the forefront of world attention.

"[Bush] has actually done more than any American president for Africa," British producer Bob Geldof, who is the leading organizer of the "Live 8" concerts that are being held worldwide on July 2 to raise awareness of Africa's development needs, told Time Magazine recently.

Bono, lead singer of the Irish band U2 and longtime activist for aid to Africa, echoed Geldof’s praise for President Bush as he told an American television interviewer June 26, "[Bush] has already doubled and tripled aid to Africa .… I think he has done an incredible job, his administration, on AIDS. 250,000 Africans are on anti-viral drugs; they literally owe their lives to America."

As for an overall legacy, Bono said that if Bush in his second term is "as bold in his commitments to Africa as he was in the first term, he indeed deserves a place in history in turning the fate of that continent around."

Government statistics indicate that American assistance to Africa -- on all levels, private sector as well as government -- are at an all-time high reflecting an increased awareness of the continent's needs by the president who pledged more funding, especially to combat HIV/AIDS, during a trip to the continent in July 2003.

Now, both Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have pledged to make aid to sub-Saharan Africa a central topic at the upcoming meeting of the Group of Eight Nations (or G8, consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) in Gleneagles, Scotland, set for July 6-8. They have also been the prime movers behind a recent announcement by developed nations’ finance ministers of a massive debt reduction for 14 nations in sub-Saharan Africa. (See related article.)

In addition, Blair is pushing a plan of action for development aid to Africa put together by an organization he established called the Commission for Africa (CfA). It calls for a doubling of the more than $25 billion in annual aid that currently goes to the continent.

On June 13, when President Bush met with five African leaders, he assured them: "The United States is committing to expanding our efforts to relieve, hunger, reduce debt, fight disease on the African continent." (See related article.)

Calling AIDS "one of the greatest causes of suffering in Africa, the president told them he made combating the disease in Africa "a top priority of my administration. This crisis is one that can be arrested. And I want you all to know that when America makes a commitment, we mean what we say," he emphasized.

That commitment involves a worldwide emergency plan for AIDS relief focusing on sub-Saharan nations that was allocated about $780 million to battle the disease in 2004. That amount grew to $1.1 billion in 2005.

Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick has also placed Africa at the top of his agenda. He told a business-finance gathering in Rwanda in early June: "U.S. development aid to sub-Saharan Africa has risen three to four times (since 2000) to about three to five billion dollars over the past two years."

The private sector adds considerably to the development equation, Zoellick added: "If you take the amount of net private investment, personal remittances to developing countries, and NGO grants, that amount from the United States totaled $48 billion last year -- over two and a half times the amount we had in overseas development assistance."

Furthermore, he said, "If you combine development assistance, private capital flows, grants by NGOs, and trade, the United States now supplies 70 percent of the G-7 support to developing nations," which shows how development aid is combined with other capital sources.

To help Africans pursue business-oriented growth, President Bush established the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), an innovative way to help countries increase a better business environment to attract investment. So far eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa are eligible for its funding and Madagascar has already signed an MCA agreement worth $110 million to help develop its rural infrastructure.

For additional information on this program, see Millenium Challenge Account.

Source: usinfo.state.gov more at more at live8 or live 8 and Millennium Challenge Account or President Bush and bono or Africa

LIVE 8 Performers in Philadelphia Speak Out for Africa

LIVE 8 Performers in Philadelphia Speak Out for Africa
Record crowd turns out at U.S. venue for worldwide aid awareness event

By Mercedes L. Suarez Washington File Staff Writer

Philadelphia -- The United States concert of the LIVE 8 worldwide music event kicked off at noon local time on July 2 with the hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas performing before a crowd massed around the Philadelphia Museum of Art that organizers said numbered around one million.

Destiny's Child, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Alicia Keyes, Sarah McLachlan and the Dave Matthews Band were only some of the artists participating in Philadelphia. Several more acts were added to the lineup as word about the concerts spread over the last few days.

Behind the stage on the museum grounds, a veritable parade of stars was on view as performers came to take part in the six hour concert. Presenters included movie stars Will Smith, Richard Gere, Jimmy Smits, Natalie Portman and Don Cheadle.

LIVE 8's mission is to raise awareness of the challenges facing Africa and to encourage leaders of the Group of 8 nations (or G8, consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States), holding their annual summit July 6-8 in Gleneagles, Scotland, to take action on those issues.

Many of the artists said they were personally motivated by the concerts' cause. In an interview before her performance, Beyonce Knowles of Destiny's Child spoke of her recent trip to South Africa and her encounters with people living with AIDS. "Any person, any human being, that can see the poverty, and see how many people are infected there, you have no choice, "she said, adding, "You want to do something."

The message of the concerts focused on unity and social action. "I'm not into politics, I'm into people, and I know that these people are dying," said rapper Kanye West, talking backstage about his commitment to social issues. "If there's anything I can do to promote the rejuvenation of Africa ... it's worth it," he said.

On a recent hit song, West talks about diamonds from West Africa and Sierra Leone. "My plan is to bring awareness" about the diamond trade, he explained.

"Everybody wins today," said members of the vintage rock band Def Leppard.

Performers and presenters both urged the audience to continue the campaign for Africa beyond the one-day event. "We feel that the follow-up is what's important. This must not end here," said activist and former U.S. presidential candidate Reverend Al Sharpton. "This must develop into a movement now that will make sure that those that are in power, particularly the leaders of the G8, understand that poverty must become history."

It is important that "we from all political persuasions, all religious persuasions, are one on this issue," added Sharpton, in an apparent reference to the organizer of the Philadelphia event, the One Campaign.

LIVE 8 is the brainchild of Irish rocker/activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Bob Geldof, as were the Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia twenty years ago that raised money for African famine relief. This time the focus is on activism: "it is your voice we are after, not your money," says the LIVE
8 promotional material and Web site.

The show in Philadelphia coincided with concerts in all G8 nations, as well as South Africa. Over one billion people were expected to tune into live coverage on television, radio and the Internet. Two hours into the Philadelphia concert, organizers announced that LIVE 8 had already set a world record for the number of online video streams.

Between acts in Philadelphia, the huge crowd watched broadcasts from the London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Tokyo, Toronto and Johannesburg concerts on giant television screens stationed around the museum.

"Are you ready to change history?" Madonna asked the crowd in London, where she performed along with Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Annie Lennox, Joss Stone and Elton John, among others. Also taking the state in London was the Irish rock band U2, whose lead singer, Bono, has campaigned extensively for African relief by meeting with President Bush and other U.S. and international officials.

At the White House on July 1, Press Secretary Scott McClellan said of the LIVE 8 events, "I think any effort that draws attention to helping the people of Africa can only be helpful. We appreciated some of the comments from people like Bono who's been very involved. ... [I]t was very complimentary of the initiatives that we're undertaking in Africa and the president's efforts."

Aid to Africa is expected to top the agenda at the G8 summit. The United States is the largest donor of official development assistance to Africa, and President Bush reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Africa and U.S. support for political and economic reform on the continent in a June 30 speech in Washington. Saying that the United States has tripled overseas development aid to Africa during his presidency, Bush proposed "to double aid to Africa once again" between 2004 and 2010, "with a primary focus on helping reforming countries."

Performers in Philadelphia said not only personal generosity but also activism was showcased around the world on July 2. Rap mogul Russell Simmons echoed the campaign's message, saying, "a lot of people see this situation as hopeless but the truth is they can make a tremendous difference ... and then their voices will be heard by the world leaders."

When asked whether he thought world leaders were paying attention, band leader Dave Matthews responded, "I think they are aware, and judging from President Bush's speech he's moving in the right direction," he said, referring to Bush's recent commitment to increase aid to Africa with money for malaria and through programs like the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

Matthews added that he thought LIVE 8 might be "... really just the beginning of a movement where citizens of the world say ‘we can't live with such imbalance.'"

Source: usinfo.state.gov Created: 02 Jul 2005 Updated: 02 Jul 2005

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DoD Announces Increase in Death Gratuity and SGLI

DoD Announces Increase in Death Gratuity and SGLI

The Department of Defense announced today a significant increase in the death gratuity for the survivors of service members killed in action and the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage for service members deployed to designated combat zones.

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief Act 2005 (Public Law 109-13) increases this immediate cash payment from $12,420 to $100,000 for survivors of those whose death is as a result of hostile actions and occurred in a designated combat operation or combat zone or while training for combat or performing hazardous duty.

The supplemental also increases the maximum amount of SGLI coverage from $250,000 to $400,000 for all service members effective Sept. 1, 2005 and provides that the department will pay or reimburse the premiums to service members, who are deployed in a designated combat zone for $150,000 of SGLI coverage.

Until the effective date for the SGLI increase, the supplemental provides for a special death gratuity of $150,000, retroactive to October 7, 2001, for survivors of those whose death is in a designated combat operation or combat zone or occurred while training for combat or performing hazardous duty.

The Secretary of Defense has designated all areas where service members are in receipt of the combat zone tax exclusion as qualifying combat zones and all members deployed outside the United States on orders in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom as participating in qualifying combat operations.

Effective immediately, survivors of service members, who die in these qualifying zones or operations, will receive the increased benefits.

The services will also identify eligible survivors of service members who died in these designated zones and operations since October 7, 2001 and begin making the retroactive payments within a few days.

The process of identifying all eligible beneficiaries and completing these retroactive payments will take several months.

Survivors of members who did not die in a designated combat operation or combat zone, but were training for combat or performing hazardous duty, will also qualify for the increased benefits.

Circumstances that qualify include: aerial flight, parachute duty, demolition duty, diving duty, war games, practice alerts, tactical exercises, leadership reaction courses, grenade and live fire exercises, hand-to-hand combat training, confidence and obstacle courses, accident involving a military vehicle or military weapon, exposure to toxic fumes or gas and explosion of military ordnance.

No amount of monetary compensation or level of assistance can replace a human life. However, it is our country’s duty to recognize the loss of a service member with dignified and appropriate support for the family members left behind.

These death benefit enhancements recognize the direct sacrifice of life of those service members placed in harm’s way and in service to the nation.

All beneficiaries for retroactive payments will be contacted by mail or telephone. If someone is not contacted, but thinks he may be entitled to added benefits, he may inquire at the following addresses or telephone numbers:

Army: Department of the Army Casualty Operations at toll-free 1-800-626-3317.

Navy: Navy Personnel Command (PERS-62), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-6200 or call toll-free 1-800-368-3202.

Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center Casualty Services Branch at AFPC/DPFCS, 550 C Street West, Suite 14, Randolph AFB TX 78150-4216 or call toll-free 1-800-433-0048.

USMC: HQMC Casualty Office, 3280 Russell Road, Attn: MRPC, Quantico, VA 22134 or call toll-free 1-800-847-1597.

USCG: Coast Guard Personnel Services Center, 444 SE Quincy St., Topeka KS 66683-3591; Phone 785-339-3570.

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release On the Web: defenselink.mil/releases/2005/ Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact:dod.mil/faq/comment or +1 (703) 428-0711 No. 669-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2005

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NASA's Deep Impact Spacecraft

NASA's Deep Impact Spacecraft Preps for July 4 Fireworks 07.01.05

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft continues to sail through its final checkout, as it hurtles toward comet Tempel 1.

"The time of comet encounter is near and the major mission milestones are getting closer and closer together," said Rick Grammier, Deep Impact project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "After all the years of design, training and simulations, we are where we want to be. The flight and science teams are working the mission plan, and we are good to go for encounter.

Impact with the comet is scheduled for 1:52 a.m. EDT, July 4 (10:52 p.m. PDT, July 3). Gallery of Latest Images

Deep Impact consists of a subcompact-car-sized flyby spacecraft and an impactor, about the size of a washing machine. The dual spacecraft carry three imaging instruments, two on the flyby and one on the impactor.

Several major mission milestones occurred during the past week. The mission's third trajectory correction maneuver was successfully executed on June 23. The burn of the spacecraft's motors changed Deep Impact's speed by 13 miles per hour. Another trajectory correction for final targeting before impactor release is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT July 2 (5:00 p.m. PDT).

Mission planners separated the spacecraft's flight operations into six mission phases. The phases are launch, commissioning, cruise, approach, encounter and playback. The five-day encounter phase incorporates the final approach to the comet and transmission to Earth of collected data.

"We've completed the final pre-release checkout of the impactor. The impactor probe will have a short, 24 hour life from release to impact, but an incredibly important role," said Dave Spencer, Deep Impact mission manager at JPL.

The impactor has an auto-navigation system that will make final corrections to its flight path just minutes before the scheduled collision. Scientists hope the resulting crater will expose fresh material from below the comet's surface and subsurface.

"That is the whole point of Deep Impact," said mission principal investigator and University of Maryland astronomer Dr. Michael A'Hearn. "We want to find out what are the guts of a comet."

The flyby spacecraft will use medium and high resolution imagers and an infrared spectrometer to collect and send to Earth pictures and spectra of the event. Spaceborne science platforms will also be watching Deep Impact. These include NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Swift and Submillimeter Wave Astronomy satellites, the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory and Rosetta spacecraft. Observatories on Earth will view the impact and its aftermath.

The final prelude to impact begins early on July 3 EDT (July 2 PDT), when the flyby spacecraft releases the impactor into the path of the onrushing comet. The release is scheduled at 1:52 a.m. EDT, 24 hours before impact (10:52 p.m. PDT).

The 820-pound impactor will collide with the comet's nucleus at a closing speed of 37,000 kilometers per hour (23,000 miles per hour). Scientists expect the impact to create a large crater. The impact will eject ice, dust and gas from the crater and reveal the pristine material beneath. The impact will have no significant effect on the comet's orbit, which poses no threat to Earth.

The University of Maryland, College Park, conducts overall mission science for Deep Impact. JPL handles project management and mission operations.

For information about Deep Impact on the Web, visit: nasa.gov/deepimpact. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: nasa.gov/home/.

DC Agle (818) 393-9011 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Dolores Beasley (202) 358-1753 NASA Headquarters, Washington

Lee Tune (301) 405-4679 University of Maryland, College Park

2005-107 more at NASA or Deep Impact and Tempel 1

G8 Summit in Scotland

President George W. Bush stands at the podium after being introduced at the Freer Gallery in Washington D.C., Thursday, June 30, 2005, by Walter Stern, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Hudson Institute.

The President spoke about his participation in the upcoming G8 Summit in Scotland, highlighting new initiatives to improve the quality of life of sub-Saharan Africans. White House photo by Paul Morse FULL TEXT more at G8 and G8 Summit or live8 summit

Freedom Calendar 07/02/05 - 07/09/05

July 2, 1862, U.S. Rep. Justin Morrill (R-VT) wins passage of Land Grant Act, establishing colleges open to African-Americans, including such students as George Washington Carver.

July 3, 1986, At ceremony rededicating the Statue of Liberty, President Ronald Reagan honors immigrants from all nations who come “to build a new world of peace and freedom and hope”.

July 4, 1867, Independence Day, Republican Party is established in Georgia with racially-integrated state convention.

July 5, 1801, Birth of David Farragut, Tennessee-born Hispanic appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as first U.S. Navy Admiral.

July 6, 1854, First state Republican Party officially organized in Jackson, Michigan, to oppose Democrats’ pro-slavery policies 7

July 7, 1981, President Ronald Reagan appoints first woman to U.S. Supreme Court, former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; as Republican legislator in Arizona, she was first woman to serve as Majority Leader in any state.

July 8, 1970, In special message to Congress, President Richard Nixon calls for reversal of policy of forced termination of Native American rights and benefits.

July 9, 1955, Republican attorney E. Frederic Morrow becomes first African-American executive in White House; served as advisor to President Dwight Eisenhower.

“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

From section 1 of the 14th Amendment, written in 1866 by Rep. John Bingham (R-OH), one of the founders of the Republican Party

SOURCE: 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar more at Freedom Calendar

Pre-G8 Finance Ministers Meetings

Pre-G8 Finance Ministers Meetings Press Conference FULL STREAMING VIDEO

Originally broadcast live on Wednesday, June 8, 2005

Acting Under Secretary for International Affairs Randal K. Quarles

"Next week, I'm going to head to the G8 summit in Scotland. Out there, I'll meet with leaders of the industrialized nations. As in earlier meetings, we will discuss the great political and economic progress being made in Africa, and the next steps we can take with African leaders to build on that progress. The whole world will benefit from prosperity and stability on the African continent. And the peoples of Africa deserve the peace and freedom and opportunity that are the natural rights of all mankind."

-- President George W. Bush, June 30, 2005

more at G8 and G8 Summit or live8 summit and Pre-G8 Finance Ministers Meetings

bush radio address 07/02/05 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 07/02/05 full audio, text transcript

President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Laura and I wish all Americans a happy Fourth of July weekend. I look forward to celebrating Independence Day with the people of Morgantown, West Virginia.

On the Fourth of July, we remember the vision and conviction of America's Founders. We remember the ideals of liberty that led men from 13 colonies to gather in Philadelphia and pen a declaration of self-evident truths. And we remember the extraordinary personal courage that made their efforts a success. Doctor Benjamin Rush said that signing the Declaration of Independence was "like signing your own death warrant." He signed it anyway -- right above his fellow Pennsylvania delegate, Benjamin Franklin.

On Independence Day, we are also mindful that the promises of the Declaration have been secured by the service and sacrifice of every generation. America's first defenders were mostly farmers, artisans, and shopkeepers who waged a desperate fight for independence. Our Union was preserved through the costly battles of the Civil War -- including one at Vicksburg that ended on Independence Day, 1863. And we live in freedom because Americans prevailed in the hard-fought struggles of the 20th century, from the Marne and Normandy to Iwo Jima and Inchon Bay. America is home to 25 million military veterans -- and we will always be grateful for their unselfish courage.

Today, a new generation of Americans is defending our freedom against determined enemies. At posts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world, our men and women in uniform are taking the fight to the terrorists overseas, so that we do not have to face the terrorists here at home. And by freeing millions from oppression, our Armed Forces are redeeming a universal principle of the Declaration that all are created equal, and all are meant to be free. Those who serve today are taking their rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our nation's uniform.

The burden of war falls especially hard on military families, and I thank them for the support they give our troops in their vital work. Some of America's finest men and women have given their lives in the war on terror, and we remember them on Independence Day. We pray for the families who have lost a loved one in freedom's cause. And we know that the best way to honor the lives that have been given in this struggle is to complete the mission, so we will stay in the fight until the fight is won.

In this time of testing, all our troops and their families can know that the American people are behind them. On this Fourth of July weekend, I ask every American to find a way to thank men and women defending our freedom -- by flying the flag, sending letters to our troops in the field, and helping the military family down the street. The Department of Defense has set up a website - AmericaSupportsYou.mil. You can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community. At this time when we celebrate our freedom, we will stand with the men and women who defend us all.

In the summer of 1776, John Adams called the American Revolution "the most complete, unexpected, and remarkable of any in the history of nations." And 229 years later, history has proved him right. The Fourth of July is a day to be proud of our heritage as freedom's home and defender. It is a day to be confident in the future, because the spirit of our founders still shapes the conscience of our country. Above all, it is a day to give thanks to God for His many blessings on America, and for the privilege to call ourselves citizens of this special land.

I hope all Americans enjoy a memorable and safe Independence Day celebration. Thank you for listening.

END For Immediate Release, July 2, 2005

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Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

SUBJECT: Assignment of Reporting Function

My memorandum on "Assignment of Reporting Functions under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004" of April 21, 2005, is amended by striking "7119(a)" and inserting in lieu thereof "7120."

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, July 1, 2005

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Independence Day, 2005

Independence Day, 2005

Since July 4, 1776, Americans have experienced freedom's power to overcome tyranny, inspire hope in times of trial, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace. Across generations, our Nation has defended and advanced liberty.

The words of our Founding Fathers first guided a country of 4 million souls, yet they put large events in motion. When the Liberty Bell sounded at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, one who witnessed the birth of freedom in our country said, "It rang as if it meant something." In our time it means something still. America continues to proclaim liberty throughout the world, and we remain a country full of hope and promise where opportunity thrives, where all stand equal before the law, and where our freedoms are celebrated.

Americans live in freedom because of the enduring power of our ideals. In the midst of World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt reminded our troops that our Nation believes in the "right to liberty under God -- for all peoples and races and groups and nations, everywhere in the world." Today, a new generation of Americans continues to defend our Nation and spread freedom. On this Fourth of July, we honor the brave men and women of our military, and their families, and we express our gratitude for their courage, dedication to duty, and love of country.

Laura and I send our best wishes to all Americans on Independence Day. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America.

GEORGE W. BUSH

### For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, July 1, 2005

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Initiatives to Combat Malaria and Support Education in Africa

On-The-Record Briefing: On the President’s Initiatives to Combat Malaria and Support Education in Africa

Andrew Natsios , U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator

Washington, DC, June 30, 2005, (1:30 p.m. EDT)

MR. ERELI: Hello, everyone. Thank you for your patience. We are very pleased to have today Andrew Natsios, the Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, who is here to brief us on a couple of aspects of the President's initiative that was announced today with regard to aid for Africa. The malaria -- funds to support malaria treatment and prevention, and education in Africa. So I will let the AID Administrator talk about those two issues. Thank you for coming, Andrew. We are really happy you can talk about these things and inform our press corps.

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Thank you very much, Adam.

The President announced today several major initiatives for Africa, and the first of which is the Malaria Initiative. Let met talk about that a little bit. One of the biggest killers in Africa is malaria. Because we have virtually eliminated malaria in the United States over the last century and a half, people here and in Europe don't think about this as a disease much because people don't get it here. They do get HIV/AIDS and so there's a lot more understanding in the United States of that disease.

That does not mean that this is not a major health problem in Africa. In fact, it's a health crisis. A large percentage of the worldwide deaths in malaria are attributable to Sub-Sahara Africa. The President announced today a five-year, $1.2 billion Anti-Malaria Initiative in Africa. The money that's included in that 1.2 billion does not include the money that we contribute to the Global Fund. We're the largest donor. We've given them a third, which is our legal limit of the funding, 1.1 billion so far has been contributed. About 30 percent of the funding to the Global Fund goes to malaria. We're not counting that in that figure.

The President's goal -- and this is a results-based objective he's given us -- is to reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in each of the target countries by the end of 2010. There are 15 countries in the initiative that the United States will be responsible for. Three of them we will begin work on at the beginning of the next fiscal year: Tanzania, Uganda and Angola. Now, we're already doing a $89 million anti-malaria program in Africa this year. This is on top of that.

The United States Government spends about $235 million total, all branches of government, and the rest of the money that's not being spent by AID is being spent by the CDC and National Institute of Health in doing research on malaria clinical research.

The initiative over that period of time will ultimately affect countries with a total population of 175 million people. What is the strategy? What's the initiative? One, we expect to get 85 percent coverage of high-risk populations. Who are high-risk populations? They're children under five and they're pregnant women. They are the most vulnerable. A pregnant woman who is not treated and has malaria may, in fact, give it to their newborn and the newborn would then be severely at risk.

I know from my own work in famines over the years that acutely malnourished children, in a food emergency, usually have a 50 percent survival rate if they get malaria. Malaria, in fact, measles and pneumonia are the leading killers in most famines and it's because a child's immune system breaks down and malaria is one of the biggest and most dangerous things that we have to deal with in these famines.

There are essentially four proven responses to malaria that we already have clinical evidence of, we've tested this stuff and it does work. And this is a matter of taking this up to much larger scale on a much more massive level.

The first is what is called long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets, and they're simply bed nets that are soaked in insecticide and that people sleep under at night, particularly women and children. Most malaria infection takes place at night because that's where the mosquito feeds. And so a large-scale extension of this program, not just through health clinics, but all through the marketplaces, we're doing a large-scale campaign to educate people in developing countries that insecticide-treated bed nets, in fact, do result in much lower infection rates. And so there's a lot of advertising and public education that goes on to make sure people know that this works.

The second is Artemisinin Combination Therapy. That is an herb from Asia from what's called wormwood. It's a plant. And we've now -- we've spent $13 million through the World Health Organization and other scientific institutions to test this several years ago on a large scale in Africa to see whether or not it works with other therapy. You use this herbal drug with other drugs and it increases dramatically the survival rates of children who get malaria who are treated with this. Artemisinin is -- it can be grown in Africa and we've now funded a American-based NGO working with the World Health Organization, TechnoServe, some of you may have heard of it, to plant with Africans farmers 2,500 acres of this herb. And then we're working with factories in Africa to produce the herb into a pill form that can be used on the commercial markets.

The third strategy is a dosage of a particular drug -- anti-malarial drug -- to pregnant women to reduce the incident of absorption by the newborn child when the child is born.

And the fourth test we've done is in terms of indoor spraying of insecticides on people's huts and their homes to kill the mosquitoes that are in the house at night.

If you combine all these together and carefully target them, we know you can reduce the death rates significantly. We think the President's goal of a 50 percent reduction in malaria deaths in the target countries is a realistic goal, particularly given the high level of funding that he's provided for us that we'll work with.

But all of this is based on results. It's not based on how much money we've put in and it's not based on just therapies and the different strategies we take. Ultimately, the only thing that counts is whether or not the death rates from malaria drop. That's all. That's ultimately, what we care about.

We are concentrating far more resources on a fewer number of countries and we will be doing the direct production of commodities. And most importantly, something that people don't quite get, is that a large portion of health care in Africa, as much as 50 percent, is provided by the private sector, not by NGOs -- I'm sorry, not by ministries of health, but by missionary hospitals and private doctors and health clinics that are private and NGOs. And we have to get our strategies not just in through the ministries of health in the public sector, but through the private sector as well. We need to get these different kinds of therapies into pharmacies in Africa. We need to get them into the marketplace, the insecticide-treated bed nets into the market. So we're working on marketing strategies to make sure this is available to people who have money.

And to people who don't have money, who are poor, we'll either give free bed nets, for example, or, if they have some money, subsidized nets. And for people who have the money, they'll buy them on the commercial markets.

The second big initiative of the President is the Education Initiative in Sub-Sahara Africa. It's $400 million over four years, $100 million a year. It targets 16 countries' basic education in grades 1 through 12. It will provide 300 scholarships for children who are marginalized or vulnerable or very poor to ensure that they can afford to go to school. Because in Africa, in many places, there are school fees, there are books, there are uniforms, there are boarding costs for children to go, and if their family doesn't have money, they can't attend.

We are putting a heavy emphasis on scholarships to girls because our own research over the years has shown that perhaps the most powerful investment in foreign assistance you can make is educating girls through high school. Mortality rates among children drop if you do nothing else but educate mothers up through high school. Family income rises if mothers have a high school education. We know that agricultural production increases -- we've actually done field tests on this -- if women are educated. We know that the size of families declines without any other interventions if women are educated. We know that most importantly, that it reduces the number of very early marriages. In some countries, girls get married at 13 or 14 years old and that's a problem in any country. We also know that the education and achievement levels of children in the next generation are profoundly influenced by whether their parents are educated. If a mother is educated through high school, it's a very high likelihood that she will insist that her children be educated.

And so the President's initiative to increase literacy rates and innumeracy rates in Africa is a powerful development tool that we believe will change the dynamic in many societies and many countries. All of this we will do working with the Ministers of Education in the 16 countries that we are targeting for this initiative. We will be working with faith-based groups. We will be working with the NGO community, with UNICEF and the UN that has a lead for education among children and mothers. We will also be training 500,000 teachers and administrators. We will begin a school rehabilitation and new school construction building program. We will produce 10 million new textbooks and we are going to make an effort to begin a publishing and printing capacity-building effort in Africa so these books are printed, published, written in Africa and distributed in Africa by African companies. Because we think that's the way of making this capacity develop sufficiently to make the program self-sustainable even after the funding stops.

So these are two of the President's initiatives he announced today. If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them. Yes.

QUESTION: This may be a little down in the weeds, but you talked about an herbal --

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Right.

QUESTION: A supplement.

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Right, right. Artemisinin.

QUESTION: Right. Why is the U.S. not investing in, you know, antibiotic therapies, some of the other proven methods, like mefloquine?

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: We do. The question is: What's most effective? What will actually drive the infection rates down? And what the field tests we did, working with WHO and clinical research facilities in Africa, is that when you combine artemisinin with one of these other drugs, the resistance -- because mosquitoes develop resistance. It's a very simple process. The mosquitoes that are most sensitive don't survive. And this is true, by the way, of insecticides, too. Insects develop resistance to insecticides develop resistance to insecticides in this country or anywhere else in the world. And so you have to constantly do research to keep ahead of the insect population, or the viruses, or the parasites in the case of malaria. So a combination therapy between artemisinin and the mefloquine, for example -- there are other therapies. There are a number of new drugs that have come on the market -- if you combine them, you reduce significantly the resistance rate among the mosquitoes and increase the survival rates. And that now has been clinically proven by scientific field trials on such a degree that there's no debate about this anymore. It's called ACT -- A-C-T, which is Artemisinin Combination Therapy.

QUESTION: Thanks.

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Director Natsios, this coming week is the big Live 8 Concert. It's being -- to various continents, being produced by Bob Geldof. Have you been asked to work with them or, in turn, are you working with some of their particular projects? It's all centered on Africa.

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: We've been working with a number of the groups. I know in terms -- in the entertainment industry in terms of HIV/AIDS, because one of the most effective ways of getting the message out in Africa is the entertainment industry. And I know we've worked with a bunch of pop groups. I don't go to these concerts myself, so I'm not quite an expert on all the names. But Geldof has a long history with AID that goes back into the mid-'80s when the first -- not the first Ethiopian -- the Ethiopian famine that people remember, actually, Ethiopian famines, unfortunately, go back a long way. But he began his work and I think he complimented us two years ago and said the U.S. Government was way ahead of everyone else in responding to the food emergency needs to Africa and he's urging people, once again, to do that now.

I would also add that we can't separate -- we can separate it here, but in the field, you can't separate these things from each other. If you have a food emergency, and large number of children become acutely malnourished, their immune systems break down, they're much more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, to malaria, to tuberculosis, to measles, to upper respiratory infections, to diarrhea and they die in huge numbers. So we work in integrated programming in the field to do all of these things simultaneously. So this whole malaria initiative actually works very well with our food aid programs, in our child survival programs and our HIV/AIDS programs. Because if a person is HIV/AIDS positive, their immune system is compromised, they're much more vulnerable to malaria. And that's why the Global Fund is not just HIV/AIDS, it's also tuberculosis and malaria because these things work with each other.

We are now facing a food emergency -- a serious food emergency -- which is primarily a function of drought across the Sahel and North Africa. There are emergencies now in Niger, in Chad, severe emergencies that are beyond the catastrophe in Darfur, which the President spoke about in his speech this morning. Even in Northern Kordofan, which is a stable province to the East, there is no food left. And even aid workers who are Sudanese, are having trouble finding food to buy, even though they have money. Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia are all facing severe food emergencies, as is Zimbabwe.

Now, Zimbabwe is a little different. There is a problem beyond drought in Zimbabwe in that the government has orchestrated the entire collapse of the national economy. And by the massive displacement of population by uprooting urban populations in the last two months, they have made these populations much more vulnerable to famine in Zimbabwe.

So we're facing multiple emergencies. The President has pledged with Tony Blair a large-scale effort to deal with the food emergency in Africa, both in terms of food aid, but also in terms of what we call "non-food assistance," which includes water and sanitation and immunization programs to make sure that disease doesn't spread and also shelter programs to care for people.

We urge other donor governments to step up to the plate and to join Britain and the United States in this effort because we cannot do this alone. I have written to all my colleagues who are development ministers in the wealthy northern countries to ask them to contribute. We're focusing our attention on the Horn, which is the epicenter of some of the worst catastrophes we're dealing with. But we would urge other European, Canadian, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand donor aid agencies to join us in this effort or we're not going to succeed.

QUESTION: I have a follow-up.

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Yes.

QUESTION: Unfortunately, apparently, a ship that left Kenya this morning with food aid, a freighter, was hijacked. Is there enough security when a food shipment is being made?

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: This is the first time I heard of this. I'll have to get a report on it this afternoon. I was not aware of that. That has not happened before that I know of.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Can you speak slower?

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Yeah. I'm sorry, I'm speaking so quickly.

QUESTION: What is part of the incentive? Is there going to be anything to help the children who already have it? I mean, what's the President's plan for that because, you know, he has the four-pronged way to prevent them, but what about the people?

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: No, no. The Artemisinin Combination Therapy is for malaria, once you get it.

QUESTION: Right.

ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS: Okay. There is another effort that's -- actually, I didn't go through, that the Center for Disease Control is working on with us and NIH, we're beginning field trials in Kenya right now, for immunization. In other words, you take a shot and you -- we've been trying to do this for a long time. It will take between now and maybe 2010, 2015 to actually do the field trials, test it and be sure of the effectiveness of the vaccine that's been developed against malaria before we can use it. So in some ways, this is a bridge until we can develop a vaccine that's effective, if the current tests work. They may show that the thing is ineffective. We're testing it now, so there's a whole series of other parts to this strategy, which involve the longer term.

None of this that I mentioned is immunizing; it's preventing by preventing people from getting bitten by killing mosquitoes with bed nets or with insecticides or treating it once they get the illness in the first place. Does that answer your question? Other questions?

Thank you very much. (This briefing was concluded at 1:52 p.m.) 2005/668

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Dalai Lama’s Special Envoys Meeting with Chinese Officials

Dalai Lama’s Special Envoys Meeting with Chinese Officials

The United States is pleased that the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoys met with Chinese officials in Bern, Switzerland, June 29-30. This is the fourth meeting since the two sides renewed contact in September 2002. We are encouraged that the dialogue has been maintained.

The United States continues to urge China’s leadership to engage in substantive discussions with the Dalai Lama or his representatives to resolve longstanding differences. We follow these visits closely and we expect they will lead to progress. We look forward to hearing more about this round of talks and hope this meeting provides a foundation for future discussions and progress.

2005/670 Released on July 1, 2005 Press Statement, Sean McCormack, Spokesman, Washington, DC, July 1, 2005

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Cypriot Foreign Minister

Cypriot Foreign Minister

Question: Do we know if Cypriot Foreign Minister Iacovou is planning a visit to the United States soon?

Answer: We have no visits to announce at this time.

2005/664, Released on June 29, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC June 29, 2005 Question Taken at June 29, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

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Imprisoned Iranian Journalist Akbar Ganji

Imprisoned Iranian Journalist Akbar Ganji

The United States calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Akbar Ganji, an Iranian journalist and free speech advocate, who is currently imprisoned by Iranian authorities solely because of his political views and peaceful activities. We are increasingly concerned about Mr. Ganji’s health and the conditions of his detention.

Mr. Ganji’s courageous efforts to investigate extra-judicial killings by Iranian security forces and his commitment to free speech and democratic government have earned him the respect of many around the world. The United States is alarmed by recent reports that Mr. Ganji’s health has been failing and that he has been denied access to family and legal representation. His mistreatment in prison is a serious violation of fundamental human rights. Together with international human rights advocates and Mr. Ganji’s many supporters in Iran, we call on the government of Iran to release Mr. Ganji and ensure that he receives all necessary medical assistance.

2005/661 Press Statement, Sean McCormack, Spokesman, Washington, DC, June 29, 2005

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Mukhtar Mai's Passport

Mukhtar Mai's Passport

Question: Has the Government of Pakistani returned Mukhtar Mai's passport to her?

Answer: On June 27 Mukhtar Mai told journalists that the Government of Pakistan had returned her passport to her. We have no reason to doubt her statement. Pakistani authorities have assured us that she is free to travel whenever she wants. The Pakistani Foreign Minister assured Secretary Rice of this as well.

2005/663 Released on June 29, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC June 29, 2005 Question Taken at June 29, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

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Secretary Rice’s Meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ismail

Secretary Rice’s Meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ismail

Question: What did Secretary Rice and Sudan Foreign Minister Ismail discuss during their meeting last Friday (June 24)?

Answer: Secretary Rice and Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail had a frank and productive exchange on a range of issues pertaining to the continuing and positive implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Government of National Unity scheduled to be established July 9, while underscoring the need for immediate actions to end the violence in Darfur.

On Darfur, they discussed the need for the parties at the peace negotiations in Abuja, Nigeria, to remain at the talks and focus on achieving tangible agreements on peace and reconciliation urgently. Secretary Rice emphasized the continued need for Government of Sudan military forces to demonstrate restraint in Darfur and to halt all support of Arab militias. She particularly emphasized the need for steps to halt violence against women and young girls. The Secretary also stressed steps the Sudanese must take immediately to ensure free and unhindered access to the thousands of internally displaced persons by humanitarian organizations.

2005/665 Released on June 29, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC June 29, 2005 Question Taken at the June 29, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

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Addressing Climate Change

President Bush Is Addressing Climate Change

FACT SHEET

President Bush is dedicated to climate change policies that grow economies, aid development, and improve the environment. The President promotes technological innovation to achieve the combined goals of addressing climate change, reducing harmful air pollution and improving energy security in the U.S and throughout the world.

We have an ambitious and realistic goal: In February 2002, President Bush committed to cut our nation's greenhouse gas intensity -- how much we emit per unit of economic activity -- by 18 percent through 2012.

We are making real and accelerated progress: The President's goal amounts to an annual 1.95-percent cut in emissions intensity. In 2003 alone, U.S. intensity declined by 2.3 percent. Preliminary figures for 2004 suggest even greater reductions in emissions intensity during a period of robust economic growth.

We are pursuing a balanced approach to overcome poverty with policies that protect the environment while promoting development and economic opportunity:

The President knows that overcoming extreme poverty goes hand-in-hand with improving the environment. Stagnant economies are one of the greatest environmental threats in our world, because people who lack food, shelter, and sanitation cannot be expected to preserve the environment at the expense of their own survival - and poor societies cannot afford to invest in cleaner, more efficient technologies.

The long-term answer to environmental challenges is the rapid, sustained economic progress of poor nations. And the best way to help nations develop, while limiting pollution and improving public health, is to promote technologies for generating energy that are clean, affordable, and secure.

Some have suggested that the best solution to environmental challenges and climate change is to oppose development and put the world on an energy diet. But at this moment, about two billion people have no access to any form of modern energy - and blocking that access would condemn them to permanent poverty, disease, high infant mortality, polluted water, and polluted air.

The President said that we are taking a better approach. We know that the surface of the Earth is warmer, and that an increase in greenhouse gases caused by humans is contributing to the problem. Though there have been past disagreements about the best way to address this issue, we are acting to help developing countries adopt new energy sources.

We are taking action: The President has launched a broad portfolio of domestic and international initiatives to develop and deploy new technologies through a broad range of programs, including:

Short Term - Hybrid or Clean Diesel Vehicles, Clean Coal Efficiency, Energy Efficiency Standards, Renewable Fuel Standard, Nuclear Plant Relicensing, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Biological Sequestration, Methane to Markets, Federal Facility Management Plan, Fuel Economy Standards, Wind/Solar Tax Incentives, Climate Leaders, Climate VISION, SmartWay Transportation

Midterm - 2010-2020 - Hybrid/Clean Diesel Vehicles, Clean Coal Gasification, Renewable/Efficiency Partnership, Cellulosic Biomass, Advanced Nuclear, Geological Sequestration

Long Term - Hydrogen, FutureGen, Zero Energy Homes and Buildings, Bio-Energy Systems, GenIV Nuclear/Fusion

We are providing record funding for climate change programs: The Bush Administration will have spent over $20 billion by the end of 2005, more than any other nation. $5.5 billion is proposed for climate change activities in 2006. The President has also proposed $3.6 billion in tax incentives over 5 years to spur use of clean, renewable, and energy-efficient technologies. These Federal programs are only part of the effort, as they are also leveraging billions of dollars in private investments.

We are guided by the following principles at the G8 and beyond:

We have shared goals, and our areas of agreement are numerous.

Climate change is a serious long-term issue, requiring sustained action over many generations by both developed and developing countries. Developing innovative technologies that are cleaner and more efficient is the key to addressing our climate challenge.

The greatest progress will be assured by a cooperative effort that combines our strategies with the best strategies of other nations to improve economic and energy security, reduce harmful air pollution, and reduce greenhouse gases.

The President firmly believes that economic growth is essential to success. Only economic growth provides the resources for investment in the next generation of cleaner, more efficient technologies.

We oppose any policy that would achieve reductions by putting Americans out of work, or by simply shifting emissions from one state to another, or from the U.S. to another country. Like us, developing countries are unlikely to join in approaches that foreclose their own economic growth and development.

The President's approach draws upon the best scientific research, harnesses the power of markets, fosters the creativity of entrepreneurs, and works with the developing world to meet shared aspirations for our people, our economy, and our environment.

# # # For Immediate Release, July 1, 2005

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President. Bush nominates Mark Langdale, Elizabeth Frazer

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate two individuals to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Jendayi Elizabeth Frazer, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of State (African Affairs). Dr. Frazer currently serves as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa. She previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Earlier in her career, Dr. Frazer served as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow at the Department of Defense and the National Security Council. She earned her bachelor's degree, master's degree, and Ph.D. from Stanford University.

The President intends to nominate Mark Langdale, of Texas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Costa Rica. Mr. Langdale currently serves as President of Posadas USA, a hotel management company headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Prior to that, he was a founder of Caprock Communications, which develops and operates fiber optic telecommunications trunk lines. Earlier in his career, Mr. Langdale served as Vice President of Thompson Realty Company. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and his J.D. from the University of Houston.

# # # For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 30, 2005, Personnel Announcement

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