Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Presidential
Candidates Weigh In on IRAQ

Presumptive Presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama are refining their foreign policies. And although similarities do exist, the differences are more apparent. As Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, as two wars continue to rage on, both candidates recognize the importance of foreign policy in this election and are firmly pushing their positions.
 

War Resisters
in Canada
When more than 50,000 people made their way from the US to Canada to avoid fighting in the Viet Nam war, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau welcomed them, declaring Canada a "refuge from militarism". Today, while much smaller in number and largely unnoticed in the US, a new generation of "deserters" are fighting for the same sanctuary – including Robin Long, who went to Canada in 2005
seking refugee status. But as FSRN's Sarah Olson reports, Canadian government officials have not extended the same welcome to these modern war resisters.
 

Landmark Enemy
Combatant Ruling

In a 5-to-4 decision, the 4^th U.s. Circuit
Court of Appeals in Virginia ruled that the only person currently being held as an enemy combatant in the United States can challenge his detention. The Court also upheld the Bush Administration's logic that Ali al-Marri, a lawful U.S. resident, can be held in military detention if their allegations linking him to Al-Queda are true. Jonathan Hafetz is the attorney at The Brennan Center for Justice, who represents al-Marri… He explains what the ruling means.   

Lebanese/Israeli
Prisoner Exchange

Red Cross officials mediated a prisoner exchange
between Lebanon and Israel along the Lebanese-Israeli border today. The Shi'a Muslim Hezbollah party handed over the bodies of two Israeli soldiers seized by its guerrillas two years ago in an incident that sparked the 34-day war in the summer of 2006. In exchange, Israel handed over 5 Lebanese prisoners and the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinians fighters. Analysts say it is a test for the newly formed Lebanese unity government. Jackson Allers has more from Beirut.