European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 stars and stripes wednesday april 11 2007 free speech violators honoured Dod Bush administration among winners of muzzle awards by Zinie Chen Sampson the associated press Richmond a the Bush administration and the defense department Are among the win ners of the 2007 Jefferson muzzle awards Given tuesday by a free speech group to those it con siders the most egregious first amendment violators in the past year the Bush administration appears on the list compiled by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of free expression for its efforts to discourage modify and sometimes censor govern ment scientists reports and stud ies to be More in line with the administrations political policies notably on global warming the Center said the number of major scientists who have come Forward and indicated they were constrained by the administration viewpoint is quite worrisome Center director Robert m Oneil said there have been similar concerns Aris ing in other areas but we wanted to focus specifically on climate change As the most invaded or intruded area the defense department won a muzzle for its Covert investigations of organizations that con ducted peaceful Antiwar pro tests most of which were against military recruitment for the us wars in Iraq and Afghanistan the Center said created in 2003 Talon threat and local Obser vation notice also monitored email messages among Mem Bers of Antiwar groups its activities were uncovered last year after the american civil liberties Union filed numerous Freedom of information act requests we recognize that our govern ment appropriately gathers information Oneil said anything related to genuine terrorist activity is of legitimate concern but were troubled when it extends to innocuous groups that oppose the War in citing the Bush administration the free speech Center noted testimony from Philip Cooney the former chief of staff for the White House Council on Environ mental Quality Cooney publicly answered questions before the House government Reform com Mittee about 181 changes he made to three government Cli mate reports and defended Many of the changes other winners of the 16th Annu Al awards include the Ohio Gener Al Assembly for enacting a stat level version of the Patriot act which requires state Job applicants to answer a six question Survey about potential terrorist activity or affiliation and us rep Pete King Rny for Call ing for a criminal espionage investigation of the new York times because of its stories about the Federal government5 s surveil Lance of International financial transactions fight against cockfighting la lawmakers try to ban states popular activity by Doug Simpson the associated press Breaux Bridge la spectators shake their fists scream out wagers and cheer on their roosters the air swirling with cigarette smoke and Chicken feathers saturday night in Breaux Bridge Means rooster fights at the Atchafalaya game club one of dozens of cockfighting venues in Louisi Ana soon to be the last state where the prac Tice is Legal fans from around the country pay and Settle into padded seats overlooking the pit where two roosters Peck and claw each other often to the death i still go to the rooster fights on a regular basis because if s something i enjoy said Billy Duplechein 37 of St Martin file and in trying to get my sons involved it keeps our kids out of trouble but this Louisiana tradition Long decried by animal rights activists As cruel and Barbaric May be coming to an end worried about the states longstanding image As a corrupt Backwater at a time when Hurricane stricken new Orleans desperately needs Money from Capitol Hill gov Kathleen Blanco and other politicians want cockfighting banned that is an unpopular idea at the Atchafalaya club where enthusiasts consider it harm less fun they say Louisiana has plenty of other prob lems to solve including the stagnant recovery from hurricanes katrina and Rita the Atchafalaya game club Home to the Christmas Derby the Mardi gras cup and other cockfighting tournaments is an unmarked warehouse in Breaux Bridge a Small cajun town about 120 Miles West of new or leans hundreds came to the rights on a recent sat urday night and they were not unlike the typical High school football crowd teenagers on dates kids with their parents they ate Burg ers and Chili dogs and drank sodas and Beer the Birds Are fitted with Sharp Metal Blades or curved spikes on their legs and tear into each other blood soaks the animals feathers photos by Alex above Chris Stewart feeds his hens and roosters wednesday in Livingston la left gaffs Are lined up that Stewart puts on the legs of his roosters for cockfighting and their handlers clothing a match can end in minutes or an hour when one Bird is dead or refuses to fight 3 get time in Federal prison for Church fires Birmingham Ala a Cho rus of apologies preceded the sentencing of three former College students for a rash of Rural Church fires that began As Drunken pranks Matthew Cloyd 21 and Ben Jamin Moseley 20 were sentenced monday to eight years in Federal prison each for the blazes which terrorized the churchmen tired communities for weeks last year Russell Lee Debusk or 20 want involved in All the fires and was sentenced to seven years Betty Ford leaves Calif Hospital after surgery Rancho Mirage Calif former first lady Betty Ford was released from a Hospital where she underwent surgery last week her office said in a statement Mon Day mrs Ford is resting Comfort ably at her Home she is recover ing Well the statement said the statement did not say when mrs Ford who turned 89 on Sun Day was released from Eisenhower medical Center the Ford office has not Dis closed the nature of the surgery a Call to the Ford office was not immediately returned Obama not interested in being vice president Washington Barack Obama is not interested in run Ning for vice president the democratic presidential hopeful made that Clear during an appearance monday on lbs late show with David letter Man Letterman asked Obama if there had been any discussion of the Illinois senator sharing the democratic ticket with new York sen Hillary Rodham Clinton no you dont run for second Obama said i dont believe in that from the associated press Carrier needed for Grafe Woehr i Hesheima and Vilseck for More information please Contact Tom at 01726707342 your Hometown newspaper Why pay full Price Home delivery Only per week toll free 08001011270 Germany 0800780265 Italy 08000858827 us 080078073 Belgium 08000225203 Netherlands 0900958303 Spain Dan 3498437 email hours of operation of 07001800 Samsun 07301300 european stars and stripes attn circulation dept unit 29480 Apo a 09211