European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 31, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday March 312007 stars and stripes k Pace 9 in the states saudi admits Money role not terror link the associated press Washington a saudi accused of arranging financing for the sept 11 2001 terrorist plot participants told a hearing he got Money transfers from two Hijack ers inside the United states just hours before the attacks Accord ing to a transcript the Pentagon released thursday but Mustafa Ahmad Al Haw Sawi who was based in the United Arab emirates on sept 11 2001 denied that he was a Mem ber of the Al Aida terrorist net work and also denied that he sent Money to the hijackers he is one of 14 High value detainees who were transferred to Guantanamo last september after being held in secret Cia prisons abroad the transcript of his Guantanamo hearing contained no refer ence to his detention a portion in which he explained How he was captured in Pakistan in 2003 was censored by the defense depart ment the hearing held to determine whether he is an enemy combat ant eligible to be charged with War crimes was conducted March 21 United pentecostal Church International Asia military ministries Okinawa Japan Rufus Parker and coordinator 0989333441 Japan Marcus Miller 2676887 Misawa Japan Phillip Sanders 2227077 Yokosuka Japan Christopher Corley 2465732 Yokota Japan Nathan Krouse 2273954 Korea Santiago Duran 01193583794 Yon san Korea Michael Mahoney 0263555233 for service location time please Call the Contact in your area aide copies Miers okd firings by Laurie Kellman the associated press Washington contrary to his Public statements attorney general Alberto Gonzales was deeply involved in the firing of eight Federal prosecutors his former top aide said thursday adding that the final decision on who was to be dismissed was made by Gonzales and president Bush former counsel i dont think the attorney Gener als statement that he was not involved in any discussions of us attorney removals was accurate Kyle Sampson who quit this month As Gonzales chief of staff told the Senate judiciary commit tee i remember discussing with him this process of asking certain us attorneys to resign responding to questions from sen Sheldon Whitehouse Dri Sampson rejected the notion that the dismissals were ordered by Young or inexperienced Justice department officials the decision makers in this Case were the attorney general and the counsel to the president he told the Senate judiciary com Mittee i and others made staff recommendations but they were approved and signed off on by the principals the White House response was notably muted in going to have to let the at Torney general speak for himself White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Simpsons testimony and thou Sands of emails released Over the David j us attorney general Alberto Gonzales onetime chief of staff Kyle Sampson told the Senate judiciary committee on thursday that Gonzales pictured and former White House counsel Harriet Miers approved the firings of eight us prosecutors past two weeks Point to a much deeper involvement by Gonzales and the White House counsel Harriet Miers in discussions Tak ing place Over several months about which us attorneys to fire the attorney general was aware of this process from the be ginning in Early 2005 Sampson testified thursday he and i had discussions about it during the thinking phase of the process then in the More final phase he asked me to make sure that the process was appropriate Gonzales said on March 13 that he did not participate in discussions or see any documents about the firings documents re leased last week show he attended a nov 27 meeting with senior aides on the topic where he approved a detailed plan to carry out the dismissals Gonzales later ignoring veto threat Senate votes to fund wars leave Iraq by Anne Flaherty the associated press Washington Senate democrats ignored a veto threat and pushed through a Bill thursday re Quiring president Bush to Start withdrawing troops from the civil War in Iraq dealing a rare Sharp re Buke to a wartime commander in chief in a mostly part line 5147 vote the Senate signed off on a Bill providing billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan it also orders Bush to begin withdrawing troops within 120 Days of passage while setting a nonbinding goal of ending combat operations by March 312008 the vote came shortly after Bush invited All House republicans to the White House to appear with him in a sort of Pep rally to bolster his position in the continuing War policy fight we stand United in saying loud and Clear that when weve got a troop in harms Way we expect that troop to be fully funded Bush said surrounded by republicans on the North portico and we got commanders making Tough decisions on the ground we expect there to be no strings on our command ers we expect the Congress to be Wise about How they spend the Peoples Money he said the Senate vote marked its boldest Challenge yet to the administrations handling of a War now in its fifth year that has Cost the lives of More than 3200 american troops and More than billion in a show of support for the president most republicans opposed the measure unwilling to Back a troop withdrawal schedule despite the conflicts widespread unpopularity forty eight democrats and Independent Bernard Sanders of Vermont were joined by two republicans Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Gordon Smith of Oregon in voting for the measure opposed were 46 republicans and Connecticut Independent Joseph Lieberman Sens Mike Enzi Rwy and Tim Johnson did did not vote the House also run by democrats narrowly passed similar legislation last week party leaders seem determined that the Fina Bill negotiated be tween the two Chambers will demand some sort of timetable for winding Down the War setting them on course for a veto showdown with the president weve spoken the words the american people wanted us to speak said Senate majority Leader Harry Reid Nev there must be a change of direction in the War in Iraq the civil War in Iraq the Senate and the House have held together and done what weve done he told reporters its now in his Corner to do what he wants to do in a letter to Bush House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Reid had said earlier this Congress is taking the responsible course and responding to needs that have been ignored by your administration and the prior Congress White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the president respects the role of Congress and con Gress should respect his recanted saying he had signed off on the plan to fire the prosecutors Sampson sitting alone at the wit Ness table said the fired prosecutors were found to be insufficiently committed to the presidents la enforcement priorities his appearance was the latest act in a political drama that has shaken the Bush administration and imperilled Gonzales tenure at the Justice department runaway Bride stars in cop recruiting and Albuquerque Nifer Wilbanks the Brid Tobe who skipped town just Days be fore her planned wedding in geor Gia has a new starring role in new Mexico As the inspiration for a police recruiting billboard the Albuquerque police department plans to unveil the and on 10 digital billboards across the City next week the Albuquerque journal reported thursday running away from your cur rent Job Call and recruiting the and reads above a photo of officer Trish Hoffman grabbing the veil of a Bride adorned in gown and wedding shoes police say Bank heist funded shopping spree Marietta a a Cobb county police detective testified thursday that after allegedly steal ing nearly in a Bank heist Heather Johnston and Ashley Miller went on a shopping spree ate a meal stopped at a Salon and even gave Money to the homeless detective Brad Mcentyre Dis cussed details of the heist involving Johnston and Miller the so called Barbie bandits and its aftermath he testified during a probable cause hearing for Johnston from the associated press