News In Brief
President-elect Bush selected Robert Zoellick, who served in previous Republican administrations, to be US trade representative, officials said. The position, which carries the rank of ambassador, is for the chief US negotiator in trade talks with other governments. Bush, however, has indicated that Donald Evans, nominated for Commerce secretary, would take the lead on trade issues.
Bush's transition team also was mounting a spirited campaign on behalf of John Ashcroft, nominated for attorney general. A coalition of women's groups, civil rights activists, labor leaders, gun-control advocates, and environmentalists have mobilized to try to block his confirmation by the Senate.
Wrapping up a year-long investigation into civilian casualties at No Gun Ri during the Korean War, President Clinton was to issue a statement of regret. Published reports said, however, that his statement would fall short of the apology and reparations that some South Korean officials sought. As an expression of regret for the incident, in which inadequately trained US soldiers panicked and fired at refugees without orders to do so, the Pentagon will pay $1 million for a monument to the victims. (Editorial, page 10.)
The Pentagon has decided to allow members of the National Guard and reserves to serve on teams of elite strategic nuclear forces, The New York Times reported. The decision would allow thousands of citizen soldiers to join the highly screened forces, some of whose jobs have been increasingly difficult to fill because of declining military enrollment. Members of the National Guard and reservists had served in such roles during the cold war, but the practice later was phased out.
After upsetting many voters with his extremist views, a newly elected state lawmaker in New Hampshire resigned. Tom Alciere (R), a married father and circuit board inspector, has called for killing police officers in certain cases and admitted to posting antipolice messages on the Internet. Alciere stepped down on condition that he could run in the special election to replace him and that fellow legislators would sponsor his bills - none of which deal with police matters.
Plans were announced for the world's largest wind farm: 450 windmills along the Oregon-Washington boundary that will generate enough electricity for 70,000 homes. PacifiCorp, an Oregon utility, will buy the power, combine it with hydroelectric energy, and distribute it across the West, where California has struggled with energy shortages. Construction is to begin next month and could be finished by the end of the year.
(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Publishing Society
