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	• NEWS >> ATW December 18, 2003 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of December 18th 2003. I’m Jennifer Davis. In our top story this week…The hunt for Saddam Hussein is over. #1— IRAQ UPDATE SOT “Ladies and Gentlemen, we got him!” That’s how US administrator Paul Bremer broke the news to journalists on Sunday. The former Iraqi leader had been found just hours earlier. American forces captured Hussein in a farmhouse near his hometown of Tikrit. Saddam had been hiding in an 8- foot hole carved into the cellar floor and camouflaged with bricks and dirt. Soldiers saw a small ventilation pipe that was used to provide fresh air to the hole. They followed that to discover Hussein. Even though he was armed with a pistol, Hussein surrendered without a shot being fired. He was discovered with some new, unwrapped clothes and 750-thousand US dollars. His arrest came 8 months after the fall of Iraq’s capitol city, Baghdad. US officials say that one of the keys to finding Hussein was the capture of bodyguards and others close to Saddam. A tip from one of those people led to the farmhouse next to the Tigris River. Camouflage (n) method of concealing someone from an enemy ATW FACT Saddam Hussein spent ten years starting in 1969 as vice president of Iraq. He became president in 1979 and served as Iraq’s leader until US forces invaded March 20th..Source: NY Times INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… -the world reacts to the capture of Saddam -Afghans take new steps toward democracy -and Pakistan’s president has a narrow escape. #2—IRAQ REACTIONS Car bombs, protest rallies and celebratory gunfire were among the reactions that greeted news of Saddam Hussein’s capture. Throughout much of Iraq, ordinary citizens could be seen waving British and American flags, dancing in the streets and honking car horns. Hussein still has supporters, however. One of them acted as a suicide bomber Monday in an attack that also killed 8 Iraqi policemen. News of Hussein’s capture coincided with rallies to mark the 16th anniversary of the radical Islamic group, Hamas. Hussein had been a vocal and financial supporter of Palestinians. He paid 25-thousand dollars to the families of suicide bombers and 10-thousand dollars to every Palestinian killed in fighting against Israel. Capture(v) to seize or catch by force or craft. #3— — AFGHAN VOTE It could take ten days or even several weeks to find the delicate balance that will frame a new constitution in Afghanistan. An historic constitutional convention began last Sunday with prayers and speeches. 5-hundred delegates are gathered in what’s called a loya jirga or grand council. It’s a key step in a two year process that could finally stabilize a country long wracked by war. It will also lead to national elections in June of 2004. security for the meeting was doubly tight after US officials warned of possible attacks. Taliban militants have been regaining some of their former power in parts of Afghanistan. Among the key issues before the loya jirga are the rights of women and whether Afghanistan should be ruled by a Prime Minister or by a strong presidential system. Council (n) an assembly of persons called together for discussions #4— PAKISTAN PM BOMBED The search is on for those responsible for an attempt on the life of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. A bomb exploded less than a minute after the president’s motorcade passed over a bridge near the capital of Islamabad. This was at least the second attempt on Musharraf’s life. In both cases, experts blame hard-line Islamic fundamentalists who were angry with the president for backing the US in Afghanistan. Musharraf said he isn’t personally bothered by attacks aimed at him. He did say that the terrorists responsible have damaged the reputation of both Pakistan and Islam. He acknowledged that the danger is an internal matter Reputation (n) the general estimation in which one is held by the public. POP QUIZ #1 In our story about the capture of Saddam Hussein, where did we tell you the farmhouse he was in was located? Was it near… 1. The Euphrates River 2. The Potomac River 3. The Tigris River And the answer is…number 3. The farmhouse in which Hussein was discovered was very near the Tigris River. OLD CLUE #1— SUDAN ACCORD? And now it’s time for the answers to our clues in the news… Our first clue was a location. Go there and you would have been in Khartoum, the capitol of Sudan. It was joy, not anger that led to thousands of opposition supporters overwhelming security forces. A plane full of rebels touched down in Khartoum for the first time in years. The visit was made possible by on-going peace talks between the Muslim north of Sudan and the Christian and animist south of the country. War, famine and disease caused by Sudan’s 20 year old civil war have killed more than 2-million people in that country. OLD CLUE #2—BERLUSCONI VISIT Fill in the blanks on our second clue and you get Berlusconi visit. Italy’s prime minister traveled to Brussels, Belgium over the weekend, one of several European leaders trying to forge an agreement over a constitution for the European Union. Those talks finally collapsed Saturday after the leaders failed to agree on the formula for sharing power among the soon to be 25 member E-U. Though those talks will resume next year, some leaders say the failed agreement leaves the E-U in serious trouble. OLD CLUE #3—SPENDING BILLS And finally, unscramble our third clue and you have Spending bills. Seven legislative bills adding up to more than 300-billion dollars were rolled into one massive bill and passed by the House of Representatives but it still faces action from the Senate. While much of that money is needed to run the basic functions of government, critics point to millions of dollars in pet projects known as “pork”. It may be late January before the Senate finally takes its vote on the bill. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… on December 18th 1865, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution formally ended slavery in America. The amendment came 246 years after the first African slaves were brought to North America. FEATURE Want to see how some special horses are helping people with disabilities?...Check it out! FEATURE HORSE THERAPY (Wyatt) Here at Heritage Christian Stables in Rochester, New York a group of volunteers and some horses are bringing excitement into the lives of many physically and mentally challenged people by offering them therapeutic horse riding lessons. (Janet Zimmer: Riding Instructor, Heritage Christian Services) “We’re actually using the horse as a teaching tool. We allow the riders to meneuver different patterns, things that they probably wouldn’t do in their everyday lives and that’s actually helping build up their confidence. We’re walking over the poles and two point, things that they never really thought they could do on a horse. They’re finding a thousand pound animal isn’t so intimidating to them…they can go ahead and do it on their own.” (Wyatt) “Horse Therapy has been around for many years, it not only builds the riders confidence, it builds their physical strength as well.” (Janet) “There’s allot of physical benefits, I can have riders that have been on and they are leaning off to the side and by the end they are sitting up straight. I’ve had riders where it takes four people to hold them on and now can ride by themselves independently with just the horse handlers. It’s almost a miracle to be able to see but it really does work, it really does help build up allot of muscle strength, muscle tone and balance.” (Sue Ann Williams: Horse Rider) “I’ve been doing this for two years and I really enjoy it. I really like riding Felix and Gus and Tyler and they’re all my friends.” (Janet) “It’s so rewarding for me just being able to see the miracles of the riders being able to get on and sitting up tall…also riders that are afraid of horses that think they’re just way too big and they are actually on them for the first time. Just knowing I had a part in that and I helped them, it really means allot to me.” (Wyatt) “For ‘Assignment: The World’ I’m Wyatt Doremus.” ISN’T IT COOL JAPAN TRAIN It’s known as the M-L-X- 0 -1…and it’s the world’s fastest train. Japan’s Maglev train uses magnetic force to lift slightly off the ground…making it faster than conventional trains which suffer speed-reducing friction on tracks. No one was on board as it hurtled across the eleven mile test track, reaching 361 miles per hour. It was remotely controlled by engineers. Germany has also developed a Maglev-train and the United States say’s it is planning to build one as well. One problem remains for researchers…the Maglev is too expensive to put into commercial service. ISSUE Nearly 2-hundred American soldiers and an equal number of Iraqis have died in attacks since President Bush said major combat operations were over. Despite the capture of Saddam Hussein, more attacks are a certainty. In fact, Hussein surrendered with very little that might have helped him direct any military style operations. It is likely that some of his former commanders are behind the ongoing terrorist attacks and therefore, more dangerous. However, Hussein was the absolute ruler of Iraq for more than 20 years, a time during which he reportedly ordered the deaths of thousands of Iraqi citizens. With his capture, Hussein must now face trial for those actions. Seeing him in US custody may also be an important first step in convincing some of his supporters to surrender. So, what you think… “Was it important for the US to capture Saddam?” Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions. MAILBAG We received nearly xxx hundred responses to our issue question…”Who do you think is the newsmaker of the year?” We received nominations for everyone from Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers to the disease called SARS. Many of you thought Jessica Lynch was the Newsmaker of the Year. Kristin M. of Marathon, Wisconsin writes, “She was a brave soldier. (She) showed us that is not always easy to be fighting in the army … it is hard work and it is risking your life for your country.” Some of you chose President Bush as your Newsmaker of the Year. Laura M. of Latham, New York writes, “With everything from Afghanistan to the Iraq invasion to the surprise trip… on Thanksgiving, (President) Bush has made a lot of news.” The majority of you, however, chose an event rather than a person. You chose the Iraqi War as the Assignment: The World Newsmaker of the Year. Carli P. of Bismarck, North Dakota writes, “We should all know about it. It’s been on T.V. every day and it involves everyone in the U.S.A. not just the families of the soldiers.” Mary W. of Frederick County, Virginia adds, “It struck the media and public’s interest. Other countries told us to back off…but we didn’t listen. That is interesting. It was the talk you heard all over the news.” And finally, Kristian S. of Rockford, Michigan writes, “I think the war because my family is over in Iraq and I hope my friends and family come home safe.” MAILBAG CLOSE We look forward to receiving your responses to our two latest issue questions… “Should the US go back to the Moon?” and “Was it important for the US to capture Saddam?” If you would like to receive an Assignment: The World Press card, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You may write to us here at Assignment: The World, Post Office Box three-zero-zero-twenty-one, Rochester, New York… one-4-6-zero-3… or you may contact us at the A-T-W website at http://atwonline.org./ We also read e-mail at atw@wxxi.org. POP QUIZ #2 In our story about a proposed plan for peace in Sudan, where did we tell you that rebels have been able to visit for the first time in years? Was it… Cairo Khartoum Nairobi And the correct answer is number two. Thanks to on going peace talks, insurgent rebels were able to return to the capital city of Sudan, Khartoum. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 52 Degrees, 8 minutes north latitude 4 Degrees, 30 minutes east longitude Our second clue is a fill-in the blanks, two words: C__A__K T__ST__M__N__ And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter…three words: PHYAP EWN REAY These are clues to stories we think will happen in the coming week. You can find the answers on radio and television newscasts and in newspapers and newsmagazines. We’ll reveal the answers on next week’s show. Good luck! GOOD-BYE And that’s it for this week’s show. From all of us here at Assignment: The World, I’m Jennifer Davis. We hope you all have a great holiday season. We’ll see you again next year. © 2003 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.