Truthout roundup 5/9

Civilians evacuated from Sadr City; Sari Gelzer on mental health of returning troops; Hezbollah gunmen seize control of parts of Beirut; 1.5 million affected by Burma storm; Clinton campaign chair says race will end in June; Congressman Hinchey blasts the Blue Dogs; Bush's FEC appointments seen as a move to aid McCain; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.org t r u t h o u t 05.09

Iraqi Military Orders Sadr City Residents to Evacuate
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908J.shtml Leila Fadel, of McClatchy Newspapers: "Iraqi security forces, after more than 40 days of intense fighting, on Thursday told residents to evacuate their homes in the northeast Shiite slum of Sadr City and to move to temporary shelters on two soccer fields. The military's call indicated the possibility of stepped-up military operations and came as Iraqi security forces raided a radio station run by backers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr. In the southern port city of Basra, militants launched rockets that struck a coalition base, killing two contractors and injuring four civilians and four coalition soldiers."

Sari Gelzer The Soldiers Project: Mental Health Care Confidential
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908K.shtml Sari Gelzer, of Truthout: "The significant numbers of returning service members and veterans who are in need of mental health care have recently been put into the spotlight by a RAND Corporation report, which found approximately 300,000 men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression. However, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Dr. Judith Broder did not need to hear statistics four years ago to realize the wars being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan were going to have a profound psychological impact on returning troops."

Hezbollah Gunmen Seize Control of Beirut Areas
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908L.shtml The Associated Press: "Shiite opposition gunmen seized control of several Beirut neighborhoods from Sunni foes loyal to the US-backed government on Friday as sectarian clashes reminiscent of Lebanon's bloody 15-year civil war raged in the capital. At least 11 people have been killed and more than 20 wounded in three days of street battles and gunfights, security officials said."

UN Says 1.5 Million People Affected by Burma Storm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908M.shtml Aung Hla Tun, of Reuters: "The United Nations estimated 1.5 million people have been 'severely affected' by the cyclone that swept through Myanmar, as the United States expressed outrage with the country's junta over delays in allowing in aid." Also, Andrew Buncombe, of The Independent UK: "Despite the obvious suffering, massive devastation and pressing need for urgent action, the Burmese authorities were continuing to insist yesterday that everything was under control. On the front page of the New Light of Myanmar - a state-run government publication - was a picture of the Prime Minister, Thein Sein, handing over 20 television sets and 10 DVD players as part of the 'relief' operation. This, in a region where there has been no electricity since the 130mph storm struck."

Top Clinton Aide Says Race Will End in June
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908N.shtml Scott Martelle and Bob Drogin, of The Los Angeles Times: "As talk swirled this morning over when Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton should end her quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, her campaign chairman predicted the party would have a presumptive nominee in June and, if it's not Clinton, she would campaign for Sen. Barack Obama. The comments by Terry McAuliffe seemed aimed at persuading superdelegates and Democratic Party leaders that Clinton would not hurt party unity by pressing her campaign through the final June 3 primaries in Montana and South Dakota."

Hinchey Calls Blue Dog Behavior "Absolutely Shameful"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908O.shtml Daniel W. Reilly, of The Politico: "Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) issued a stern rebuke to a group of fellow House Democrats on Thursday, saying that the behavior of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog coalition was 'absolutely shameful,' after the group revolted on Wednesday over the cost of veterans' educations benefits in a war funding measure, delaying consideration of the $183 billion supplemental spending bill. 'It is absolutely shameful that members of the Blue Dog coalition would vote to take this country into Iraq on false intelligence and lies, repeatedly vote to fund the disastrous military occupation of that country, but choose to turn their backs on the brave members of our armed forces by refusing to support an expansion of education benefits for them when they come home,' Hinchey said in a statement."

Bush's FEC Moves Seen as Aiding McCain's Campaign
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908P.shtml Michael Luo, of The New York Times: "For months, the White House and Senate Republicans have been content to let a political impasse over vacancies at the Federal Election Commission persist, sidelining the regulatory agency in the throes of a heated presidential campaign. But on Tuesday, President Bush suddenly announced three new nominees to the commission. He also backed away from Republicans' insistence that the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky, a former Justice Department official who faces vigorous opposition from Democrats, be voted upon with other nominees to the commission."