Truthout roundup 4/26

Senator Patty Murray accuses the Veterans Administration of lying about Veteran suicides; Bush fails to make progress on Israel - Palestine peace process; J. Sri Raman writes about Burma's new unpopular constitution; Democratic party leaders to rule on a plan to seat some Michigan and Florida delegates; the US military relies on a local warlord to secure supply line in Afghanistan; Western Republican doctor favors universal health care; the Senate Ethics panel hits Senator Pete Domenici over his role in US attorney firing scandal; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.orgt r u t h o u t 04.26

"VA Lying About Number of Veteran Suicides"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608A.shtml Writing for McClatchy Newspapers, Les Blumenthal writes: "The Veterans Administration has lied about the number of veterans who've attempted suicide, a senator charged Wednesday, citing internal e-mails that put the number at 12,000 a year when the department was publicly saying it was fewer than 800.

"Abbas Says No Progress in Talks With Bush"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608B.shtml Associated Press Reporter Mohammed Daraghmeh writes: "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he failed to achieve any progress in Middle East peace talks with President Bush and was returning home with little to show for his visit.

" J. Sri Raman Referendum and Resistance"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608C.shtml Truthout Columnist J. Sri Raman writes: "It is a bestseller, but barely popular with its readers. The 194-page volume, which hit the bookstands in Burma on April 24, was the long-awaited draft constitution authored by the country's military junta, without consulting most of its people. The draft was published just a fortnight before the people are due to vote on it, apparently as a formality.

"Delegate Challenges Concerning Florida, Michigan to Be Heard
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608D.shtml Associated Press Reporter Nedra Pickler writes: "A plan to award half-delegates for the disputed Michigan and Florida Democratic presidential primaries will get a hearing before party leaders.

"US Afghan Supply Lines Depend on Islamic Warlord" http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608E.shtmlMcClatchy Newspapers Reporter Saeed Shah writes: "The only thing standing between Pakistan's Taliban and the lifeline for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan may be an Islamist warlord who controls the area near Pakistan's famed Khyber Pass.

"Pushing the Single-Payer Solution
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608F.shtml Amy Goodman, writing for King Features Syndicate writes: "As the media coverage of the Democratic presidential race continues to focus on lapel pins and pastors, America is ailing. As I travel around the country, I find people are angry and motivated. Like Dr. Rocky White, a physician from a conservative, evangelical background who practices in rural Alamosa, Colo. A tall, gray-haired Westerner in black jeans, a crisp white shirt and a bolo tie, Dr. White is a leading advocate for single-payer health care. He wasn't always.

"Senate Ethics Panel Admonishes Domenici
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042608G.shtml Manu Raju, reporting for The Hill newspaper, writes: "The Senate Ethics Committee admonished Sen. Pete Domenici (N.M.) Thursday for contacting a U.S. attorney in his home state during a wide-ranging corruption probe, closing an investigation that clouded the Republican’s six-term Senate career."