Iran helps Libya
Iranian missile technicians have begun installing equipment in Libya to help the government of Moammar Gadhafi produce more advanced Scud missiles, according to U.S. intelligence officials.
A U.S. intelligence report from Oct. 30 said the Iranians were spotted working on a factory that is part of Libya's Al Fatah missile program. The Iranian assistance was provided by the Shahid Hemmet Industrial Group, a major component of Iran's government-run ballistic missile program.
The Iranian-Libyan cooperation is the latest sign Libya is moving ahead with upgrading its missiles, and that Iran is becoming a missile supplier, not just an importer.
The State Department last year protested China's sale of missile technology to Libya. The transfers were first reported in The Washington Times.
A Pentagon report on arms proliferation issued last month said Libya is "improving" its missiles since the suspension of U.N. economic sanctions in April 1999. The report said Tripoli has obtained missile goods from Serbia and India, and wants to acquire or build North Korea's 620-mile-range Nodong missile.
"Should Libya succeed with its effort to purchase or perhaps develop such a missile, the missile could threaten Egypt, Israel, NATO countries in southern Europe and U.S. forces in the Mediterranean region," the report said.
Bush's heroes
One of President Bush's best weapons to garner veterans' votes was the backing of recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award.
While the media focused on the retired generals and admirals who publicly supported Mr. Bush, 76 of the 150 living Medal of Honor winners endorsed his candidacy and more than 30 made public appearances on his behalf, including in the crucial primary state of South Carolina.
"They turned the tide there," says retired Marine Corps Gen. Ray Davis, one of the Medal of Honor recipients who invaded South Carolina. "They and the other veterans."
Rudi Gresham, a former Army Green Beret, was vice chairman of the Bush veterans outreach and coordinated the appearances of the war heroes across the country.
"It was an honor and a privilege to be with those guys," Mr. Gresham said. "You should have seen the Americans who came up to salute them."
He added, "This was the highest number of Medal of Honor recipients who ever participated in a presidential campaign, and most all of them felt they could not continue closing their eyes to what was happening to this country."
Mr. Gresham said he accompanied some of the heroes to Florida election boards when they opened overseas military ballots and heard challenges from Democratic attorneys. "We insisted that the military votes be counted," he said.
Gen. Davis, the nation's most decorated living four-star general, earned his medal during the Korean War's battle of Chosin Reservoir 50 years ago.
Then a lieutenant colonel, he led an 800-Marine battalion through enemy Chinese lines, then broke their hold on a mountain pass, saving the lives of thousands of civilians and U.S. troops. All was accomplished in bitter weather with a minus-50 wind chill factor while outnumbered 10-1.
"I heard not one complaint or beef out of these Marines because they were going to rescue other Marines," says Gen. Davis, who retired in 1972 after 34 years of service.
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