Iraq death toll for U.S. troops hits 3,000
CRAWFORD, Texas, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war reached 3,000 Sunday with the death of a soldier at a military hospital in Crawford, Texas, CNN reported.
The soldier was identified as Sgt. Edward Shaffer, 23, of Mont Alto, Pa. He was wounded Nov. 13, 2006, by a roadside bomb in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, CNN said.
The White House announced that President George W. Bush, after receiving the Pentagon's report on the 3,000th death, vowed that American troops killed in Iraq did not die in vain.
Pentagon figures show that more than 22,000 others have been wounded in the conflict, which began in March 2003. The increasingly unpopular war has also claimed the lived of about 250 allied troops, most of them British.
Estimates of Iraqi deaths during the conflict range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Despite the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the administration says troops must remain in Iraq to stabilize the country amid persistent insurgency and sectarian violence.
Specter: No 'blank check' for troop surge
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A leading Senate Republican said Sunday he does not support escalating the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.
Appearing on CNN, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he was "inclined to support the conclusions" of the commission that suggested earlier this month that the solution to the Iraq war should include talks with Syria and Iran.
Specter said he is "not going to give the president a blank check" on Iraq.
"So far there has not been a plan," said Specter. "When we authorized the use of force on the Senate floor, I raised questions about the number of casualties, what would happen after Saddam was toppled, and there has never been a roadmap to victory."
If there were a roadmap, Specter said, he "would be prepared to listen to what the president has to say about more troops."
"But on this day to the record, I do not see it," he said.
Mourners pay respects to Ford at Capitol
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Mourners gathered Sunday at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, some as early as 5 a.m., to pay their respects to former President Gerald Ford.
Ford's memorial drew a crowd of those who remember him in office, as well as younger people in their 20s and 30s who read about the nation's 38th president in history books, the Washington Post reported.
Some Ford admirers cut their vacations short to make a detour to Washington. Calvin Brown, 37, of Virginia, said he cut his Virginia Beach vacation short and awoke at 3:30 a.m. to drive to the Capitol.
"Majestic is the best description for me," he said. "This is a man who stood for matters of courage, regardless of political causes."
The crowds appeared smaller than those who came to pay their respects to former President Ronald Regan, who died in June 2004, the Post reported. Authorities attribute the smaller crowds to the time of year and the holidays.
Ford, who died in California Tuesday at 93, will be buried in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday.
Bulgaria and Romania join the EU
BUCHAREST, Romania, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union at midnight New Year's Day, celebrating with rock music and traditional dancing.
Thousands attended celebrations in the country's capitols, the BBC reported. The president of the European Parliament and other EU officials watched in Bucharest, Romania, as fireworks lit up the night sky.
Although officials in both countries are overjoyed, the BBC said other EU members fear that institutions in the countries are too disorganized. A new flood of immigration is also reportedly a concern.
"The Bulgarian economy still lacks a certain competitiveness," Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has admitted.
But advocates for the enlargement of the EU point out that both new members face export bans on certain foods, and note that Bulgaria closed two reactors of a nuclear power station to be eligible for membership.
Bulgaria and Romania are by far the poorest countries in the EU, the BBC said.
CRAWFORD, Texas, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war reached 3,000 Sunday with the death of a soldier at a military hospital in Crawford, Texas, CNN reported.
The soldier was identified as Sgt. Edward Shaffer, 23, of Mont Alto, Pa. He was wounded Nov. 13, 2006, by a roadside bomb in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, CNN said.
The White House announced that President George W. Bush, after receiving the Pentagon's report on the 3,000th death, vowed that American troops killed in Iraq did not die in vain.
Pentagon figures show that more than 22,000 others have been wounded in the conflict, which began in March 2003. The increasingly unpopular war has also claimed the lived of about 250 allied troops, most of them British.
Estimates of Iraqi deaths during the conflict range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Despite the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the administration says troops must remain in Iraq to stabilize the country amid persistent insurgency and sectarian violence.
Specter: No 'blank check' for troop surge
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A leading Senate Republican said Sunday he does not support escalating the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.
Appearing on CNN, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he was "inclined to support the conclusions" of the commission that suggested earlier this month that the solution to the Iraq war should include talks with Syria and Iran.
Specter said he is "not going to give the president a blank check" on Iraq.
"So far there has not been a plan," said Specter. "When we authorized the use of force on the Senate floor, I raised questions about the number of casualties, what would happen after Saddam was toppled, and there has never been a roadmap to victory."
If there were a roadmap, Specter said, he "would be prepared to listen to what the president has to say about more troops."
"But on this day to the record, I do not see it," he said.
Mourners pay respects to Ford at Capitol
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Mourners gathered Sunday at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, some as early as 5 a.m., to pay their respects to former President Gerald Ford.
Ford's memorial drew a crowd of those who remember him in office, as well as younger people in their 20s and 30s who read about the nation's 38th president in history books, the Washington Post reported.
Some Ford admirers cut their vacations short to make a detour to Washington. Calvin Brown, 37, of Virginia, said he cut his Virginia Beach vacation short and awoke at 3:30 a.m. to drive to the Capitol.
"Majestic is the best description for me," he said. "This is a man who stood for matters of courage, regardless of political causes."
The crowds appeared smaller than those who came to pay their respects to former President Ronald Regan, who died in June 2004, the Post reported. Authorities attribute the smaller crowds to the time of year and the holidays.
Ford, who died in California Tuesday at 93, will be buried in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday.
Bulgaria and Romania join the EU
BUCHAREST, Romania, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union at midnight New Year's Day, celebrating with rock music and traditional dancing.
Thousands attended celebrations in the country's capitols, the BBC reported. The president of the European Parliament and other EU officials watched in Bucharest, Romania, as fireworks lit up the night sky.
Although officials in both countries are overjoyed, the BBC said other EU members fear that institutions in the countries are too disorganized. A new flood of immigration is also reportedly a concern.
"The Bulgarian economy still lacks a certain competitiveness," Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has admitted.
But advocates for the enlargement of the EU point out that both new members face export bans on certain foods, and note that Bulgaria closed two reactors of a nuclear power station to be eligible for membership.
Bulgaria and Romania are by far the poorest countries in the EU, the BBC said.
© 2006 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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