Putin accuses U.S. of bid to force will on world

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters)- Russian President Vladimir Putin, in one of his harshest attacks on the United States in seven years in power, accused Washington on Saturday of attempting to force its will on the world.

WEBLINK


MUNICH, Germany (Associated Press) - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that the United States' increased use of military force is creating a new arms race, with smaller nations turning toward developing nuclear weapons.

WEBLINK

'Enemy Combatant' Fights for Due Process

by Ari Shapiro

Morning Edition, February 1, 2007 · A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., hears the case of a man held as an "enemy combatant." Ali al-Marri's lawyers say he deserves the same due process as any defendant. The federal government disagrees.

LISTEN

Merck Lobbies For HPV Vaccine to Become Law

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas — Merck & Co. is helping bankroll efforts to pass state laws requiring girls as young as 11 or 12 to receive the drugmaker's new vaccine against the sexually transmitted cervical-cancer virus.

Some conservatives and parents'-rights groups say such a requirement would encourage premarital sex and interfere with the way they raise their children, and they say Merck's push for such laws is underhanded. But the company said its lobbying efforts have been above-board.

With at least 18 states debating whether to require Merck's Gardasil vaccine for schoolgirls, Merck has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.

A top official from Merck's vaccine division sits on Women in Government's business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government.

"Cervical cancer is of particular interest to our members because it represents the first opportunity that we have to actually eliminate a cancer," Women in Government President Susan Crosby said.

WEBLINK

Girls in Texas required to receive controversial vaccine

2/2/2007 5:36:24 PM

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas Governor Rick Perry has signed an executive order that will require all schoolgirls to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

Girls will have to get Merck's new vaccine Gardasil, which protects against strains of H-P-V that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Texas becomes the first state to require the shots.

Merck is paying for efforts to pass laws in several states that would require the vaccine for girls as young as eleven or 12.

Conservatives are concerned that the requirement will step on parental rights, and will signal tacit approval of sexual activity for young girls.

The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots before they are likely to be sexually active.

WEBLINK

Perry orders anti-cancer vaccine for Texas schoolgirls

The Associated Press

Bypassing the Legislature, Gov. Rick Perry signed an order Friday making Texas the first state to require that schoolgirls be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

By issuing an executive order, Perry sidestepped opposition in the Legislature from conservatives and parents' rights groups who fear such a requirement would condone premarital sex and interfere with the way parents raise their children.

WEBLINK