News Today 1/28/05

Listened to Morning Edition as usual. Also listened to the connection.

More about Iraq today, natch -- it is the big news of the day since elections are this weekend. Lots of speculation about what the government will look like, how the shiites and the sunnis will handle things, how the Kurds will come out of the elections, and what the turnout will be like. In this same report, NPR went more in-depth about Arab-Kurdish tensions, especially surrounding Kirkuk. Arabs feel that Kurds are trying to take over the area, Kurds feel that Arabs are there illegally, brought in by Saddam to replace the Kurds forcibly deported. Sounds like trouble.

There was a very touching report on the Marine base in Hawaii where all of the Marines killed in that helicopter crash came from. What a sad report. They had interviews with Marines, friends and family, and some regular Hawaii residents talking about the soldiers and the impact on the base. Depressing.

After this, an interesting report on Richard Blum, a doctor who is considered the first combat psychologist. He was deployed to Korea as part of a secret mission to deliver mental health care on the front lines. He was awarded a bronze star (53 years late) for his service to soldiers in battle. The secret mission was attempting to treat PTSD before it set in hard by counseling soldiers on the battlefield. Cool.<>In short reports, it appears that many Iraqi ex-pats are lining up around the world to vote. Go Iraq!<>

More about the Rice nomination and the vote in Iraq – people are looking for answers about when we will be able to leave. One side says the “occupation” is now part of the problem. The other side says that any talk of withdrawal only fuels the insurgency. Congress is getting restless and wants a concrete plan. They hope Rice will be able to control things. Bush is not making any commitments, except to say that training Iraqi troops will allow us to leave sooner.<>

Amid all these bombings and scary terrorism, world hunger, etc., don’t panic now, but THE PLAZA IS CLOSING!! For those of us who live their lives wholly elsewhere, we are talking here about the famous Plaza Hotel in New York City. Apparently the owners are closing it to turn it from a hotel to a mixed use facility, condos, shopping and a smaller hotel. But don’t fret. Just put off that wedding until 2006 and you should be fine. The Plaza will reopen at that time with many of the same amenities, including the ballrooms and restaurants that made it, and keep it, famous. Whew. What a relief!

Interesting report on the Sundance film festival – it is more popular than ever this year, but don’t worry, it is still the place to find indy films. The best films, according to the commentary, are the documentaries, especially those in a new category, World Documentary. The dramas are really not much, and never have been. Usually they are just an introduction to new directors, etc., and the movies they make after winning at Sundance are better.

The Connection was about the Kurds and two Iraqis debated about whether Kurds are really Iraqis or not, and if what they are doing in and around Kirkuk is cool or not. I guess we will find out more after this weekend.