Celebrating design’s impact on politics, “Designing Obama” was hosted by the Academy of Art University at its Morgan Auditorium recently. The Academy’s President, Dr. Elisa Stephens, greeted designers Sol Sender and Scott Thomas, creators of the Obama logo and Obama 08 campaign, respectively. Over 800 people attended to hear about Sender and Thomas’ experiences in developing a political brand unequalled in American history. The sold-out event was sponsored by Sappi Fine Paper and xpedx.

The conversation was moderated by design journalist, Alissa Walker. To set the stage — and put the groundbreaking work in perspective — she walked the audience through the identities of political campaigns over the last 50 years.

“Finally, good design is being considered important to a political campaign,” she said.

As heads nodded in affirmation, she connected with the crowd’s primary reason for showing up, “This was the election that affected my life.”

Sender fascinated attendees by detailing the design process his firm went through to create the logo.

“We dove into numerous explorations to address the key challenges the campaign was facing before Obama announced his candidacy – experience and patriotism,” said Sender.

He showcased several concepts that were presented, and why the campaign team selected the symbol that became the heart of Obama’s historical presidential race.

Thomas took the identity created by Sender and helped build it into a political brand that embraced Obama’s core beliefs. Using “we” in all messages rallied citizens to be part of the process to make change happen. He also discussed how they “pulled imagery from the past to communicate the historic atmosphere”, and used design principals to “exemplify stability and experience.”

As the design director of the Obama 08 campaign, Thomas sparked an unprecedented web-based political movement. He married elegant, impactful design with the latest Internet technologies to foster community, teamwork, activism and excitement among citizens.

Although innovative approaches proved to be instrumental in the outcome of the campaign, Thomas admits that they brought some risk in a charged political climate.

“The speed in which information needed to be conveyed didn’t always allow us to test functionality as thoroughly as we would have liked,” he said. “We were truly building an airplane while it was in flight.”

Source: The Academy of Art University

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“A war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues to escalate as it now enters its 4th day and more than 350 people have died. Israel is poised to move into the Gaza Strip after continued daily air strikes on Gaza. More carnage, destruction and loss of lives will happen as there seems the only end to the conflict is military occupation of the Gaza Strip by Israel to rid and clear Hamas and its ability to launch rockets and missiles into Israel.

“Israel’s lack of protection of its citizens and nearby cities from a continued year round and recent escalated rocket and missile fire from Hamas in Gaza brought upon the Israeli decision to go to war that has and will continue to kill and destroy people and property in the Gaza Strip.

“During a recent visit this fall to Israel, MDAA toured and engaged with surrounding Israeli cities that were under continued rocket attack from Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From Ashkelon, Ashdod to Sderot where the Israeli government does not have a deployed rocket missile defense capability to defend those cities and citizens from a rocket or missile attack. The only defense for these cities is an early warning system of electronic alarms of 15 seconds in Sderot’s case and bomb shelters which are made into bus stops, playgrounds and rooms in schools. This type of civil defense against 1,400 rockets a year fired by Hamas has been tolerated by the Israeli public and government as an ‘acceptable level of conflict’ that kept escalation in check and somewhat stabilized the situation inside the region around the Gaza Strip.

“Hamas has continued on a consistent basis to use its rockets/missiles for leverage on Israel which are hand made from fertilizers and other materials that have been given on a humanitarian basis or smuggled through its borders or through underground tunnels from Egypt.

“The breakage of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the increased escalation of rocket firings from Hamas into Israel caused the tolerance of accepted conflict between the two sides to be no longer tolerable.

“It is in this current real world situation that the development and deployment of missile and rocket defense systems is critically essential to stabilize and prevent escalation of war and loss of life caused by the launching of missiles and rockets. Missile Defense provides another option to allow governments and their citizens to be able to tolerate other means of de-escalation rather than to go to war. A deployed and integrated Missile Defense also provides a much stronger and viable deterrent to Hamas.

“Currently, Israel is developing the ‘Iron Dome’ Rocket Defense System and the David’s Sling Missile Defense System to defend their cities and people from missile and rocket attacks. It is of urgency that these systems be funded, developed and deployed.”

Ellison closed his remarks by saying: “In this region and throughout the Middle East and Asia Minor of religious conflict and high tension there continues a movement by various countries and terrorist organizations to replace air power with a more efficient, cheaper rocket and missile force to project military power beyond borders. It is imperative that we as a world leader develop and deploy missile and rocket defense systems and share those technologies to prevent war and the loss of life.”

Riki Ellison is available for on-the-record interviews concerning the need for missile defense in Israel. He toured many of the cities under attack by Hamas a few months ago, and he has great insight on what they feel about the need for missile defense.

Source: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

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The study was conducted by HCD Research on December 29 to obtain Americans’ perceptions of a video news clip which contained the Israeli/Palestinian perspectives on the situation and their justifications for the attacks. To view believability curves and detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.

Prior to viewing the video clip, respondents, and in particular, Democrats were split on who is most responsible for the recent attacks in Israel and Palestine. Before watching the video, 12% blamed Israel and 33% blamed Palestine. After watching the video, 11% blamed Israel, over half (53%) blamed Palestine; an increase of 20% of those siding with Israel.

When asked if the U.S. should intervene in this situation, the majority (64%) reported no, compared to 13% indicated yes, and 24% who reported they weren’t sure.

Among the findings:

“Who do you think is mostly responsible for the Israeli/Palestinian attacks that started this past week?”

                            BEFORE watching the video

              Total   Democrats       Republicans     Independents
  Israel        12%         19%                7%              11%
  Palestine     33%         20%               49%              31%
  Both          51%         59%               40%              54%
  Neither        4%          3%                4%               4%

                            AFTER watching the video

               Total   Democrats    Republicans    Independents
  Israel          11%        20%             5%             10%
  Palestine       53%        46%            63%             50%
  Both            34%        33%            30%             39%
  Neither          2%         1%             2%              2%

  "Do you think that the US should intervene in this situation?"

                            BEFORE watching the video

              Total   Democrats       Republicans     Independents
  Yes           12%         19%               10%               7%
  No            63%         55%               57%              79%
  Not sure      25%         26%               34%              15%

                            AFTER watching the video

              Total   Democrats    Republicans    Independents
  Yes           13%         19%            13%              7%
  No            64%         62%            56%             74%
  Not sure      24%         20%            32%             19%

While viewing the video clip, participants indicated their levels of believability by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also post-viewing questions.

The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

HCD Research is a communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company’s services include traditional and web-based communications research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net.

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MANCHESTER, N.H., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Teamsters Local 633 on Election Day will send an unprecedented number of its New Hampshire members to work on behalf of Democratic candidates for Congress, governor and president.

About 150 Teamster volunteers, including retirees, will get out the vote throughout New Hampshire – including Manchester, Nashua, Salem, Concord, Keene, Laconia and Hampton.

“We’ve never had a group like this,” said Dave Laughton, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 633 in Manchester. “They’ve been working long hours, seven days a week, to elect Barack Obama president and Democrats to Congress. They want this economy to get going again and they want to restore America’s standing in the world.”

Teamsters visited more than 300 worksites, including visits by Rep. Carol Shea-Porter to UPS in Manchester, U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen to UPS in Dover, Gov. John Lynch to UPS in Nashua, and Rep. Paul Hodes to First Student locations in Swanzey and Nashua.

They’ve sent 7,000 mailers to Teamster families and retirees and knocked on 28,000 doors. On Tuesday, they’ll be working at election sites and driving people to the polls.

“This is the most important election in our lifetimes, and the Teamsters are doing everything in their power to change the course of this country.

Teamsters Local 633, based in Manchester, represents 4,000 hard-working people throughout New Hampshire.

Source: Teamsters Local 633

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Today, Barack Obama Said His Campaign Organization Proves He Is Ready For Any Test:

Barack Obama Says The Campaign Organization He Built Has Faced Tests Recently And Proves He Is Prepared To Handle Tests As President. CBS’ Harry Smith: “Are you more ready to be president of the United States than John McCain?” Obama: “I tell you, all I can say is this. We’ve had, over the last couple of months, I think, an interesting series of tests, and I think that I have been steady. I think my advisers and my team and my organization, what we built has performed with the kind of calm, dissolve and liberation that the White House needs right now. Any president is going to be tested by the enormity of the challenges that we face.” (CBS’ “The Early Show,” 10/23/08)

In The Past, Obama Has Said His Campaign Experience Was Equal To Elected Executive Experience:

In September, Obama Compared His Experience Running For President To Palin’s Executive Experience. CNN’s Anderson Cooper: “Some Republicans critics have said you don’t have the experience to handle a situation like this. They’ve, in fact, said that Governor Palin has more executive experience as mayor of a small town and as governor of a big state of Alaska. What’s your response?” Obama: “Well, you know, my understanding is, is that Governor Palin’s town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We’ve got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. You know, we have a budget of about three times that just for the month. So I think that our ability to manage large systems and to execute I think has been made clear over the last couple of years. And certainly in terms of the legislation that I’ve passed, just dealing with this issue post-Katrina of how we handle emergency management. The fact that many of my recommendations were adopted and are being put in place as we speak I think indicates the degree to which we can provide the kinds of support and good service that the American people expect.” (CNN’s “American Morning,” 9/2/08)

But During His Senate Campaign, Obama Blamed A Staff Member For Not Denouncing Yasir Arafat:

Obama Failed To Denounce Yasir Arafat On A Campaign Questionnaire. “During the Senate campaign, Mr. Obama joined in a ‘Walk for Israel’ rally along Lake Michigan on Israel Solidarity Day. The Crowns and other Jewish leaders raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for him. Several days before the primary in 2004, some of his Jewish supporters took offense that Mr. Obama had not taken the opportunity on a campaign questionnaire to denounce Yasir Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, or to strongly support Israel’s building of a security fence.” (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, “Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side,” The New York Times, 5/11/08)

“In An E-Mail Message, Mr. Obama Blamed A Staff Member For The Oversight, And Expressed The Hope That ‘None Of This Has Raised Any Questions On Your Part Regarding My Fundamental Commitment To Israel’s Security.’” (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, “Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side,” The New York Times, 5/11/08)

And Obama Blamed A Staff Member For Filling In Liberal Answers To A Survey In 1996:

“The Obama Campaign Tells Politico That The Questionnaire Was Not Filled Out By Obama Himself, But Rather By His Campaign Manager At The Time…” (Mark Memmott and Jill Lawrence, “Will ‘Liberal Views’ Come Back To Haunt Obama?” USA Today’s “On Politics” Blog, blogs.usatoday.com, 12/11/07)

Washington State Chairman For Obama, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) Claimed Answers To Questions Were Different Than Positions Obama Holds. Rep. Smith: “That was a questionnaire filled out in his first state senate campaign back 1996 not by Senator Obama but by somebody on his staff who didn’t get it cleared. You look at his record and what he said about even those issues in that campaign in ‘96, on capital punishment, on health care, on gun issues and they are different than what was put down in that questionnaire.” (MSNBC’s “Super Tuesday,” 12/11/07)

Rep. Smith: “Those [survey answers] are not a reflection of Senator Obama’s views now or ever for that matter.” (MSNBC’s “Super Tuesday,” 12/11/07)

Obama Has Blamed His Staff For Other Mistakes:

Obama Blamed His Research Team For Releasing The Memo Calling Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) A Senator From Punjab. “‘It was a screw-up on the part of our research team,’ Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, said during a meeting today with Des Moines Register editors and reporters. ‘It wasn’t anything I had seen or my senior staff had seen.’” (Thomas Beaumont, “Obama: Campaign’s ‘Punjab’ Remark Was ‘Stupid’,” The Des Moines Register, 6/18/07)

Obama Blamed His Staff For Not Being Able To Attend The International Association Of Fire Fighters In New Hampshire. “Barack Obama threw his staff under the proverbial bus last Friday during his call-in with leaders of the International Association of Fire Fighters in Portsmouth. ‘My staff had already scheduled some things and they couldn’t wiggle out of it,’ he said, according to CNN. ‘They heard from me a little bit because I wasn’t happy I couldn’t be there personally.’” (John DiStaso, “Richardson Puts Together His NH Team,” The [Manchester] Union Leader, 5/17/07)

According To ABC’s Jake Tapper, Obama Has Blamed His Staff On At Least 14 Occasions. “So, for those keeping track at home, that’s ten instances of Obama publicly blaming his staff for various screw-ups. … (You of course could also add Austan Goolsbee, Samantha Power, Gordon Fischer, and retired Gen. Tony McPeak.) That would be 14. We will continue to keep track.” (Jake Tapper, “Obama’s Inability To Hire Good Help Rears Its Head … Again,” ABC’s “Political Punch” Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 5/12/08)

Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate’s Committee. http://www.gop.com/

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The AFL-CIO today announced the launch of a special voting rights protection program in six states – Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia – aimed at educating U.S. Hispanics about their voting rights and helping to prevent voting rights violations on Election Day. The effort comes as a part of the AFL-CIO’s “My Vote, My Right” program, wherein members of local union and labor groups across the country are working in coalition with civil rights organizations, faith groups, local lawyers, and other community allies to protect voting rights.

“It’s time to turn around America, and we will start by protecting our right to vote and making sure that every single vote is counted,” said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. “Many Hispanics will be first time voters in this election, making them especially vulnerable to voter intimidation and misinformation, which is why we are making a special effort to reach out and educate them.”

The AFL-CIO’s public education effort aimed at Hispanics is comprised of five main components:

– A Spanish-language radio advertising campaign featuring actor Edward James Olmos that details voter protection issues and how to avoid being disenfranchised

– Spanish-language “Voter Bill of Rights” fliers describing state and federal voting rights laws, which by Election Day will be distributed to more than 10,000 voters in Nevada

– Spanish-language voting rights cards, which by Election Day will be distributed to more than 10,000 voters in New Mexico

– An op-ed written by former AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez Thompson outlining voters’ rights

Grassroots educational outreach to voters

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, is also actively reaching out to Hispanics voters through their “Tu voz es mi voz” campaign (Your voice is my voice). Elements of the campaign include:

– Canvassing door to door in Grand Rapids; Lansing/East Lansing; Pontiac and Southeast Detroit, Michigan and Northern Virginia with sample ballots for Latino voters and voter education information

– Disseminating Spanish-language voter protection information in Philadelphia, Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania

– A radio program in Philadelphia, PA with voter education information

– Stationing bi-lingual election voter protection monitors at the polls in Prince William County, Virginia where an anti-immigrant statute was passed earlier this year

– Town hall meetings along with a voter registration, voter education and voter protection drive in Central Florida.

– The sending of letters to the supervisors of elections in seven Central Florida counties requesting a plan of action to increase, maintain, support and protect the participation of Latinos.

In several states, the AFL-CIO voter protection program is also recruiting and training volunteers to serve as nonpartisan poll workers and poll monitors on Election Day, helping to address voting problems including long lines, misuse of provisional ballots, and demands for voter IDs which are not mandated by law. The volunteers will be thoroughly trained on federal, state and local election laws. On Election Day, poll monitors will be deployed outside of polling places where they will be available to answer voters’ questions about their rights and help resolve any problems voters may encounter.

The AFL-CIO is the umbrella organization for America’s unions and represents 10.5 million working people nationwide.

Source: AFL-CIO

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ — The California Tribal Business Alliance released its second “Legislative Scorecard on Tribal Issues” today showing a mixed record among legislators during the 2007-2008 session on issues that do not relate to gaming or tribal casinos.

The CTBA tracked five bills dealing with California Native American curriculum, joint powers agreements between tribes and local governments, economic development assistance to non-gaming tribes, and protection of cultural resources.

Three senators and seven Assembly members — all Republicans — opposed all of the bills; 12 senators and 41 Assembly members had perfect scores. The Alliance singled out Senator Abel Maldonado, the only Republican in either house with a perfect score. Of the three tracked bills that reached the governor’s desk, all were vetoed.

“While there was plenty of media coverage of legislation related to tribal gaming in the 2007-2008 legislative session, scant attention was paid to the five bills that CTBA tracked,” said CTBA Executive Director Alison Harvey.

“The bills we tracked were largely under the radar, but they reflect significant issues to tribes — such as respect for tribal governments and understanding of the continued significance of cultural preservation to Indian people of California,” said David Quintana, the Alliance’s political director. “The governor’s vetoes continue his pattern of opposing bills sought by tribal governments that do not provide funds to the state from tribal gaming enterprises.”

The five bills are:

SB 826 (Padilla) — Provided for the University of California to award competitive grants or contracts for the development of instructional resources on California Native American history, culture, and tribal sovereignty for use in kindergarten through twelfth grade. (Vetoed)

AB 2034 (Nunez) — Encourages the State Board of Education to adopt instructional materials emphasizing California Native Americans, including sovereignty and tribal governments and their relationship with California state government. (Vetoed)

AB 1032 (Wolk) — Implements the Administration’s agreement with the Karuk Tribe to settle the tribe’s lawsuit against the Department of Fish and Game over damage to the endangered Coho salmon population in the tribe’s ancestral rivers — the Klamath, the Scott, and the Salmon — from instream suction gold dredge mining. (Vetoed)

AB 847 (Berg) — Authorizes the Yurok Indian Tribe to enter into a joint powers agreement with relevant state and federal public agencies to preserve and restore fisheries in the Klamath River Basin. (Passed Assembly; not voted on in Senate)

SB 1200 (Ducheny) — Boosts the opportunities for non-gaming California Indian tribes to establish a firm economic base by creating a revolving loan fund to finance non-gaming enterprises and by providing expert business advice. (Passed Senate; not voted on in Assembly)

The Alliance’s 2005-2006 “Legislative Scorecard on Tribal Issues” revealed that 33 members of the Assembly had perfect scores; 11 members of the Senate had a perfect score.

Both full vote charts may be accessed on the CTBA web site — http://www.caltba.org/ under Resources and Documents, Press Releases and Statements.

Members of the Alliance are the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, the Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, the United Auburn Indian Community and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. CTBA has taken leadership roles in addressing problem gambling; protecting Native American cultural resources; and a number of legislative and regulatory issues on the federal, state and local level.

Source: California Tribal Business Alliance

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The National Enquirer’s Love Child scandal “smoking gun” edition has hit the supermarket shelves recently,  adding more “fodder” to an already amazing story: John Edwards’ alleged mistress, Rielle Hunter, and mother of his love child, resided with the “other” father, Andrew Young, and his family in California.

Here is a recently published story about the John Edwards Reille Hunter scandal. They’re saying:

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who cast himself as the most electable of Democratic presidential hopefuls, admitted Friday that he held — and lied about — a secret that could have destroyed his campaign and his party’s hopes for the White House.

Edwards’ confirmation of an extramarital affair with a woman he met in a New York bar shakes the public persona of a man whose image was deeply linked to his role as a devoted husband. It effectively rules him out as a vice presidential nominee, and it may cost him a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention — though Edwards is still considering a convention appearance.

Want to read more about John Edwards and Rielle Hunter? Here you go:

Edwards gets caught: With his pants down

No more VP hopes for you

John Edwards Will Not Be Obama’s VP

Edwards Finally Admits

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- Humanitarian crisis possible on both sides of border if conflict escalates, aid agency warns

- World Vision has small amount of pre-positioned emergency supplies in Georgia; more will be needed across the region if crisis worsens

TBLISI, Georgia, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — As fierce fighting continues today in Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region, international aid agency World Vision is calling for the international community to help broker an immediate ceasefire.

“Thousands of civilians are in harm’s way right now, including women and children,” warned David Womble, World Vision’s national director for Georgia.

“The U.N. Security Council must make this matter a priority, and help broker an immediate ceasefire between the parties. If fighting continues, thousands of families will be forced to flee, and we could be faced with a humanitarian crisis.”

To avoid any further civilian casualties and suffering, World Vision is calling for the following:

– The United Nations Security Council must work to broker an immediate ceasefire.

– All combatants must abide by international law and protect civilians, particularly children and women, who are the most vulnerable.

– Civilians fleeing the conflict zone to the north and the south must be afforded safe passage.

– Humanitarian corridors should be set up immediately so aid workers can safely access civilians and provide life-saving assistance.

– In particular, UN agencies must be allowed access into the conflict zone to help coordinate the humanitarian response and maintain the necessary security communications to allow for humanitarian operations.

– The United Nations, regional actors and key international stakeholders should advance the mediation of a long-term political solution that will end the conflict and address the humanitarian conditions resulting from the fighting.

Meanwhile, Tskhinvali, the main city in South Ossetia, has reportedly been cut off by fighting and remains inaccessible.

“We’re hearing reports that the entire water supply to Tskhinvali has been shut off. Potable water is the number-one humanitarian need right now for the city and surrounding areas,” said Womble.

World Vision has a small amount of pre-positioned emergency supplies in Georgia and is poised to assist people fleeing south. The agency also has programs in the Russian Federation’s North Ossetia region, which borders the conflict zone, and is preparing for an influx of displaced people to the north as well.

The Christian aid agency has worked in Georgia since 1994, focusing on community development and the needs of children in difficult circumstances. Current programs include microfinance for poor entrepreneurs, support for street children and children with disabilities, food for work, HIV and AIDS prevention and assistance for returning migrant workers. World Vision does not have current programs in South Ossetia but assists more than 15,000 children in Abkhazia, another breakaway region of Georgia. The agency’s 155 staff in Georgia are accounted for and safe at the present time.

World Vision also has worked in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation since 1995, including peacebuilding and economic recovery projects in North Ossetia.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit worldvision.org/press.

Source: World Vision U.S.

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When asked whether Georgia is now at war with Russia, President Saakashvili said, “Russia has attacked Georgia, that means that Russia is trying to basically either attack Georgia overall or to chop off a piece of its territory.” He goes on to say, “We are a small freedom-flooded democratic country with a small population, very motivated, very determined to defend ourselves.”

Saakashvili accused Russia of “a sheer, clear and blunt aggression that parallels the worst examples of the 20th Century and certainly is unheard of and unparalleled in modern times.”

President Saakashvili’s comments came after reported aerial bombings and widespread fighting in the disputed region.

The 22 minute interview can be viewed in its entirety at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aA18V3Yj0lCA

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About Bloomberg

Bloomberg is the global provider of financial data, news and analytics. The BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL(R) service and Bloomberg’s media services provide real-time and archived financial and market data, pricing, trading, news and communications tools in a single, integrated package to corporations, news organizations, financial and legal professionals and individuals around the world. Bloomberg’s media services include the global BLOOMBERG NEWS(R) service with more than 2,300 professionals in over 135 bureaus worldwide; the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION(R) 24-hour business and financial network produced and distributed worldwide on eleven channels in seven languages; and BLOOMBERG RADIO(R) services providing up-to-the-minute news on XM, Sirius and WorldSpace satellite radio globally and on WBBR 1130AM in New York. In addition, Bloomberg publishes BLOOMBERG MARKETS(R) magazine and BLOOMBERG PRESS(R) books for investment professionals. For more information please visit http://www.bloomberg.com/.

The BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL service and data products are owned and distributed by Bloomberg Finance L.P. (BFLP) except that Bloomberg L.P. and its subsidiaries (BLP) distribute these products in Argentina, Bermuda, China, India, Japan and Korea. BFLP owns and distributes Bloomberg Markets Magazine. BLP provides BFLP with global marketing and operational support and services. Bloomberg Tradebook is distributed by Bloomberg Tradebook LLC and its subsidiaries. BLP owns and distributes Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, the Bloomberg Website and Bloomberg Press. BLOOMBERG, BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL, BLOOMBERG MARKETS, BLOOMBERG NEWS, BLOOMBERG ANYWHERE, BLOOMBERG TRADEBOOK, BLOOMBERG BONDTRADER, BLOOMBERG TELEVISION, BLOOMBERG RADIO, BLOOMBERG PRESS and BLOOMBERG.COM are trademarks and service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or its subsidiaries. BTV is a trademark and service mark of Bloomberg L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. All rights reserved.

Source: Bloomberg

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