Al-Qaida claims Saudi oil attack
ABQAIQ, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- An Islamic militant Web site has claimed al-Qaida is responsible for the Saudi Arabia oil refinery attack attempt, but the statement hasn't been verified.
Saudi officials said two explosive-laden cars attempted to ram into the refinery and halt production but were stopped.
The BBC reports guards fired on one of the cars before it got to the refinery, causing it to explode.
The other got through, killing two guards and injuring two others but didn't cause any extensive damage to the refinery.
Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi said a small fire was put out and production was not affected.
The plant at Abqaiq handles two-third of Saudi Arabia's oil production.
The attack is said to be part of al-Qaida's campaign against Saudi Arabia.
The terror group says officials cooperate with infidels and steal Muslim oil.
The attack pushed oil prices up 3.4 percent to $62.60 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Harris, Goode surface in Cunningham case
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A defense contractor at the center of the case involving former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., has pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
Among them are trying to bribe other members of Congress as well as Defense Department employees he wanted to steer business his way.
The Washington Post reports Mitchell J. Wade, head of MZM Inc., pleaded guilty to giving Cunningham more than $1 million in various expensive items, among other bribes.
Cunningham resigned in November following his guilty plea of accepting $2.4 million worth of bribes.
The Wade guilty plea doesn't stop at Cunningham though.
He admitted to hiring the son of a Defense Department official in charge of procurement.
After MZM got a contract, it hired on that official as well, he said.
And Wade admitted to giving money to employees who then donated $80,000 to two members of Congress as a way to skirt campaign finance regulations.
He said the goal was to get the two to earmark funds for his company in various contracts.
The Post has identified the two as Republican House members, Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. of Virginia and former Florida Secretary of State and 2000 state Bush campaign chairwoman, Rep. Katherine Harris.
Bush prepares for governors' meeting
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said he will share his plans for healthcare, competitiveness and energy in meetings with the National Governors Association.
The NGA kicks off its annual winter meeting Saturday in Washington. By the time the governors wrap up business Tuesday, they will have had a dinner with Bush on Sunday and heard a speech by the president on Monday.
"I look forward to talking with them about the challenges and opportunities facing their states and our nation and discussing how leaders of both parties can work together to solve problems for our citizens," Bush said in his Saturday radio address.
The president said the key issue -- and one which NGA Chairman Mike Huckabee, the Arkansas governor, has made central to the governors' meeting -- is healthcare. Bush will be talking about the Medicare prescription drug coverage plan while governors will be looking for help with Medicaid.
As in his State of the Union speech, Bush will be looking for support for his plan to keep the United States competitive, his Advanced Energy Initiative and the war on terror.
DeLay opponent has a bit more cash
HOUSTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, formerly one of the Republican Party's major fundraisers, has less in his war chest than his likely Democratic opponent.
First, the embattled former House majority leader has to take on three Republican challengers in the primary. Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show that DeLay raised $154,712 and spent $304,795 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, the Houston Chronicle said. DeLay reported having $1.3 million cash on hand.
Former Congressman Nick Lampson, who has no challengers in the Democratic primary, reported that his campaign took in $250,970 in the same six weeks and spent $125,027. He reported $1.4 million in the bank.
Richard Murray of the University of Houston told the newspaper that the numbers do not mean DeLay has lost his moxie. DeLay raised $3 million in 2005, while Lampson's total was about half that.
But DeLay, between his primary fight and his legal difficulties, has also had far greater expenses than Lampson, who can hang on to his cash for the big fight.
Though not charged in the Washington influence-peddling scandal, DeLay has retained an expensive lawyer. He has been indicted in state court on political money laundering charges.
