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(CNN) -- David Michaelis' new biography of Charles M. Schulz explores the man behind  "Peanuts," the comic strip that has delighted readers for decades. CNN.com appealed to fans out there to say what Linus, Lucy and Charlie Brown meant to them.

Joy Hernandez has collected stuffed Snoopys since she was young; her dog, Dottie, is a Snoopy doppelganger.

Readers responded with tales of bonding with family members while reading "Peanuts," even meeting Schulz and finding inspiration and companionship in the strip's characters.

Below is a selection of responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity:

Elise Marrion of Midland, Texas My grandmother always loved "Peanuts," and across the generations, that was one of the things we shared. When I was 7 years old, I spent a summer with her in Denver and every morning, I raced to find "Peanuts" in the comics section. A retired teacher, Grandma always made me read at least one front-page news story before I was allowed to read the comics. That task turned into a great love of newspapers, and it inspired me to pursue a career in journalism. Sadly she passed away before I received my degree, but I still keep her Peppermint Patty doll to remind me of her and our times reading "Peanuts" together.

Kimberly Mercier of Santa Rosa, California The "Peanuts" characters were more like friends, when I was growing up. Woodstock and Snoopy were always my favorites, even today. I spent many years ice skating in Santa Rosa as a child and would often see Charles Schulz there at his favorite table in the Warm Puppy Cafe in front of the fireplace. Sometimes, we got to watch him and his "senior" team play broomball on the ice. They enjoyed themselves so much.

Mr. Schulz was always kind and friendly to me, and when I became an adult with sons of my own, he treated them with equal kindness, a warm smile and hello. We have the loveliest memories of the "Peanuts" characters and their creator, a beloved man in our town.

Susan Clifton of Chalfont, Pennsylvania This is more a comment on Mr. Schulz than the "Peanuts" characters. I was in my early teens and a huge hockey fan. I loved the "Peanuts" programs and coloring books and my parents told me that Charles Schulz was a big hockey fan, too. I wrote him a letter telling him of our shared interest, and before I knew it, I received a personalized letter, along with two cartoons with the "Peanuts" gang playing hockey -- each signed with a little note. I treasured that letter and personalized cartoons so much and always loved him for the fact that he would take the time to send them to me.

It pains me beyond words that those pieces got lost along the way and are gone forever.

Zac Davis of Blue Springs, Missouri My favorite "Peanuts" strip shows Snoopy typing on his typewriter a statement that details a struggle in many men's lives (apparently even Schulz's own): "Girls and root beer are not the answer."

Brian Heraty of Chicago, Illinois I remember snippets of the "Peanuts" gang throughout my childhood. ... From "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and Christmas specials to "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron," memories of Charlie Brown and the gang abound.

In all that time, there were always two answers that eluded me: Why are all the boys bald or balding, and what's the deal with Peppermint Patty?

Pedro Valle of San Juan, Puerto Rico My favorite "Peanuts" character has always been Linus Van Pelt. His view on humanity is unique, like an outsider looking in. In fact, my favorite "Peanuts" moment ever is when Charlie Brown challenges Linus' dream to become a little country doctor. He asks Linus how he could become a doctor if he can't deal with humanity. The very wise Linus responds: "I love humanity; it's people I can't stand." That sums up my own feelings to the letter.

Vicki Boston of Tucson, Arizona I always love watching Charlie Brown and his "Peanuts" gang on the holiday specials.

I see myself as a Marcie or Peppermint Patty type. I even played Peppermint Patty in grade school when we did two Charlie Brown skits, and I loved it.

Melanie Taylor of Manchester, England I am 33 years of age and still enjoy watching the "Peanuts" cartoon shows. The Charlie Brown Christmas special would be, to this day, my ultimate favorite. As a kid, I hated being bullied, put down, let down, always had very few true friends who never passed judgment on me. In that, Charlie was "me."

Linus would be my best friend Tammy, and no matter what, through thick and thin, Tammy was by my side, no matter how cruel the world was around us. We both had a true friendship bond back then. She is someone I wish I knew where she was. I would call her this instant if I knew how or where to find her. I would be calling her up and telling her that "our show is on."

Shannon Brady of Austin, Texas I remember having "A Charlie Brown Christmas" when I was very little. I used to watch that thing about 50 times a day till it finally died. Charlie Brown was the greatest.

Kat Smith of Fort Washington, Maryland I have been a fan of "Peanuts" since I was a young girl. My aunt was a fan, and through her I too became a fan. There are so many quips and strips to choose from, but my all-time favorite quotes come from Linus.

One came about during breakfast with his sister, Lucy, and some dialogue about snicker-snacks (the cereal they were eating). I don't remember all of it, but Linus told Lucy, "My heart bleeds for the snicker-snacks company."

And of course there is the strip where Snoopy sent a sincere letter to the IRS asking it to please remove him from its mailing list. ... I've often wondered if I could do the same. Classic.

Mark Eustace of Burlington, Ontario The greatest moment was in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" when Linus walks on stage with a single spotlight and explains the true meaning of Christmas. At my house you could hear a pin drop during that scene.

Cassey Pelkey of Birmingham, England The most touching strip was the one printed just after Charles Schulz's death. I have been a "Peanuts" since I was 2 years old, and absolutely love them all. I think we can all see a little bit of Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Pigpen, Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus ... in ourselves if we reflect on it. That's what makes it endearing. ... It's about Everyman.

Kelly Cromwell of New York I have been a "Peanuts" fan since a young child. Drawing Snoopy and collecting comic books were an obsession when growing up. So when I decided to get a tattoo at age 28, I could think of nothing better than a dancing Snoopy. Ten years later, it still makes me smile.

Joe Keilholz of Apex, North Carolina I have loved Charlie Brown since I was a kid. There isn't a single holiday that doesn't feel complete without watching any of the animated series, and not a day goes by without reading the classic strip. I've even gone so far as to try and get a tattoo with my face caricatured on Charlie Brown's body.

The ring tone on my cell phone is Linus and Lucy, the e-mail address I send to everyone is Charlie Brown and my login names on almost every site are Charlie Brown-related. I can actually go on a bit more than this, but feel I should stop here. Needless to say, I feel very much like I'm a real life Charlie Brown. As to a catchphrase, of course the classic "Good Grief" is among the leaders.

Grace Cavanaugh of Novato, California I have loved Snoopy and the gang for as long as I can remember. My first boyfriend gave me his Snoopy collection when he found out how much I loved the beagle. I still have it all.

I think that Peppermint Patty would be the "Peanuts" character that I most identify with. She is bold but sometimes just so unsure of herself that it hits the right cord.

Jacquelyn Bradley-Petersen of Ontario, California You can never get enough of the "Peanuts" gang. I always try and read the comic strip, but constantly watch the show, old videos and every special on every occasion. I will always love Charlie Brown. Watching it makes me smile and get into a zone where I forget about the day and everything else around me. Complete fun and goodness, serenity.

Everyone can relate to one of the characters, especially Charlie Brown. At least I can. Thank you for talking about this and letting me relive some memories and have a nice moment. Long live the "Peanuts" gang, Charles Schulz and good old Charlie Brown. E-mail to a friend

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text: through

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text: a

text: fan

text: There

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text: time

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text: come

text: from

text: Linus

text: One

text: came

text: about

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text: breakfast

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text: his

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text: and

text: some

text: dialogue

text: about

text: snicker

text: snacks

text: the

text: cereal

text: they

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text: Linus

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text: greatest

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text: A

text: Charlie

text: Brown

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text: Linus

text: walks

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text: single

text: spotlight

text: and

text: explains

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text: I

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text: Charlie

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text: Linus

text: in

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text: if

text: we

text: reflect

text: on

text: it

text: That

text: 's

text: what

text: makes

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text: endearing

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text: 's

text: about

text: Everyman

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text: of

text: New

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text: I

text: have

text: been

text: a

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text: was

text: a

text: kid

text: There

text: is

text: n't

text: a

text: single

text: holiday

text: that

text: does

text: n't

text: feel

text: complete

text: without

text: watching

text: any

text: of

text: the

text: animated

text: series

text: and

text: not

text: a

text: day

text: goes

text: by

text: without

text: reading

text: the

text: classic

text: strip

text: I

text: 've

text: even

text: gone

text: so

text: far

text: as

text: to

text: try

text: and

text: get

text: a

text: tattoo

text: with

text: my

text: face

text: caricatured

text: on

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: 's

text: body

text: The

text: ring

text: tone

text: on

text: my

text: cell

text: phone

text: is

text: Linus

text: and

text: Lucy

text: the

text: e

text: mail

text: address

text: I

text: send

text: to

text: everyone

text: is

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: and

text: my

text: login

text: names

text: on

text: almost

text: every

text: site

text: are

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: related

text: I

text: can

text: actually

text: go

text: on

text: a

text: bit

text: more

text: than

text: this

text: but

text: feel

text: I

text: should

text: stop

text: here

text: Needless

text: to

text: say

text: I

text: feel

text: very

text: much

text: like

text: I

text: 'm

text: a

text: real

text: life

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: As

text: to

text: a

text: catchphrase

text: of

text: course

text: the

text: classic

text: Good

text: Grief

text: is

text: among

text: the

text: leaders

text: Grace

text: Cavanaugh

text: of

text: Novato

text: California

text: I

text: have

text: loved

text: Snoopy

text: and

text: the

text: gang

text: for

text: as

text: long

text: as

text: I

text: can

text: remember

text: My

text: first

text: boyfriend

text: gave

text: me

text: his

text: Snoopy

text: collection

text: when

text: he

text: found

text: out

text: how

text: much

text: I

text: loved

text: the

text: beagle

text: I

text: still

text: have

text: it

text: all

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: Peppermint

text: Patty

text: would

text: be

text: the

text: Peanuts

text: character

text: that

text: I

text: most

text: identify

text: with

text: She

text: is

text: bold

text: but

text: sometimes

text: just

text: so

text: unsure

text: of

text: herself

text: that

text: it

text: hits

text: the

text: right

text: cord

text: Jacquelyn

text: Bradley

text: Petersen

text: of

text: Ontario

text: California

text: You

text: can

text: never

text: get

text: enough

text: of

text: the

text: Peanuts

text: gang

text: I

text: always

text: try

text: and

text: read

text: the

text: comic

text: strip

text: but

text: constantly

text: watch

text: the

text: show

text: old

text: videos

text: and

text: every

text: special

text: on

text: every

text: occasion

text: I

text: will

text: always

text: love

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: Watching

text: it

text: makes

text: me

text: smile

text: and

text: get

text: into

text: a

text: zone

text: where

text: I

text: forget

text: about

text: the

text: day

text: and

text: everything

text: else

text: around

text: me

text: Complete

text: fun

text: and

text: goodness

text: serenity

text: Everyone

text: can

text: relate

text: to

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: characters

text: especially

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: At

text: least

text: I

text: can

text: Thank

text: you

text: for

text: talking

text: about

text: this

text: and

text: letting

text: me

text: relive

text: some

text: memories

text: and

text: have

text: a

text: nice

text: moment

text: Long

text: live

text: the

text: Peanuts

text: gang

text: Charles

text: Schulz

text: and

text: good

text: old

text: Charlie

text: Brown

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

question: who asked readers?

answer: CNN.com

text: CNN.com

question: What did Schulz play out his personal problems in?

answer: "Peanuts"

text: "Peanuts"

question: Who has a new biography revealing details of his life?

answer: Charles M. Schulz

text: Charles M. Schulz


text:
(CNN)  -- We are often asked to declare our identity for documents, applications, bank loans and even social networking sites. But how much of our identity is lost when we select "female," "African-American" or "Muslim?"

I think much of my own identity is lost when I fill in those boxes. I am technically a white, male, heterosexual, Christian, upper-class Ph.D. student. But I am more than meets the eye.

I'm covered in tattoos and piercings, and this often leads to assumptions about my character. "Is he a drug addict? Is he a skinhead? Does he play music for a band?" I am none of these things. The lesson I hope to teach others through my life is that it's important to see past appearances.

My sociopolitical views are a large part of my identity, and I incorporate these into what I wear; whether it's T-shirts emblazoned with the images of activists whom I admire or deliberately manipulating my demeanor to reflect the "professorial" role I assume in the classroom, I am continually aware that others are reading my presentation as a measure of my character. And it is to this end that I deliberately try to throw people off.

I hope to debunk some of the myths surrounding tattoos and piercings. And I know that everyone who interacts with me is left wondering how someone so "deviant-looking" can be kind, courteous and hospitable.

My body is also a billboard for my life, and my tattoos tell the story of my identity. My earliest tattoos were direct quotes and Bible verses and captured my identity as an outspoken social-justice advocate.

I began to display my political views more directly in later tattoos. I have the "female" sign behind my left ear to reflect my commitment to feminism and women everywhere; I have the Human Rights Campaign logo behind my right ear to reflect my commitment to LGBT struggles.

The tattoos on my arms capture my commitment to "faith," "family" and "mom and dad." I also have a bald eagle on my forearm to reflect my commitment to making this country a better place and a skull wearing a graduation cap to reflect my lifelong commitment to teaching.

I know that my appearance is misleading, and I know that many people would disagree with what I see as efficacious inscriptions. But one thing is for certain: I will not blend in with the crowd. I will be noticed, for better or worse.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Paul Strohecker.

text: CNN

text: We

text: are

text: often

text: asked

text: to

text: declare

text: our

text: identity

text: for

text: documents

text: applications

text: bank

text: loans

text: and

text: even

text: social

text: networking

text: sites

text: But

text: how

text: much

text: of

text: our

text: identity

text: is

text: lost

text: when

text: we

text: select

text: female

text: African

text: American

text: or

text: Muslim

text: I

text: think

text: much

text: of

text: my

text: own

text: identity

text: is

text: lost

text: when

text: I

text: fill

text: in

text: those

text: boxes

text: I

text: am

text: technically

text: a

text: white

text: male

text: heterosexual

text: Christian

text: upper

text: class

text: Ph.D.

text: student

text: But

text: I

text: am

text: more

text: than

text: meets

text: the

text: eye

text: I

text: 'm

text: covered

text: in

text: tattoos

text: and

text: piercings

text: and

text: this

text: often

text: leads

text: to

text: assumptions

text: about

text: my

text: character

text: Is

text: he

text: a

text: drug

text: addict

text: Is

text: he

text: a

text: skinhead

text: Does

text: he

text: play

text: music

text: for

text: a

text: band

text: I

text: am

text: of

text: these

text: things

text: The

text: lesson

text: I

text: hope

text: to

text: teach

text: others

text: through

text: my

text: life

text: is

text: that

text: it

text: 's

text: important

text: to

text: see

text: past

text: appearances

text: My

text: sociopolitical

text: views

text: are

text: a

text: large

text: part

text: of

text: my

text: identity

text: and

text: I

text: incorporate

text: these

text: into

text: what

text: I

text: wear

text: whether

text: it

text: 's

text: T

text: shirts

text: emblazoned

text: with

text: the

text: images

text: of

text: activists

text: whom

text: I

text: admire

text: or

text: deliberately

text: manipulating

text: my

text: demeanor

text: to

text: reflect

text: the

text: professorial

text: role

text: I

text: assume

text: in

text: the

text: classroom

text: I

text: am

text: continually

text: aware

text: that

text: others

text: are

text: reading

text: my

text: presentation

text: as

text: a

text: measure

text: of

text: my

text: character

text: And

text: it

text: is

text: to

text: this

text: end

text: that

text: I

text: deliberately

text: try

text: to

text: throw

text: people

text: off

text: I

text: hope

text: to

text: debunk

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: myths

text: surrounding

text: tattoos

text: and

text: piercings

text: And

text: I

text: know

text: that

text: everyone

text: who

text: interacts

text: with

text: me

text: is

text: left

text: wondering

text: how

text: someone

text: so

text: deviant

text: looking

text: can

text: be

text: kind

text: courteous

text: and

text: hospitable

text: My

text: body

text: is

text: also

text: a

text: billboard

text: for

text: my

text: life

text: and

text: my

text: tattoos

text: tell

text: the

text: story

text: of

text: my

text: identity

text: My

text: earliest

text: tattoos

text: were

text: direct

text: quotes

text: and

text: Bible

text: verses

text: and

text: captured

text: my

text: identity

text: as

text: an

text: outspoken

text: social

text: justice

text: advocate

text: I

text: began

text: to

text: display

text: my

text: political

text: views

text: more

text: directly

text: in

text: later

text: tattoos

text: I

text: have

text: the

text: female

text: sign

text: behind

text: my

text: left

text: ear

text: to

text: reflect

text: my

text: commitment

text: to

text: feminism

text: and

text: women

text: everywhere

text: I

text: have

text: the

text: Human

text: Rights

text: Campaign

text: logo

text: behind

text: my

text: right

text: ear

text: to

text: reflect

text: my

text: commitment

text: to

text: LGBT

text: struggles

text: The

text: tattoos

text: on

text: my

text: arms

text: capture

text: my

text: commitment

text: to

text: faith

text: family

text: and

text: mom

text: and

text: dad

text: I

text: also

text: have

text: a

text: bald

text: eagle

text: on

text: my

text: forearm

text: to

text: reflect

text: my

text: commitment

text: to

text: making

text: this

text: country

text: a

text: better

text: place

text: and

text: a

text: skull

text: wearing

text: a

text: graduation

text: cap

text: to

text: reflect

text: my

text: lifelong

text: commitment

text: to

text: teaching

text: I

text: know

text: that

text: my

text: appearance

text: is

text: misleading

text: and

text: I

text: know

text: that

text: many

text: people

text: would

text: disagree

text: with

text: what

text: I

text: see

text: as

text: efficacious

text: inscriptions

text: But

text: one

text: thing

text: is

text: for

text: certain

text: I

text: will

text: not

text: blend

text: in

text: with

text: the

text: crowd

text: I

text: will

text: be

text: noticed

text: for

text: better

text: or

text: worse

text: The

text: opinions

text: expressed

text: in

text: this

text: commentary

text: are

text: solely

text: those

text: of

text: David

text: Paul

text: Strohecker

question: what will tattoos and piercings lead to assumptions about ?

answer: my character.

text: my character.

question: what does Strohecker say about tattoo ?

answer: tell the story of my identity.

text: tell the story of my identity.

question: Is Strohecker a woman?

answer: male,

text: male,

question: What does Strohecker hope to do?

answer: to teach others through my life is that it's important to see past appearances.

text: to teach others through my life is that it's important to see past appearances.


text:
(CNN) -- At least 40 people were killed and numerous others injured in a reported grenade attack at a casino in Monterrey, Mexico, the capital of Nuevo Leon, according to attorney general in that northern state.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET) at the Casino Royale when two people aboard a vehicle arrived, and one threw three grenades into the building.

There were conflicting unconfirmed reports from local media that the assailants poured gasoline on the building before setting it on fire.

Between 20 and 30 people were trapped in the casino because of debris from the explosions, said Cmdr. Angel Flores with the Green Cross.

Video from the scene showed a burned-out building as firefighters made rescue attempts to break the wall of the facade of the casino to release the smoke inside the building.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent the following statement from his official Twitter account (translated from Spanish): "With deep consternation, I express my solidarity with Nuevo Leon and the victims of this abhorrent act of terror and barbarism."

He added more: "These reprehensible acts require us all to persevere in the fight against gangs of unscrupulous criminals. All the support to NL (Nuevo Leon)."

About five families were outside the casino waiting for information from authorities, local journalist Javier Estrada reported.

Gustavo Madrazo was one of those waiting outside the casino. He said his wife, Martha, and her sister, Miriam Gonzalez, were inside.

Authorities have not identified any of the victims.

So far, no representative for the company that manages the casino had arrived outside. The Mexican Army and state and municipal police forces were also on the scene.

Alejandro Poire, Mexico's top national security spokesman, said the federal government has made contact with local officials and that Calderon has spoken to the governor of Nuevo Leon to offer support.

Poire said those who carried out the attacks will be held responsible. "They will pay for their crimes. ... We will do absolutely everything ... to restore tranquility."

The National Commission on Human Rights in Mexico sent a news release saying it has opened an investigation regarding the response to the events at the casino.

"The priority is to help safeguard the human rights enshrined in the Constitution of the United Mexican States and international treaties. The commission again makes clear that the insecurity in the country requires public officials responsible for implementing and enforcing the law, carry out preventive actions to protect society and away from any violence."

"The National Commission will monitor the actions taken by the competent authorities to respond adequately to the aggrieved persons."

The NHRC says it has also sent personnel to the scene including physicians, psychologists and lawyers to work jointly with authorities.

Nuevo Leon, in northeastern Mexico, has seen several grenade attacks so far this year. On August 13, four civilians were wounded when an armed group fired two grenades at a jail in the municipality of Apodaca.

In July, gunmen entered a downtown bar in Monterrey and shot 20 people dead. A public safety spokesman told CNN the attack was likely sparked by a dispute between organized crime groups for control of the El Sabino Gordo nightclub, where drugs were allegedly sold.

Nuevo Leon and the neighboring states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas have been the scene of a series of clashes between organized crime groups. The Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas are vying for control of trafficking routes into the United States.

In November 2010, the federal government launched the Coordinated Operation Northeast, which involves sending more security forces to the area to tackle crime.

CNN's Nick Valencia contributed to this report

text: CNN

text: At

text: least

text: people

text: were

text: killed

text: and

text: numerous

text: others

text: injured

text: in

text: a

text: reported

text: grenade

text: attack

text: at

text: a

text: casino

text: in

text: Monterrey

text: Mexico

text: the

text: capital

text: of

text: Nuevo

text: Leon

text: according

text: to

text: attorney

text: general

text: in

text: that

text: northern

text: state

text: The

text: incident

text: occurred

text: around

text: p.m.

text: local

text: time

text: p.m.

text: ET

text: at

text: the

text: Casino

text: Royale

text: when

text: two

text: people

text: aboard

text: a

text: vehicle

text: arrived

text: and

text: one

text: threw

text: three

text: grenades

text: into

text: the

text: building

text: There

text: were

text: conflicting

text: unconfirmed

text: reports

text: from

text: local

text: media

text: that

text: the

text: assailants

text: poured

text: gasoline

text: on

text: the

text: building

text: before

text: setting

text: it

text: on

text: fire

text: Between

text: and

text: people

text: were

text: trapped

text: in

text: the

text: casino

text: because

text: of

text: debris

text: from

text: the

text: explosions

text: said

text: Cmdr

text: Angel

text: Flores

text: with

text: the

text: Green

text: Cross

text: Video

text: from

text: the

text: scene

text: showed

text: a

text: burned

text: out

text: building

text: as

text: firefighters

text: made

text: rescue

text: attempts

text: to

text: break

text: the

text: wall

text: of

text: the

text: facade

text: of

text: the

text: casino

text: to

text: release

text: the

text: smoke

text: inside

text: the

text: building

text: Mexican

text: President

text: Felipe

text: Calderon

text: sent

text: the

text: following

text: statement

text: from

text: his

text: official

text: Twitter

text: account

text: translated

text: from

text: Spanish

text: With

text: deep

text: consternation

text: I

text: express

text: my

text: solidarity

text: with

text: Nuevo

text: Leon

text: and

text: the

text: victims

text: of

text: this

text: abhorrent

text: act

text: of

text: terror

text: and

text: barbarism

text: He

text: added

text: more

text: These

text: reprehensible

text: acts

text: require

text: us

text: all

text: to

text: persevere

text: in

text: the

text: fight

text: against

text: gangs

text: of

text: unscrupulous

text: criminals

text: All

text: the

text: support

text: to

text: NL

text: Nuevo

text: Leon

text: About

text: five

text: families

text: were

text: outside

text: the

text: casino

text: waiting

text: for

text: information

text: from

text: authorities

text: local

text: journalist

text: Javier

text: Estrada

text: reported

text: Gustavo

text: Madrazo

text: was

text: one

text: of

text: those

text: waiting

text: outside

text: the

text: casino

text: He

text: said

text: his

text: wife

text: Martha

text: and

text: her

text: sister

text: Miriam

text: Gonzalez

text: were

text: inside

text: Authorities

text: have

text: not

text: identified

text: any

text: of

text: the

text: victims

text: So

text: far

text: no

text: representative

text: for

text: the

text: company

text: that

text: manages

text: the

text: casino

text: had

text: arrived

text: outside

text: The

text: Mexican

text: Army

text: and

text: state

text: and

text: municipal

text: police

text: forces

text: were

text: also

text: on

text: the

text: scene

text: Alejandro

text: Poire

text: Mexico

text: 's

text: top

text: national

text: security

text: spokesman

text: said

text: the

text: federal

text: government

text: has

text: made

text: contact

text: with

text: local

text: officials

text: and

text: that

text: Calderon

text: has

text: spoken

text: to

text: the

text: governor

text: of

text: Nuevo

text: Leon

text: to

text: offer

text: support

text: Poire

text: said

text: those

text: who

text: carried

text: out

text: the

text: attacks

text: will

text: be

text: held

text: responsible

text: They

text: will

text: pay

text: for

text: their

text: crimes

text: We

text: will

text: do

text: absolutely

text: everything

text: to

text: restore

text: tranquility

text: The

text: National

text: Commission

text: on

text: Human

text: Rights

text: in

text: Mexico

text: sent

text: a

text: news

text: release

text: saying

text: it

text: has

text: opened

text: an

text: investigation

text: regarding

text: the

text: response

text: to

text: the

text: events

text: at

text: the

text: casino

text: The

text: priority

text: is

text: to

text: help

text: safeguard

text: the

text: human

text: rights

text: enshrined

text: in

text: the

text: Constitution

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: Mexican

text: States

text: and

text: international

text: treaties

text: The

text: commission

text: again

text: makes

text: clear

text: that

text: the

text: insecurity

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: requires

text: public

text: officials

text: responsible

text: for

text: implementing

text: and

text: enforcing

text: the

text: law

text: carry

text: out

text: preventive

text: actions

text: to

text: protect

text: society

text: and

text: away

text: from

text: any

text: violence

text: The

text: National

text: Commission

text: will

text: monitor

text: the

text: actions

text: taken

text: by

text: the

text: competent

text: authorities

text: to

text: respond

text: adequately

text: to

text: the

text: aggrieved

text: persons

text: The

text: NHRC

text: says

text: it

text: has

text: also

text: sent

text: personnel

text: to

text: the

text: scene

text: including

text: physicians

text: psychologists

text: and

text: lawyers

text: to

text: work

text: jointly

text: with

text: authorities

text: Nuevo

text: Leon

text: in

text: northeastern

text: Mexico

text: has

text: seen

text: several

text: grenade

text: attacks

text: so

text: far

text: this

text: year

text: On

text: August

text: four

text: civilians

text: were

text: wounded

text: when

text: an

text: armed

text: group

text: fired

text: two

text: grenades

text: at

text: a

text: jail

text: in

text: the

text: municipality

text: of

text: Apodaca

text: In

text: July

text: gunmen

text: entered

text: a

text: downtown

text: bar

text: in

text: Monterrey

text: and

text: shot

text: people

text: dead

text: A

text: public

text: safety

text: spokesman

text: told

text: CNN

text: the

text: attack

text: was

text: likely

text: sparked

text: by

text: a

text: dispute

text: between

text: organized

text: crime

text: groups

text: for

text: control

text: of

text: the

text: El

text: Sabino

text: Gordo

text: nightclub

text: where

text: drugs

text: were

text: allegedly

text: sold

text: Nuevo

text: Leon

text: and

text: the

text: neighboring

text: states

text: of

text: Coahuila

text: and

text: Tamaulipas

text: have

text: been

text: the

text: scene

text: of

text: a

text: series

text: of

text: clashes

text: between

text: organized

text: crime

text: groups

text: The

text: Gulf

text: Cartel

text: and

text: Los

text: Zetas

text: are

text: vying

text: for

text: control

text: of

text: trafficking

text: routes

text: into

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: In

text: November

text: the

text: federal

text: government

text: launched

text: the

text: Coordinated

text: Operation

text: Northeast

text: which

text: involves

text: sending

text: more

text: security

text: forces

text: to

text: the

text: area

text: to

text: tackle

text: crime

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Nick

text: Valencia

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What officials say?

answer: I express my solidarity with Nuevo Leon and the victims of this abhorrent act of terror and barbarism."

text: I express my solidarity with Nuevo Leon and the victims of this abhorrent act of terror and barbarism."

question: there were many dead in the attack?

answer: At

text: At


text:
Dallas, Texas (CNN) -- African-American workers at a Texas pipe factory endured a string of racial slurs and harassment and were targeted by their managers when they complained, federal investigators have determined.

Black employees at the Turner Industries plant in Paris, Texas, regularly "were subjected to unwelcome racial slurs, comments and intimidation, racial graffiti, nooses in the workplace and other symbols of discrimination," the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported.

Black workers also were denied promotions and disciplined more harshly than whites, the agency concluded in a three-page letter in late March. Managers at the plant not only were aware of a "hostile environment," they also targeted workers who complained and disciplined white employees who opposed the harassment, the EEOC found.

The EEOC has called on Turner Industries, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to join talks aimed at producing a "just resolution" to the problems. The company said its plant "is free from any form of discrimination, retaliation, or any other workplace conduct that violates the law."

"We are disappointed that the EEOC has issued this determination and strongly disagree with the EEOC's findings," Michael Phelps, Turner Industries' vice president for human resources, said in a written statement.

Lawyers for the seven Turner employees who went to the EEOC displayed photographs of the slurs, of hanging nooses and threatening notes left for employees at the Paris plant during a news conference Wednesday. One of those employees, Dontrail Mathis, told reporters that he was frequently called racially inflammatory names and that most African-American employees were relegated to the paint shop.

Mathis, a painter's helper, said one co-worker who found out he was married to a white woman told him, "In the Bible, it says that white women shouldn't mix with monkeys." When he called Turner's corporate office to complain about that incident, he heard nothing back, Mathis said.

"I tried to back away from it. It kept going and going and coming and coming," he said.

Jason Milligan, a former night foreman at the plant, said his bosses "more or less wanted me to do their dirty work."

"I watched certain people more than I did the others, to see if I could get anything on them that could be used against them," he said. But he said he was fired after he refused to sign an affidavit accusing a Turner employee of theft -- a man he believed had been "set up."

"I'm not going to lie for anyone," Milligan said. "He was a man just like me. He has a family to take care of. I'm not going to do it. And from then on, that was my down-slide."

Milligan worked at the plant for nine months before he was fired. Company officials told him he was sacked for failing a drug test, he said. But a lawyer for the employees, Jay Ellwanger, said Milligan warned testers that he was taking a diet medication that could show up as a stimulant.

Milligan said managers were told to document and clean off any racist graffiti immediately, but he said one such case he handled in his nine months at the plant was "swept under the rug" when the person behind it turned out to be a relative of another manager.

In the year since workers in the Paris plant went to the EEOC, similar complaints have emerged at other Turner factories in Texas, Ellwanger said.

Paris is about 110 miles northeast of Dallas. The Rev. Peter Johnson, a state civil rights leader, said the problems reported at the Turner plant reflect a "culture of discrimination" that lingers in East Texas.

"East Texas is Mississippi 50 years ago. This case will begin to help us unravel the history of discrimination and bigotry throughout East Texas," he said.

CNN's Tracy Sabo and Ed Lavandera contributed to this report.

text: Dallas

text: Texas

text: CNN

text: African

text: American

text: workers

text: at

text: a

text: Texas

text: pipe

text: factory

text: endured

text: a

text: string

text: of

text: racial

text: slurs

text: and

text: harassment

text: and

text: were

text: targeted

text: by

text: their

text: managers

text: when

text: they

text: complained

text: federal

text: investigators

text: have

text: determined

text: Black

text: employees

text: at

text: the

text: Turner

text: Industries

text: plant

text: in

text: Paris

text: Texas

text: regularly

text: were

text: subjected

text: to

text: unwelcome

text: racial

text: slurs

text: comments

text: and

text: intimidation

text: racial

text: graffiti

text: nooses

text: in

text: the

text: workplace

text: and

text: other

text: symbols

text: of

text: discrimination

text: the

text: Equal

text: Employment

text: Opportunity

text: Commission

text: reported

text: Black

text: workers

text: also

text: were

text: denied

text: promotions

text: and

text: disciplined

text: more

text: harshly

text: than

text: whites

text: the

text: agency

text: concluded

text: in

text: a

text: three

text: page

text: letter

text: in

text: late

text: March

text: Managers

text: at

text: the

text: plant

text: not

text: only

text: were

text: aware

text: of

text: a

text: hostile

text: environment

text: they

text: also

text: targeted

text: workers

text: who

text: complained

text: and

text: disciplined

text: white

text: employees

text: who

text: opposed

text: the

text: harassment

text: the

text: EEOC

text: found

text: The

text: EEOC

text: has

text: called

text: on

text: Turner

text: Industries

text: based

text: in

text: Baton

text: Rouge

text: Louisiana

text: to

text: join

text: talks

text: aimed

text: at

text: producing

text: a

text: just

text: resolution

text: to

text: the

text: problems

text: The

text: company

text: said

text: its

text: plant

text: is

text: free

text: from

text: any

text: form

text: of

text: discrimination

text: retaliation

text: or

text: any

text: other

text: workplace

text: conduct

text: that

text: violates

text: the

text: law

text: We

text: are

text: disappointed

text: that

text: the

text: EEOC

text: has

text: issued

text: this

text: determination

text: and

text: strongly

text: disagree

text: with

text: the

text: EEOC

text: 's

text: findings

text: Michael

text: Phelps

text: Turner

text: Industries

text: vice

text: president

text: for

text: human

text: resources

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: written

text: statement

text: Lawyers

text: for

text: the

text: seven

text: Turner

text: employees

text: who

text: went

text: to

text: the

text: EEOC

text: displayed

text: photographs

text: of

text: the

text: slurs

text: of

text: hanging

text: nooses

text: and

text: threatening

text: notes

text: left

text: for

text: employees

text: at

text: the

text: Paris

text: plant

text: during

text: a

text: news

text: conference

text: Wednesday

text: One

text: of

text: those

text: employees

text: Dontrail

text: Mathis

text: told

text: reporters

text: that

text: he

text: was

text: frequently

text: called

text: racially

text: inflammatory

text: names

text: and

text: that

text: most

text: African

text: American

text: employees

text: were

text: relegated

text: to

text: the

text: paint

text: shop

text: Mathis

text: a

text: painter

text: 's

text: helper

text: said

text: one

text: co

text: worker

text: who

text: found

text: out

text: he

text: was

text: married

text: to

text: a

text: white

text: woman

text: told

text: him

text: In

text: the

text: Bible

text: it

text: says

text: that

text: white

text: women

text: should

text: n't

text: mix

text: with

text: monkeys

text: When

text: he

text: called

text: Turner

text: 's

text: corporate

text: office

text: to

text: complain

text: about

text: that

text: incident

text: he

text: heard

text: nothing

text: back

text: Mathis

text: said

text: I

text: tried

text: to

text: back

text: away

text: from

text: it

text: It

text: kept

text: going

text: and

text: going

text: and

text: coming

text: and

text: coming

text: he

text: said

text: Jason

text: Milligan

text: a

text: former

text: night

text: foreman

text: at

text: the

text: plant

text: said

text: his

text: bosses

text: more

text: or

text: less

text: wanted

text: me

text: to

text: do

text: their

text: dirty

text: work

text: I

text: watched

text: certain

text: people

text: more

text: than

text: I

text: did

text: the

text: others

text: to

text: see

text: if

text: I

text: could

text: get

text: anything

text: on

text: them

text: that

text: could

text: be

text: used

text: against

text: them

text: he

text: said

text: But

text: he

text: said

text: he

text: was

text: fired

text: after

text: he

text: refused

text: to

text: sign

text: an

text: affidavit

text: accusing

text: a

text: Turner

text: employee

text: of

text: theft

text: a

text: man

text: he

text: believed

text: had

text: been

text: set

text: up

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: lie

text: for

text: anyone

text: Milligan

text: said

text: He

text: was

text: a

text: man

text: just

text: like

text: me

text: He

text: has

text: a

text: family

text: to

text: take

text: care

text: of

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: do

text: it

text: And

text: from

text: then

text: on

text: that

text: was

text: my

text: down

text: slide

text: Milligan

text: worked

text: at

text: the

text: plant

text: for

text: nine

text: months

text: before

text: he

text: was

text: fired

text: Company

text: officials

text: told

text: him

text: he

text: was

text: sacked

text: for

text: failing

text: a

text: drug

text: test

text: he

text: said

text: But

text: a

text: lawyer

text: for

text: the

text: employees

text: Jay

text: Ellwanger

text: said

text: Milligan

text: warned

text: testers

text: that

text: he

text: was

text: taking

text: a

text: diet

text: medication

text: that

text: could

text: show

text: up

text: as

text: a

text: stimulant

text: Milligan

text: said

text: managers

text: were

text: told

text: to

text: document

text: and

text: clean

text: off

text: any

text: racist

text: graffiti

text: immediately

text: but

text: he

text: said

text: one

text: such

text: case

text: he

text: handled

text: in

text: his

text: nine

text: months

text: at

text: the

text: plant

text: was

text: swept

text: under

text: the

text: rug

text: when

text: the

text: person

text: behind

text: it

text: turned

text: out

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: relative

text: of

text: another

text: manager

text: In

text: the

text: year

text: since

text: workers

text: in

text: the

text: Paris

text: plant

text: went

text: to

text: the

text: EEOC

text: similar

text: complaints

text: have

text: emerged

text: at

text: other

text: Turner

text: factories

text: in

text: Texas

text: Ellwanger

text: said

text: Paris

text: is

text: about

text: miles

text: northeast

text: of

text: Dallas

text: The

text: Rev.

text: Peter

text: Johnson

text: a

text: state

text: civil

text: rights

text: leader

text: said

text: the

text: problems

text: reported

text: at

text: the

text: Turner

text: plant

text: reflect

text: a

text: culture

text: of

text: discrimination

text: that

text: lingers

text: in

text: East

text: Texas

text: East

text: Texas

text: is

text: Mississippi

text: years

text: ago

text: This

text: case

text: will

text: begin

text: to

text: help

text: us

text: unravel

text: the

text: history

text: of

text: discrimination

text: and

text: bigotry

text: throughout

text: East

text: Texas

text: he

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Tracy

text: Sabo

text: and

text: Ed

text: Lavandera

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: who endured racial slurs?

answer: African-American workers

text: African-American workers

question: What did the workers endure?

answer: racial slurs

text: racial slurs

question: Who did the managers target?

answer: African-American workers

text: African-American workers

question: what group of people were denied promotion?

answer: Black workers

text: Black workers


text:
(CNN) -- Roger Federer exclusively told CNN that the stunning shot he executed in his U.S. Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic was the best of his career.

Roger Federer hailed his stunning shot against Novak Djokovic as the best of his career.

The world number one produced a near-faultless performance to defeat fourth seed Djokovic in straight sets to reach his sixth consecutive U.S. Open Final at Flushing Meadows, but it was an outrageous shot to set up match point that will be most remembered.

It came with Djokovic serving at 6-5 down in the third set. At love 30-0 up Federer dashed back to the baseline and hit a winner through his legs that flew over the net and past Djokovic into the corner for match point.

"I think it was the greatest shot I have ever hit in my life," Federer told CNN.

"I have hit some good ones over all the matches I have played, but I think this one, especially under the circumstances at love 30-up and with having chance to maybe clinch the match, was amazing.

"I got a standing ovation and people went crazy -- here in New York the crowds are fantastic -- as it was the perfect shot to hit, at exactly the right time, and I can't believe I pulled it off."

Federer also revealed he is producing his best tennis because he is under less pressure than perhaps he was at the same time last year.

At this stage in 2008 Federer had not won a grand slam but after winning the French Open and a historic 15th major at Wimbledon this time round he admitted he is more relaxed. "I have a little bit less pressure to prove myself after reaching the 15 Grand Slams everyone was talking about and I also I won in Paris," he added.

"Getting through the pregnancy with my wife Mirka and having two beautiful daughters is also something that relaxes you for sure. But at the same time when you walk out on center court there will always be a certain type of pressure which will be there for the rest of my career.

"I just have to make sure I handle it correctly. I always play my best tennis towards the end of a tournament and I am happy that it is continued in this match after everything that has already happened this year."

Federer will play Argentina's Juan Del Potro who reached his first grand slam final after he crushed Rafael Nadal in the other semifinal.

The sixth seed blew Nadal away at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking two hours and 20 minutes to take a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 6-2 victory.

text: CNN

text: Roger

text: Federer

text: exclusively

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: the

text: stunning

text: shot

text: he

text: executed

text: in

text: his

text: U.S.

text: Open

text: semifinal

text: against

text: Novak

text: Djokovic

text: was

text: the

text: best

text: of

text: his

text: career

text: Roger

text: Federer

text: hailed

text: his

text: stunning

text: shot

text: against

text: Novak

text: Djokovic

text: as

text: the

text: best

text: of

text: his

text: career

text: The

text: world

text: number

text: one

text: produced

text: a

text: near

text: faultless

text: performance

text: to

text: defeat

text: fourth

text: seed

text: Djokovic

text: in

text: straight

text: sets

text: to

text: reach

text: his

text: sixth

text: consecutive

text: U.S.

text: Open

text: Final

text: at

text: Flushing

text: Meadows

text: but

text: it

text: was

text: an

text: outrageous

text: shot

text: to

text: set

text: up

text: match

text: point

text: that

text: will

text: be

text: most

text: remembered

text: It

text: came

text: with

text: Djokovic

text: serving

text: at

text: down

text: in

text: the

text: third

text: set

text: At

text: love

text: up

text: Federer

text: dashed

text: back

text: to

text: the

text: baseline

text: and

text: hit

text: a

text: winner

text: through

text: his

text: legs

text: that

text: flew

text: over

text: the

text: net

text: and

text: past

text: Djokovic

text: into

text: the

text: corner

text: for

text: match

text: point

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: greatest

text: shot

text: I

text: have

text: ever

text: hit

text: in

text: my

text: life

text: Federer

text: told

text: CNN

text: I

text: have

text: hit

text: some

text: good

text: ones

text: over

text: all

text: the

text: matches

text: I

text: have

text: played

text: but

text: I

text: think

text: this

text: one

text: especially

text: under

text: the

text: circumstances

text: at

text: love

text: and

text: with

text: having

text: chance

text: to

text: maybe

text: clinch

text: the

text: match

text: was

text: amazing

text: I

text: got

text: a

text: standing

text: ovation

text: and

text: people

text: went

text: crazy

text: here

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: the

text: crowds

text: are

text: fantastic

text: as

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: perfect

text: shot

text: to

text: hit

text: at

text: exactly

text: the

text: right

text: time

text: and

text: I

text: ca

text: n't

text: believe

text: I

text: pulled

text: it

text: off

text: Federer

text: also

text: revealed

text: he

text: is

text: producing

text: his

text: best

text: tennis

text: because

text: he

text: is

text: under

text: less

text: pressure

text: than

text: perhaps

text: he

text: was

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: last

text: year

text: At

text: this

text: stage

text: in

text: Federer

text: had

text: not

text: won

text: a

text: grand

text: slam

text: but

text: after

text: winning

text: the

text: French

text: Open

text: and

text: a

text: historic

text: major

text: at

text: Wimbledon

text: this

text: time

text: round

text: he

text: admitted

text: he

text: is

text: more

text: relaxed

text: I

text: have

text: a

text: little

text: bit

text: less

text: pressure

text: to

text: prove

text: myself

text: after

text: reaching

text: the

text: Grand

text: Slams

text: everyone

text: was

text: talking

text: about

text: and

text: I

text: also

text: I

text: won

text: in

text: Paris

text: he

text: added

text: Getting

text: through

text: the

text: pregnancy

text: with

text: my

text: wife

text: Mirka

text: and

text: having

text: two

text: beautiful

text: daughters

text: is

text: also

text: something

text: that

text: relaxes

text: you

text: for

text: sure

text: But

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: when

text: you

text: walk

text: out

text: on

text: center

text: court

text: there

text: will

text: always

text: be

text: a

text: certain

text: type

text: of

text: pressure

text: which

text: will

text: be

text: there

text: for

text: the

text: rest

text: of

text: my

text: career

text: I

text: just

text: have

text: to

text: make

text: sure

text: I

text: handle

text: it

text: correctly

text: I

text: always

text: play

text: my

text: best

text: tennis

text: towards

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: a

text: tournament

text: and

text: I

text: am

text: happy

text: that

text: it

text: is

text: continued

text: in

text: this

text: match

text: after

text: everything

text: that

text: has

text: already

text: happened

text: this

text: year

text: Federer

text: will

text: play

text: Argentina

text: 's

text: Juan

text: Del

text: Potro

text: who

text: reached

text: his

text: first

text: grand

text: slam

text: final

text: after

text: he

text: crushed

text: Rafael

text: Nadal

text: in

text: the

text: other

text: semifinal

text: The

text: sixth

text: seed

text: blew

text: Nadal

text: away

text: at

text: the

text: Arthur

text: Ashe

text: Stadium

text: taking

text: two

text: hours

text: and

text: minutes

text: to

text: take

text: a

text: comprehensive

text: victory

question: Who has hailed a shot against Djokovic?

answer: Roger Federer

text: Roger Federer

question: Where is Juan Del Potro from?

answer: Argentina's

text: Argentina's

question: What is Federer going in search of at Flushing Meadows?

answer: his sixth consecutive U.S. Open Final

text: his sixth consecutive U.S. Open Final

question: Who is the Swiss world number one?

answer: Roger Federer

text: Roger Federer

question: Who will face Federer?

answer: Juan Del Potro

text: Juan Del Potro

question: Where will the U.S. Open be played?

answer: Flushing Meadows,

text: Flushing Meadows,

question: Where is the U.S. Open?

answer: Flushing Meadows,

text: Flushing Meadows,

question: What did Federer call his shot against Djokovic?

answer: stunning

text: stunning


text:
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNN)  -- More than 200 people have died of meningitis in the past week alone in Niger and Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization.

A health care worker vaccinates a child during an earlier outbreak of meningitis in Niger.

The disease is an epidemic in 76 areas of the two countries, the health agency reported Wednesday.

A spokesman for W.H.O. in Nigeria, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, said Saturday that the outbreak is bigger than usual and stretches across the African meningitis belt from east- to west-sub-Saharan Africa.

The outbreak began around the start of the year, Soyinka told CNN. It usually peaks in the dry season because of dust, winds and cold nights, before dipping around May when the rains come, he said.

A shortage of vaccines means officials are relying on "effective prevention," in which they watch for outbreaks and then vaccinate people in the epicenter and surrounding areas, Soyinka told CNN.

There have been nearly 25,000 suspected cases and more than 1,500 deaths in the meningitis belt in the first 11 weeks of the year, W.H.O. reported. More than 85 percent of those cases happened in northern Nigeria and Niger.

Nigeria's Ministry of Health has reported 17,462 suspected cases of meningococcal disease, including 960 deaths, the world health agency said. In the past week, it reported 4,164 suspected cases with 171 deaths.

Sixty-six local government areas in Nigeria have crossed the epidemic threshold. Epidemic thresholds are a way the W.H.O. confirms the emergence of an epidemic so it can step up vaccinations and other management measures.

Niger's Ministry of Health has reported 4,513 suspected cases of meningococcal disease, including 169 deaths, since the start of the year. In the past week, 1,071 suspected cases and 30 deaths have been reported, the W.H.O. said.

Ten of Niger's 42 districts have crossed the epidemic threshold.

By comparison, other countries are reporting fewer than 50 cases a week.

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. Several different bacteria can cause meningitis but Neisseria meningitidis -- which is to blame for this outbreak -- is one of the most significant because of its potential to cause epidemics.

Health authorities have released 2.3 million doses of vaccine to Nigeria and 1.9 million doses to Niger, the W.H.O. said.

CNN's Christian Purefoy in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed to this report.

text: LAGOS

text: Nigeria

text: CNN

text: More

text: than

text: people

text: have

text: died

text: of

text: meningitis

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: week

text: alone

text: in

text: Niger

text: and

text: Nigeria

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: World

text: Health

text: Organization

text: A

text: health

text: care

text: worker

text: vaccinates

text: a

text: child

text: during

text: an

text: earlier

text: outbreak

text: of

text: meningitis

text: in

text: Niger

text: The

text: disease

text: is

text: an

text: epidemic

text: in

text: areas

text: of

text: the

text: two

text: countries

text: the

text: health

text: agency

text: reported

text: Wednesday

text: A

text: spokesman

text: for

text: W.H.O.

text: in

text: Nigeria

text: Dr.

text: Olaokun

text: Soyinka

text: said

text: Saturday

text: that

text: the

text: outbreak

text: is

text: bigger

text: than

text: usual

text: and

text: stretches

text: across

text: the

text: African

text: meningitis

text: belt

text: from

text: east-

text: to

text: west

text: sub

text: Saharan

text: Africa

text: The

text: outbreak

text: began

text: around

text: the

text: start

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: Soyinka

text: told

text: CNN

text: It

text: usually

text: peaks

text: in

text: the

text: dry

text: season

text: because

text: of

text: dust

text: winds

text: and

text: cold

text: nights

text: before

text: dipping

text: around

text: May

text: when

text: the

text: rains

text: come

text: he

text: said

text: A

text: shortage

text: of

text: vaccines

text: means

text: officials

text: are

text: relying

text: on

text: effective

text: prevention

text: in

text: which

text: they

text: watch

text: for

text: outbreaks

text: and

text: then

text: vaccinate

text: people

text: in

text: the

text: epicenter

text: and

text: surrounding

text: areas

text: Soyinka

text: told

text: CNN

text: There

text: have

text: been

text: nearly

text: suspected

text: cases

text: and

text: more

text: than

text: deaths

text: in

text: the

text: meningitis

text: belt

text: in

text: the

text: first

text: weeks

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: W.H.O.

text: reported

text: More

text: than

text: percent

text: of

text: those

text: cases

text: happened

text: in

text: northern

text: Nigeria

text: and

text: Niger

text: Nigeria

text: 's

text: Ministry

text: of

text: Health

text: has

text: reported

text: suspected

text: cases

text: of

text: meningococcal

text: disease

text: including

text: deaths

text: the

text: world

text: health

text: agency

text: said

text: In

text: the

text: past

text: week

text: it

text: reported

text: suspected

text: cases

text: with

text: deaths

text: Sixty

text: six

text: local

text: government

text: areas

text: in

text: Nigeria

text: have

text: crossed

text: the

text: epidemic

text: threshold

text: Epidemic

text: thresholds

text: are

text: a

text: way

text: the

text: W.H.O.

text: confirms

text: the

text: emergence

text: of

text: an

text: epidemic

text: so

text: it

text: can

text: step

text: up

text: vaccinations

text: and

text: other

text: management

text: measures

text: Niger

text: 's

text: Ministry

text: of

text: Health

text: has

text: reported

text: suspected

text: cases

text: of

text: meningococcal

text: disease

text: including

text: deaths

text: since

text: the

text: start

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: In

text: the

text: past

text: week

text: suspected

text: cases

text: and

text: deaths

text: have

text: been

text: reported

text: the

text: W.H.O.

text: said

text: Ten

text: of

text: Niger

text: 's

text: districts

text: have

text: crossed

text: the

text: epidemic

text: threshold

text: By

text: comparison

text: other

text: countries

text: are

text: reporting

text: fewer

text: than

text: cases

text: a

text: week

text: Meningitis

text: is

text: an

text: infection

text: of

text: the

text: meninges

text: the

text: thin

text: lining

text: that

text: surrounds

text: the

text: brain

text: and

text: the

text: spinal

text: cord

text: Several

text: different

text: bacteria

text: can

text: cause

text: meningitis

text: but

text: Neisseria

text: meningitidis

text: which

text: is

text: to

text: blame

text: for

text: this

text: outbreak

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: most

text: significant

text: because

text: of

text: its

text: potential

text: to

text: cause

text: epidemics

text: Health

text: authorities

text: have

text: released

text: million

text: doses

text: of

text: vaccine

text: to

text: Nigeria

text: and

text: million

text: doses

text: to

text: Niger

text: the

text: W.H.O.

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Christian

text: Purefoy

text: in

text: Lagos

text: Nigeria

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: How many suspected cases  were there in the first 11 weeks of 2009?

answer: 25,000

question: Where is the outbreak?

answer: across the African meningitis belt from east- to west-sub-Saharan Africa.

text: across the African meningitis belt from east- to west-sub-Saharan Africa.

question: How many deaths were reported in the first 11 weeks of 2009?

answer: more than 1,500

text: more than 1,500

question: What has killed more the 200 people?

answer: meningitis

text: meningitis

question: How many suspected cases were there in the first 11 weeks of 2009?

answer: 25,000

question: What disease killed more than 200 people in the past week?

answer: meningitis

text: meningitis

question: What does "W.H.O." stand for?

answer: World Health Organization.

text: World Health Organization.

question: What is the number of suspected cases?

answer: 4,513


text:
(CNN) -- Actor Sean Penn helped play a role in securing this week's release of two U.S. hikers imprisoned in Iran for more than two years, his representative confirmed Friday.

The report was first published by the Reuters news agency, which cited a source close to the release process as saying that Penn flew to Venezuela months ago to speak about the hikers' plight with President Hugo Chavez, an ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Mara Buxbaum, a rep for Penn, confirmed the Reuters report but declined to provide additional details.

Venezuelan state media reported Friday that Chavez was part of the mediation process that resulted in the release of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer on Wednesday.

Upon their release, the men were flown to Muscat, Oman, where their families greeted them with elation.

"We're so happy we are free and so relieved we are free," Fattal said. "Our deepest gratitude goes toward His Majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman for obtaining our release. We're sincerely grateful for the government of Oman for hosting us and our families."

Bauer said, "Two years in prison is too long, and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in America and Iran."

text: CNN

text: Actor

text: Sean

text: Penn

text: helped

text: play

text: a

text: role

text: in

text: securing

text: this

text: week

text: 's

text: release

text: of

text: two

text: U.S.

text: hikers

text: imprisoned

text: in

text: Iran

text: for

text: more

text: than

text: two

text: years

text: his

text: representative

text: confirmed

text: Friday

text: The

text: report

text: was

text: first

text: published

text: by

text: the

text: Reuters

text: news

text: agency

text: which

text: cited

text: a

text: source

text: close

text: to

text: the

text: release

text: process

text: as

text: saying

text: that

text: Penn

text: flew

text: to

text: Venezuela

text: months

text: ago

text: to

text: speak

text: about

text: the

text: hikers

text: plight

text: with

text: President

text: Hugo

text: Chavez

text: an

text: ally

text: of

text: Iranian

text: President

text: Mahmoud

text: Ahmadinejad

text: Mara

text: Buxbaum

text: a

text: rep

text: for

text: Penn

text: confirmed

text: the

text: Reuters

text: report

text: but

text: declined

text: to

text: provide

text: additional

text: details

text: Venezuelan

text: state

text: media

text: reported

text: Friday

text: that

text: Chavez

text: was

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: mediation

text: process

text: that

text: resulted

text: in

text: the

text: release

text: of

text: Josh

text: Fattal

text: and

text: Shane

text: Bauer

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: Upon

text: their

text: release

text: the

text: men

text: were

text: flown

text: to

text: Muscat

text: Oman

text: where

text: their

text: families

text: greeted

text: them

text: with

text: elation

text: We

text: 're

text: so

text: happy

text: we

text: are

text: free

text: and

text: so

text: relieved

text: we

text: are

text: free

text: Fattal

text: said

text: Our

text: deepest

text: gratitude

text: goes

text: toward

text: His

text: Majesty

text: Sultan

text: Qaboos

text: of

text: Oman

text: for

text: obtaining

text: our

text: release

text: We

text: 're

text: sincerely

text: grateful

text: for

text: the

text: government

text: of

text: Oman

text: for

text: hosting

text: us

text: and

text: our

text: families

text: Bauer

text: said

text: Two

text: years

text: in

text: prison

text: is

text: too

text: long

text: and

text: we

text: sincerely

text: hope

text: for

text: the

text: freedom

text: of

text: other

text: political

text: prisoners

text: and

text: other

text: unjustly

text: imprisoned

text: people

text: in

text: America

text: and

text: Iran

question: What did Penn fly to Venezuela to talk about?

answer: the hikers' plight

text: the hikers' plight

question: What did he speak about?

answer: the hikers' plight with President Hugo Chavez,

text: the hikers' plight with President Hugo Chavez,

question: Where did Penn fly to?

answer: Venezuela

text: Venezuela

question: Who declined to give additional details?

answer: Mara Buxbaum,

text: Mara Buxbaum,

question: Who is Chavez?

answer: President

text: President

question: Did Penns rep confirm the report?

answer: his representative confirmed

text: his representative confirmed

question: What did the rep say?

answer: confirmed the Reuters report

text: confirmed the Reuters report


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- State Department officials should serve where they are needed -- even in war-torn Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that "people need to serve where they are needed."

Rice was responding to foreign service officers' objections to the possibility of "directed assignments" in Iraq. The issue has caused an uproar in the State Department, resulting in a contentious town hall-style meeting Wednesday.

The new directives would be needed if enough qualified foreign service officers don't step forward to fill open positions at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

If the State Department enforces directed assignments, it will be the first time since the Vietnam War era.

One official called the order to serve in Iraq "a potential death sentence" during the town meeting.

The State Department already has begun notifying about 200 people considered prime candidates. Those chosen will be given 10 days to respond, according to last week's announcement. Unless they have a valid medical reason to refuse, those who decline could face dismissal, it said.

Wednesday's heated meeting was replayed on an internal State Department television channel in Washington several times and talked about widely.

Some at the hourlong meeting questioned why they were not told of the policy change directly, learning about it instead from news organizations last week.  Watch the diplomats exchange angry words Â»

"I just have no respect for the whole process because you've demonstrated a lack of respect for your own colleagues," said foreign service officer Jack Croddy.

"Thank you for that comment. It's full of inaccuracies, but that's OK," Harry Thomas Jr., director general of the foreign service, shot back.

Others pointed out the risks of such assignments, considering the dangers of a war zone, lack of security and regular rocket attacks on U.S. personnel.

Rice, who did not attend the meeting, tried to calm things down Friday by underscoring the State Department's attempts to do "everything that we can to try and protect our diplomats."

However, she said, "This is one of the highest priority tasks of the United States, and we're going to meet our obligations."

Speaking to reporters en route to Turkey and the Mideast, she said, "I don't know if we will have direct assignments or not, but we are one foreign service, and people need to serve where they are needed."

The secretary sent out a cable to State Department employees worldwide encouraging them to serve in Iraq.

"This year [U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker] has identified the need for additional positions to more effectively accomplish our mission in Iraq," Rice said in the cable.

Rice said she has decided to go forward with the identification of  officers to serve, "should it prove necessary to direct assignments."

"Should others step forward, as some already have, we will fill these new jobs as we have before -- with volunteers. However, regardless of how the jobs may be filled, they must be filled," she said.

Rice earlier said reports that the State Department was finding it hard to coax foreign service employees into Iraq "couldn't be further from the truth."

The assignments are new positions. Fifteen people have stepped forward to volunteer for Iraq service since the new policy was announced October 26, department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

McCormack rejected comments by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, that State Department employees are "nervous Nellies" and that wounded U.S. military veterans should be asked to fill the Iraq vacancies.

McCormack said until now the State Department has been successful in filling jobs in Iraq with volunteers. Since 2003, more than 1,500 personnel have volunteered to go to Iraq, he said. But with the expansion of the staff in Iraq this year, 58 spots were left open.

"They are serving in dangerous and challenging places," he said. "We have a lot of brave people who are stepping up to the plate in Anbar and Basra and Baghdad and Kabul and a lot of other places that are not necessarily in the headlines."

State Department employees have been killed in Iraq, but McCormack could not say how many. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Zain Verjee and Charley Keyes contributed to this report.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: State

text: Department

text: officials

text: should

text: serve

text: where

text: they

text: are

text: needed

text: even

text: in

text: war

text: torn

text: Iraq

text: U.S.

text: Secretary

text: of

text: State

text: Condoleezza

text: Rice

text: said

text: Friday

text: U.S.

text: Secretary

text: of

text: State

text: Condoleezza

text: Rice

text: says

text: that

text: people

text: need

text: to

text: serve

text: where

text: they

text: are

text: needed

text: Rice

text: was

text: responding

text: to

text: foreign

text: service

text: officers

text: objections

text: to

text: the

text: possibility

text: of

text: directed

text: assignments

text: in

text: Iraq

text: The

text: issue

text: has

text: caused

text: an

text: uproar

text: in

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: resulting

text: in

text: a

text: contentious

text: town

text: hall

text: style

text: meeting

text: Wednesday

text: The

text: new

text: directives

text: would

text: be

text: needed

text: if

text: enough

text: qualified

text: foreign

text: service

text: officers

text: do

text: n't

text: step

text: forward

text: to

text: fill

text: open

text: positions

text: at

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Embassy

text: in

text: Baghdad

text: If

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: enforces

text: directed

text: assignments

text: it

text: will

text: be

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: since

text: the

text: Vietnam

text: War

text: era

text: One

text: official

text: called

text: the

text: order

text: to

text: serve

text: in

text: Iraq

text: a

text: potential

text: death

text: sentence

text: during

text: the

text: town

text: meeting

text: The

text: State

text: Department

text: already

text: has

text: begun

text: notifying

text: about

text: people

text: considered

text: prime

text: candidates

text: Those

text: chosen

text: will

text: be

text: given

text: days

text: to

text: respond

text: according

text: to

text: last

text: week

text: 's

text: announcement

text: Unless

text: they

text: have

text: a

text: valid

text: medical

text: reason

text: to

text: refuse

text: those

text: who

text: decline

text: could

text: face

text: dismissal

text: it

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: 's

text: heated

text: meeting

text: was

text: replayed

text: on

text: an

text: internal

text: State

text: Department

text: television

text: channel

text: in

text: Washington

text: several

text: times

text: and

text: talked

text: about

text: widely

text: Some

text: at

text: the

text: hourlong

text: meeting

text: questioned

text: why

text: they

text: were

text: not

text: told

text: of

text: the

text: policy

text: change

text: directly

text: learning

text: about

text: it

text: instead

text: from

text: news

text: organizations

text: last

text: week

text: Watch

text: the

text: diplomats

text: exchange

text: angry

text: words

text: Â

text: I

text: just

text: have

text: no

text: respect

text: for

text: the

text: whole

text: process

text: because

text: you

text: 've

text: demonstrated

text: a

text: lack

text: of

text: respect

text: for

text: your

text: own

text: colleagues

text: said

text: foreign

text: service

text: officer

text: Jack

text: Croddy

text: Thank

text: you

text: for

text: that

text: comment

text: It

text: 's

text: full

text: of

text: inaccuracies

text: but

text: that

text: 's

text: OK

text: Harry

text: Thomas

text: Jr.

text: director

text: general

text: of

text: the

text: foreign

text: service

text: shot

text: back

text: Others

text: pointed

text: out

text: the

text: risks

text: of

text: such

text: assignments

text: considering

text: the

text: dangers

text: of

text: a

text: war

text: zone

text: lack

text: of

text: security

text: and

text: regular

text: rocket

text: attacks

text: on

text: U.S.

text: personnel

text: Rice

text: who

text: did

text: not

text: attend

text: the

text: meeting

text: tried

text: to

text: calm

text: things

text: down

text: Friday

text: by

text: underscoring

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: 's

text: attempts

text: to

text: do

text: everything

text: that

text: we

text: can

text: to

text: try

text: and

text: protect

text: our

text: diplomats

text: However

text: she

text: said

text: This

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: highest

text: priority

text: tasks

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: we

text: 're

text: going

text: to

text: meet

text: our

text: obligations

text: Speaking

text: to

text: reporters

text: en

text: route

text: to

text: Turkey

text: and

text: the

text: Mideast

text: she

text: said

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: if

text: we

text: will

text: have

text: direct

text: assignments

text: or

text: not

text: but

text: we

text: are

text: one

text: foreign

text: service

text: and

text: people

text: need

text: to

text: serve

text: where

text: they

text: are

text: needed

text: The

text: secretary

text: sent

text: out

text: a

text: cable

text: to

text: State

text: Department

text: employees

text: worldwide

text: encouraging

text: them

text: to

text: serve

text: in

text: Iraq

text: This

text: year

text: U.S.

text: Ambassador

text: Ryan

text: Crocker

text: has

text: identified

text: the

text: need

text: for

text: additional

text: positions

text: to

text: more

text: effectively

text: accomplish

text: our

text: mission

text: in

text: Iraq

text: Rice

text: said

text: in

text: the

text: cable

text: Rice

text: said

text: she

text: has

text: decided

text: to

text: go

text: forward

text: with

text: the

text: identification

text: of

text: officers

text: to

text: serve

text: should

text: it

text: prove

text: necessary

text: to

text: direct

text: assignments

text: Should

text: others

text: step

text: forward

text: as

text: some

text: already

text: have

text: we

text: will

text: fill

text: these

text: new

text: jobs

text: as

text: we

text: have

text: before

text: with

text: volunteers

text: However

text: regardless

text: of

text: how

text: the

text: jobs

text: may

text: be

text: filled

text: they

text: must

text: be

text: filled

text: she

text: said

text: Rice

text: earlier

text: said

text: reports

text: that

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: was

text: finding

text: it

text: hard

text: to

text: coax

text: foreign

text: service

text: employees

text: into

text: Iraq

text: could

text: n't

text: be

text: further

text: from

text: the

text: truth

text: The

text: assignments

text: are

text: new

text: positions

text: Fifteen

text: people

text: have

text: stepped

text: forward

text: to

text: volunteer

text: for

text: Iraq

text: service

text: since

text: the

text: new

text: policy

text: was

text: announced

text: October

text: department

text: spokesman

text: Sean

text: McCormack

text: said

text: McCormack

text: rejected

text: comments

text: by

text: Rep.

text: Duncan

text: Hunter

text: R

text: California

text: that

text: State

text: Department

text: employees

text: are

text: nervous

text: Nellies

text: and

text: that

text: wounded

text: U.S.

text: military

text: veterans

text: should

text: be

text: asked

text: to

text: fill

text: the

text: Iraq

text: vacancies

text: McCormack

text: said

text: until

text: now

text: the

text: State

text: Department

text: has

text: been

text: successful

text: in

text: filling

text: jobs

text: in

text: Iraq

text: with

text: volunteers

text: Since

text: more

text: than

text: personnel

text: have

text: volunteered

text: to

text: go

text: to

text: Iraq

text: he

text: said

text: But

text: with

text: the

text: expansion

text: of

text: the

text: staff

text: in

text: Iraq

text: this

text: year

text: spots

text: were

text: left

text: open

text: They

text: are

text: serving

text: in

text: dangerous

text: and

text: challenging

text: places

text: he

text: said

text: We

text: have

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: brave

text: people

text: who

text: are

text: stepping

text: up

text: to

text: the

text: plate

text: in

text: Anbar

text: and

text: Basra

text: and

text: Baghdad

text: and

text: Kabul

text: and

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: other

text: places

text: that

text: are

text: not

text: necessarily

text: in

text: the

text: headlines

text: State

text: Department

text: employees

text: have

text: been

text: killed

text: in

text: Iraq

text: but

text: McCormack

text: could

text: not

text: say

text: how

text: many

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Zain

text: Verjee

text: and

text: Charley

text: Keyes

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What did Rice say?

answer: "people need to serve where they are needed."

text: "people need to serve where they are needed."

question: objections officials to Condolezza answered?

answer: "directed assignments"

text: "directed assignments"

question: Who responded to the objections?

answer: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

text: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

question: What did the official call the order to serve in Iraq?

answer: "a potential death sentence"

text: "a potential death sentence"

question: what is the rice department doing to protect diplomats?

answer: "everything that we can

text: "everything that we can

question: What does one official think of orders to serve in Iraq?

answer: "a potential death sentence"

text: "a potential death sentence"

question: What was Rice's statement?

answer: "people need to serve where they are needed."

text: "people need to serve where they are needed."

question: Who responded to officers' objections?

answer: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

text: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

question: What is the first name of mrs rice

answer: Condoleezza

text: Condoleezza

question: What will be enforced?

answer: directed assignments,

text: directed assignments,

question: What did Condoleezza Rice do?

answer: responding to foreign service officers' objections to the possibility of "directed assignments" in Iraq.

text: responding to foreign service officers' objections to the possibility of "directed assignments" in Iraq.

question: Who responds to foreign officers' objections on Iraq duty?

answer: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

text: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

question: What is a potential death sentence?

answer: the order to serve in Iraq

text: the order to serve in Iraq

question: who responds to objections on Iraq duty ?

answer: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

text: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

question: Who objected to doing duty in Iraq?

answer: foreign service officers'

text: foreign service officers'

question: who was the official who said:a potential death sentence?

answer: One

text: One

question: Who did Rice respond to?

answer: foreign service officers'

text: foreign service officers'

question: What is the department doing, according to Rice?

answer: notifying about 200 people considered prime candidates.

text: notifying about 200 people considered prime candidates.

question: What will happen to those who don't volunteer?

answer: face dismissal,

text: face dismissal,

question: Who did Condoleezza Rice respond to?

answer: foreign service officers' objections

text: foreign service officers' objections