Continuation of Immigration rallies

On Saturday, with the expected immigration marches on Monday, many meat markets, and other companies, decided that they would close on Monday do to the expected number of workers that would participate in the protests. The protest on Monday is supposed to be one of the largest, all people were called to skip work and avoid shopping, just to show the economic power of immigrants. Because of these protests by immigrants, many government officials with Mexican heritages, were sent death threats. For instance the Mayor of Los Angeles and the Lt. Gov. Bustamente, were sent death threats. The reason these threats were sent apparently were that Villaragosa and Bustamente attended one of the immigration rallies. Also the two officials are against making immigrants criminals if they are not legal, this view could have also led to the death threats that were sent. But these two officials are not the only one standing up for immigrants, recently Govenor Schwarzenegger has changed his view of helping immigrats. The Govenor is now against the idea of constructing a border fence between San Diego and Tijuana, he is now for immigrants. Another person who is for immigrants and who is trying to help is the President, he is against making immigrants criminals, but instead is calling for a guest worker program which would allow illigeals to stay and work for a time, but he is having a hard time with Congress passing it. Because of all the concern of illegal immigrants, more and more immigrants are asking and learning how to become legal citizens, but all agree that they should not be treated like criminals, but instead should be given a chance at citizenship.

Army suicides

On Friday, it was reported that the number of suicides in the U.S. army has hit its highest rate since 1993. Last year a total of 83 soldiers, not counting four other soldiers whose cause of death is still under investigation, committed suicide. In 2004 67 committed suicide, also in 2003 60 killed themselves. The suicide rate since 2001 has gradually been climbing until now it is almost as great as it was in 1993. In 1993, there were 90 suicides, a rate of 14.2 per 100,000, last year the rate of suicides was 13 per 100,000. To help fight against the increasing amounts of suicides, the Army now provides even more mental health professionals and combat stress teams with units. Also to help lower the suicide rate, soldiers recieve cards and booklets that show warning symptoms of suicide and how to recieve help, but some say that this is still not enough.

41 Taliban members killed

On Friday, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Coalition Helicopters and Afghanistan security forces attacked a Taliban hideout. The combined forces recieved information that Taliban forces were in Kandahar, instantly U.S. led helicopter bombings began to take place. 41 Taliban members were killed and six Afghanistan police were also killed in the fierce battle that took place. Also 13 Taliban guerillas were captured, and 9 were wounded. Out of the 41 dead taliban soldiers, only 11 bodies were collected, it is not stated as to what happened to the remaining bodies and why they were not picked up. U.S. helped in this attack primarily with their AH-64 Apache helicopters, which fired rockets in support of the ground forces. Overall the U.S. said it was mostly an Afghanistan military led operation. I think that this example clearly shows that we are still engaged with the war on terror, so people can not say that Bush is not doing anything against the terrorist, or protecting our country.

Will America attack Iran

On Sunday in a Wasgington magazine story it was said that Bush will attack Iran in order to stop them from getting nuclear weapons. Seymour Hersh reported that the U.S. has already started picking out targets in Iran, for air strikes, and that it has made Iran its top priority. Despite the claims tht Hersh made, the government says that diplomacy will be the solution. The report that Hersh said, stated that the U.S. is planning to use bunker buster's to destroy the nuclear facilities in Iran, but Washington assures that a peaceful solution is being thought up. Even though the government is thinking of a peaceful solution, a military action plan is being formed to pressure Iran into stopping its quest for nuclear weapons. Israel is also making plans for a military action against Iran. If America does not act, Israel says that it will, in order to ensure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons. The UN is also keeping a close eye on Iran, by giving them till April 28, to stop all productuion of enriched uranium. Hersh also says that in planning for an attack on Iran, using tactical nuclear weapons to blow up Irans main nuclear production facility is being considered, but again the White House says that war is the last resort. Now the next move depends on what Iran does.

Jill Carroll Released and in Safe Hands

On Saturday, Jill Carroll, the journalist for the Christian Science Monitor and former hostage, landed in Ramstein Air Base, in Germany. Jill had been a hostage for 82 days, she was taken prisoner on January 7, in western Baghdad by insurgents who killed her Iraqi translator. Jill was released on Thursday, infront of an office of the Islamic Party, from there she was taken by the U.S. military, to a stronghold in Baghdad, called the Green Zone, at first Jill did not want to go to the Green zone because her kidnappers threatened her before she was released saying that she might be killed if she talked to Americans or went to the Green Zone, because insurgents had ifiltrated the Green Zone. According to the kidnappers, the only reason Jill was released was that America complied with there demands that they made on Feb. 26, calling for all female prisoners to be released. Although the kidnappers say America gave in to their demands, Washington, said that they did not make any deals with the kidnappers, and did not give in to their demands. But five female prisoners were released later on after the demands had been given, but still Washington denies that there was a connection between these events.Carroll was glad when she was released, on her arrival, she was said to be all smiles, she is however in a emotionally fragile state of being. She is expected to arrive in Boston, late Sunday morning.