text:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Mandy Moore stepped onto the small stage at Amoeba Records in Hollywood with a quick wave.

Mandy Moore, now 25, is following her bliss with her new album, "Amanda Leigh."

"Hi, shoppers," she giggled somewhat self-consciously.

The audience of several hundred, stuffed between the music racks at the landmark store, giggled back.

"This is so weird to be playing here. I live in the neighborhood, and this is where I get my CDs and my DVDs!" she said. Then she launched into selections from her sixth studio album, "Amanda Leigh."

Somewhere out of sight was her new husband, Ryan Adams -- the alt-country hero she married in March, after a one-month engagement.

It's been 10 years since Moore burst onto the pop scene as a lanky, blonde 15-year-old singing and dancing her way through a sweetly suggestive tune called "Candy."  Her musical fare now is more eclectic and stripped down -- even featuring vintage instruments such as the clavinet and melodica.  Watch Moore talk candidly about her new direction Â»

Unlike such early contemporaries as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, Moore has gone for cred over commercial success in both her music and movie careers, and it suits her well. There's an authenticity there, as well as a genuine warmth and charm.

Moore spoke about her artistic growth, a musical funk, and working with her new husband. The following is an edited version of the interview.

CNN: A friend of mine made an interesting analogy, saying these last two albums of yours (including 2007's folk-leaning "Wild Hope") are to your music career what "Saved!" was to your movie career, in terms of establishing yourself critically.

Mandy Moore: I take that as a compliment. I mean, I sort of feel lucky to have the opportunity to do film stuff and music at the same time, because I love doing both. But ... if you make a move one way with one side of your career, you sort of have to balance it out on the other side.

I feel like with the last two records, I have been in control creatively. They are probably more like some of the cooler indie movies that I have been lucky enough to get to do.

CNN: You could have continued in the mainstream pop world, like some of the singers you came up with.

Moore: I sort of started around the same time as a lot of my contemporaries, like the Britney Spearses and the Christina Aguileras of the world, and they are amazing and everybody is still around and doing their thing. I just never truly felt comfortable with the music that I was singing -- even back then. I mean, I was happy to have the opportunity, but I was still scratching my head, "Well, there has got to be something else, there has got to be something more." ...

It's just about doing what you are truly passionate about and fighting for that. I could have stayed on the same path that I started on, and who knows what would have happened if I would have found success with that -- or none at all -- but I knew I would not have been happy if I had made that decision. And I'm doing what I love now, and I think that's more important than anything.

CNN: The new album is called "Amanda Leigh," which is your real name. So is this kind of a reintroduction to people about who you really are -- a grown-up Mandy Moore?

Moore: To be quite honest, even though the record is called "Amanda Leigh," and that is my given name, there wasn't a tremendous amount of thought behind the idea of "This is the real me. Forget the Mandy Moore stuff. That's kid stuff." No, it was kind of a simple, almost frivolous decision.

My friend Mike Viola [of the Candy Butchers], who I wrote the whole record with, called me Amanda Leigh when we were in the studio all the time. Like "Amanda Leigh, come on, we've got to get to work!" And I don't know, it just sort of became synonymous with making the record to me. I had never really owned my name. It was just synonymous with my parents being mad at me. So I was like, "All right, I'm 25, I'm a woman, I'm an adult. I think I can probably take ownership with that name now and be OK with it." But I'm still happy to be Mandy at the end of the day.

CNN: Well, you can actually change your name even further. You can go by Amanda Adams [her married name] these days.

Moore: I'm going to really throw people off and completely change my name. That will be the next record. You know, just to throw a real wrench into the situation.

CNN: I'm probably blowing it for you when you check into hotels under names that nobody would expect you to use.

Moore: (Glancing over at her husband) Should I give my name? I'll have to change it, but it's time for a new one. I was Cornish Gamehen for a while, which was bizarre. But for the last couple years, I have been Meryl Inch -- however, there is too much of a debacle going on there these days to continue that. So I have to come up with something creative.

CNN: What's it like to not be on a major label these days? There must be some freedom attached to it, but then you don't have the big bucks behind you, as well as the whole machinery.

Moore: I don't think you need the whole machine, the whole middleman behind you nowadays, like in terms of a big record label giving you a push. ...

I think it has allowed me the creative freedom to truly make the kind of music that I want to by being on an indie label. ... I'm much happier with this road.

CNN: Was there a period of depression you went through that had you reworking things in your head, and trying to find out who you were?

Moore: I think the writing process for the last record, for "Wild Hope," I found myself in a bit of a funk. I don't know if I would necessarily classify it as a depression, but I was definitely in a very deeply, darkly place for me, and I had never really been there before. And there was a lot of investigation and questions bouncing around in my head that I found I could answer by kind of investing myself in music and writing.

CNN: I would love to be a fly on the wall in your house, just to see the music that you and Ryan come up with.

Moore: There is a lot of music in the house, whether someone is playing it, or there's a record on or something. I've been introduced to a lot of metal in my relationship, which is pretty cool, because my guy is a big metal fan, and it isn't something I would necessarily investigate on my own -- but I do like it. It's just nice to have that truly built-in support system that someone is unbelievably understanding of what you do.

CNN: Like a lot of people, I was shocked when I read you and Ryan had gotten married.

Moore: Yeah, we sort of snuck it by a lot of people. Pretty handy. That's how we roll. Life is good, and I'm a really lucky girl, and I'm very happy. It's a very exciting time to be 25 years old and truly fulfilled in so many aspects.

text: LOS

text: ANGELES

text: California

text: CNN

text: Mandy

text: Moore

text: stepped

text: onto

text: the

text: small

text: stage

text: at

text: Amoeba

text: Records

text: in

text: Hollywood

text: with

text: a

text: quick

text: wave

text: Mandy

text: Moore

text: now

text: is

text: following

text: her

text: bliss

text: with

text: her

text: new

text: album

text: Amanda

text: Leigh

text: Hi

text: shoppers

text: she

text: giggled

text: somewhat

text: self

text: consciously

text: The

text: audience

text: of

text: several

text: hundred

text: stuffed

text: between

text: the

text: music

text: racks

text: at

text: the

text: landmark

text: store

text: giggled

text: back

text: This

text: is

text: so

text: weird

text: to

text: be

text: playing

text: here

text: I

text: live

text: in

text: the

text: neighborhood

text: and

text: this

text: is

text: where

text: I

text: get

text: my

text: CDs

text: and

text: my

text: DVDs

text: she

text: said

text: Then

text: she

text: launched

text: into

text: selections

text: from

text: her

text: sixth

text: studio

text: album

text: Amanda

text: Leigh

text: Somewhere

text: out

text: of

text: sight

text: was

text: her

text: new

text: husband

text: Ryan

text: Adams

text: the

text: alt

text: country

text: hero

text: she

text: married

text: in

text: March

text: after

text: a

text: one

text: month

text: engagement

text: It

text: 's

text: been

text: years

text: since

text: Moore

text: burst

text: onto

text: the

text: pop

text: scene

text: as

text: a

text: lanky

text: blonde

text: old

text: singing

text: and

text: dancing

text: her

text: way

text: through

text: a

text: sweetly

text: suggestive

text: tune

text: called

text: Candy

text: Her

text: musical

text: fare

text: now

text: is

text: more

text: eclectic

text: and

text: stripped

text: down

text: even

text: featuring

text: vintage

text: instruments

text: such

text: as

text: the

text: clavinet

text: and

text: melodica

text: Watch

text: Moore

text: talk

text: candidly

text: about

text: her

text: new

text: direction

text: Â

text: Unlike

text: such

text: early

text: contemporaries

text: as

text: Britney

text: Spears

text: and

text: Jessica

text: Simpson

text: Moore

text: has

text: gone

text: for

text: cred

text: over

text: commercial

text: success

text: in

text: both

text: her

text: music

text: and

text: movie

text: careers

text: and

text: it

text: suits

text: her

text: well

text: There

text: 's

text: an

text: authenticity

text: there

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: a

text: genuine

text: warmth

text: and

text: charm

text: Moore

text: spoke

text: about

text: her

text: artistic

text: growth

text: a

text: musical

text: funk

text: and

text: working

text: with

text: her

text: new

text: husband

text: The

text: following

text: is

text: an

text: edited

text: version

text: of

text: the

text: interview

text: CNN

text: A

text: friend

text: of

text: mine

text: made

text: an

text: interesting

text: analogy

text: saying

text: these

text: last

text: two

text: albums

text: of

text: yours

text: including

text: 's

text: folk

text: leaning

text: Wild

text: Hope

text: are

text: to

text: your

text: music

text: career

text: what

text: Saved

text: was

text: to

text: your

text: movie

text: career

text: in

text: terms

text: of

text: establishing

text: yourself

text: critically

text: Mandy

text: Moore

text: I

text: take

text: that

text: as

text: a

text: compliment

text: I

text: mean

text: I

text: sort

text: of

text: feel

text: lucky

text: to

text: have

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: do

text: film

text: stuff

text: and

text: music

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: because

text: I

text: love

text: doing

text: both

text: But

text: if

text: you

text: make

text: a

text: move

text: one

text: way

text: with

text: one

text: side

text: of

text: your

text: career

text: you

text: sort

text: of

text: have

text: to

text: balance

text: it

text: out

text: on

text: the

text: other

text: side

text: I

text: feel

text: like

text: with

text: the

text: last

text: two

text: records

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: in

text: control

text: creatively

text: They

text: are

text: probably

text: more

text: like

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: cooler

text: indie

text: movies

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: lucky

text: enough

text: to

text: get

text: to

text: do

text: CNN

text: You

text: could

text: have

text: continued

text: in

text: the

text: mainstream

text: pop

text: world

text: like

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: singers

text: you

text: came

text: up

text: with

text: Moore

text: I

text: sort

text: of

text: started

text: around

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: as

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: my

text: contemporaries

text: like

text: the

text: Britney

text: Spearses

text: and

text: the

text: Christina

text: Aguileras

text: of

text: the

text: world

text: and

text: they

text: are

text: amazing

text: and

text: everybody

text: is

text: still

text: around

text: and

text: doing

text: their

text: thing

text: I

text: just

text: never

text: truly

text: felt

text: comfortable

text: with

text: the

text: music

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: singing

text: even

text: back

text: then

text: I

text: mean

text: I

text: was

text: happy

text: to

text: have

text: the

text: opportunity

text: but

text: I

text: was

text: still

text: scratching

text: my

text: head

text: Well

text: there

text: has

text: got

text: to

text: be

text: something

text: else

text: there

text: has

text: got

text: to

text: be

text: something

text: more

text: It

text: 's

text: just

text: about

text: doing

text: what

text: you

text: are

text: truly

text: passionate

text: about

text: and

text: fighting

text: for

text: that

text: I

text: could

text: have

text: stayed

text: on

text: the

text: same

text: path

text: that

text: I

text: started

text: on

text: and

text: who

text: knows

text: what

text: would

text: have

text: happened

text: if

text: I

text: would

text: have

text: found

text: success

text: with

text: that

text: or

text: at

text: all

text: but

text: I

text: knew

text: I

text: would

text: not

text: have

text: been

text: happy

text: if

text: I

text: had

text: made

text: that

text: decision

text: And

text: I

text: 'm

text: doing

text: what

text: I

text: love

text: now

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: 's

text: more

text: important

text: than

text: anything

text: CNN

text: The

text: new

text: album

text: is

text: called

text: Amanda

text: Leigh

text: which

text: is

text: your

text: real

text: name

text: So

text: is

text: this

text: kind

text: of

text: a

text: reintroduction

text: to

text: people

text: about

text: who

text: you

text: really

text: are

text: a

text: grown

text: up

text: Mandy

text: Moore

text: Moore

text: To

text: be

text: quite

text: honest

text: even

text: though

text: the

text: record

text: is

text: called

text: Amanda

text: Leigh

text: and

text: that

text: is

text: my

text: given

text: name

text: there

text: was

text: n't

text: a

text: tremendous

text: amount

text: of

text: thought

text: behind

text: the

text: idea

text: of

text: This

text: is

text: the

text: real

text: me

text: Forget

text: the

text: Mandy

text: Moore

text: stuff

text: That

text: 's

text: kid

text: stuff

text: No

text: it

text: was

text: kind

text: of

text: a

text: simple

text: almost

text: frivolous

text: decision

text: My

text: friend

text: Mike

text: Viola

text: of

text: the

text: Candy

text: Butchers

text: who

text: I

text: wrote

text: the

text: whole

text: record

text: with

text: called

text: me

text: Amanda

text: Leigh

text: when

text: we

text: were

text: in

text: the

text: studio

text: all

text: the

text: time

text: Like

text: Amanda

text: Leigh

text: come

text: on

text: we

text: 've

text: got

text: to

text: get

text: to

text: work

text: And

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: it

text: just

text: sort

text: of

text: became

text: synonymous

text: with

text: making

text: the

text: record

text: to

text: me

text: I

text: had

text: never

text: really

text: owned

text: my

text: name

text: It

text: was

text: just

text: synonymous

text: with

text: my

text: parents

text: being

text: mad

text: at

text: me

text: So

text: I

text: was

text: like

text: All

text: right

text: I

text: 'm

text: I

text: 'm

text: a

text: woman

text: I

text: 'm

text: an

text: adult

text: I

text: think

text: I

text: can

text: probably

text: take

text: ownership

text: with

text: that

text: name

text: now

text: and

text: be

text: OK

text: with

text: it

text: But

text: I

text: 'm

text: still

text: happy

text: to

text: be

text: Mandy

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: day

text: CNN

text: Well

text: you

text: can

text: actually

text: change

text: your

text: name

text: even

text: further

text: You

text: can

text: go

text: by

text: Amanda

text: Adams

text: her

text: married

text: name

text: these

text: days

text: Moore

text: I

text: 'm

text: going

text: to

text: really

text: throw

text: people

text: off

text: and

text: completely

text: change

text: my

text: name

text: That

text: will

text: be

text: the

text: next

text: record

text: You

text: know

text: just

text: to

text: throw

text: a

text: real

text: wrench

text: into

text: the

text: situation

text: CNN

text: I

text: 'm

text: probably

text: blowing

text: it

text: for

text: you

text: when

text: you

text: check

text: into

text: hotels

text: under

text: names

text: that

text: nobody

text: would

text: expect

text: you

text: to

text: use

text: Moore

text: Glancing

text: over

text: at

text: her

text: husband

text: Should

text: I

text: give

text: my

text: name

text: I

text: 'll

text: have

text: to

text: change

text: it

text: but

text: it

text: 's

text: time

text: for

text: a

text: new

text: one

text: I

text: was

text: Cornish

text: Gamehen

text: for

text: a

text: while

text: which

text: was

text: bizarre

text: But

text: for

text: the

text: last

text: couple

text: years

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: Meryl

text: Inch

text: however

text: there

text: is

text: too

text: much

text: of

text: a

text: debacle

text: going

text: on

text: there

text: these

text: days

text: to

text: continue

text: that

text: So

text: I

text: have

text: to

text: come

text: up

text: with

text: something

text: creative

text: CNN

text: What

text: 's

text: it

text: like

text: to

text: not

text: be

text: on

text: a

text: major

text: label

text: these

text: days

text: There

text: must

text: be

text: some

text: freedom

text: attached

text: to

text: it

text: but

text: then

text: you

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: the

text: big

text: bucks

text: behind

text: you

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: the

text: whole

text: machinery

text: Moore

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: you

text: need

text: the

text: whole

text: machine

text: the

text: whole

text: middleman

text: behind

text: you

text: nowadays

text: like

text: in

text: terms

text: of

text: a

text: big

text: record

text: label

text: giving

text: you

text: a

text: push

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: has

text: allowed

text: me

text: the

text: creative

text: freedom

text: to

text: truly

text: make

text: the

text: kind

text: of

text: music

text: that

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: by

text: being

text: on

text: an

text: indie

text: label

text: I

text: 'm

text: much

text: happier

text: with

text: this

text: road

text: CNN

text: Was

text: there

text: a

text: period

text: of

text: depression

text: you

text: went

text: through

text: that

text: had

text: you

text: reworking

text: things

text: in

text: your

text: head

text: and

text: trying

text: to

text: find

text: out

text: who

text: you

text: were

text: Moore

text: I

text: think

text: the

text: writing

text: process

text: for

text: the

text: last

text: record

text: for

text: Wild

text: Hope

text: I

text: found

text: myself

text: in

text: a

text: bit

text: of

text: a

text: funk

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: if

text: I

text: would

text: necessarily

text: classify

text: it

text: as

text: a

text: depression

text: but

text: I

text: was

text: definitely

text: in

text: a

text: very

text: deeply

text: darkly

text: place

text: for

text: me

text: and

text: I

text: had

text: never

text: really

text: been

text: there

text: before

text: And

text: there

text: was

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: investigation

text: and

text: questions

text: bouncing

text: around

text: in

text: my

text: head

text: that

text: I

text: found

text: I

text: could

text: answer

text: by

text: kind

text: of

text: investing

text: myself

text: in

text: music

text: and

text: writing

text: CNN

text: I

text: would

text: love

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: fly

text: on

text: the

text: wall

text: in

text: your

text: house

text: just

text: to

text: see

text: the

text: music

text: that

text: you

text: and

text: Ryan

text: come

text: up

text: with

text: Moore

text: There

text: is

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: music

text: in

text: the

text: house

text: whether

text: someone

text: is

text: playing

text: it

text: or

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: record

text: on

text: or

text: something

text: I

text: 've

text: been

text: introduced

text: to

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: metal

text: in

text: my

text: relationship

text: which

text: is

text: pretty

text: cool

text: because

text: my

text: guy

text: is

text: a

text: big

text: metal

text: fan

text: and

text: it

text: is

text: n't

text: something

text: I

text: would

text: necessarily

text: investigate

text: on

text: my

text: own

text: but

text: I

text: do

text: like

text: it

text: It

text: 's

text: just

text: nice

text: to

text: have

text: that

text: truly

text: built

text: in

text: support

text: system

text: that

text: someone

text: is

text: unbelievably

text: understanding

text: of

text: what

text: you

text: do

text: CNN

text: Like

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: people

text: I

text: was

text: shocked

text: when

text: I

text: read

text: you

text: and

text: Ryan

text: had

text: gotten

text: married

text: Moore

text: Yeah

text: we

text: sort

text: of

text: snuck

text: it

text: by

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: people

text: Pretty

text: handy

text: That

text: 's

text: how

text: we

text: roll

text: Life

text: is

text: good

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: a

text: really

text: lucky

text: girl

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: very

text: happy

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: very

text: exciting

text: time

text: to

text: be

text: years

text: old

text: and

text: truly

text: fulfilled

text: in

text: so

text: many

text: aspects

question: who has gone indie route

answer: Mandy Moore

text: Mandy Moore

question: Is Leigh her given middle or last name?

answer: "Amanda Leigh," and that is my

text: "Amanda Leigh," and that is my

question: what is the name of the new album

answer: "Amanda Leigh."

text: "Amanda Leigh."


text:
(CNN) -- He's been decorated with awards and called one of the world's most influential people. He's addressed packed auditoriums and waved to crowds who line streets just to catch a passing glimpse of him. He's shaken the hands of countless global dignitaries and earned a fan base following on Facebook that might rival that of Hollywood stars.

He is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the 74-year-old spiritual leader of Tibet and the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala, India. And though he describes himself, according to his Web site, as "a simple Buddhist monk," the love so many Americans and others have for him has, no doubt, bestowed on him iconic status -- whether he sees it that way or not.

"I'd love to be in his presence. I'd love to be in an audience where he speaks," said Jerilee Auclair, 55, of Vancouver, Washington, who has yet to have that pleasure. "I yearn for it. I watch his schedule to see if/when he'll be in my area. ... I love what he stands for. His inner peace inspires me to find mine, daily."

She's far from alone in her admiration.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday, the same day the Dalai Lama visited the White House, showed that 56 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of him, putting him "in the same neighborhood as other major religious figures," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Favorable ratings for the pope, at 59 percent, and Billy Graham, at 57 percent, are virtually identical."

Not bad for a guy who lives on the opposite side of the globe, is entrenched in a decades-old political and cultural struggle many don't understand, and lives according to a tradition few Americans follow. Less than 1 percent of Americans identify themselves as Buddhist, with less than 0.3 percent of those being Tibetan Buddhist, according to The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

But what he represents resonates with Americans who may need a figure like the Dalai Lama to look to, said Ganden Thurman, executive director of New York City's Tibet House, an organization dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture and civilization.

"He stands for achieving peace by way of peace, and since Gandhi and Martin Luther King aren't around, he's a placeholder for that kind of position," he said. "He says he's a 'simple monk,' but that's wishful thinking. He's a monk that's been saddled with the responsibility of shouldering the hopes and dreams of millions of Tibetan people. ... He's doing the best he can with that, and frankly, these are the kind of people we admire."

Not that Thurman, 42, always treated the Dalai Lama with this kind of reverence. His father, Robert Thurman, co-founded the Tibet House, is an Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies professor at Columbia University and holds the first endowed chair in Buddhist studies in the West, according to the university's online biography. The older Thurman, who also happens to be the father of actress Uma Thurman, was a personal student of the Dalai Lama, and it was through this relationship that his son first met the spiritual leader.

"My earliest memory of meeting him, I was around 4. I was a pretty rambunctious 4-year-old," he said with a laugh, guessing that he probably jumped on His Holiness and grabbed at the man's glasses. "Diplomatic protocol wasn't high on my list of priorities."

Tenzin Tethong has known the Dalai Lama since he was a child. He worked in the exile government and served as the spiritual leader's representative in New York and Washington during the 1970s and 1980s. Now the president of The Dalai Lama Foundation, a Redwood City, California, organization that promotes peace, Tethong said he organized the Tibetan leader's first visit to the United States in 1979, 20 years after he had gone into exile

He recalled not being sure they'd be able to pull off the visit because by the early 1970s, the U.S. had normalized its relations with China, which has long viewed the Dalai Lama as a threat to its national unity on the issue of Tibetan autonomy. But they came at the invitation of various colleges and religious groups, and the American fascination with the Dalai Lama -- the curiosity about his exotic past, his beliefs and his teachings -- spoke volumes then, Tethong said.

In the decades since, the Dalai Lama's star power has only risen as Americans have learned more about his commitment to nonviolence, interfaith outreach and more. For starters, there was that Nobel Peace Prize he won in 1989.

High-profile supporters, like actor Richard Gere, helped give him and his people's struggles pop culture prominence, as did several mainstream films including "Seven Years in Tibet," starring Brad Pitt, and "Kundun," directed by Martin Scorsese.

With the increased exposure, there has also been a growing prevalence of "Free Tibet" bumper stickers, the appearance of Tibetan prayer flags in suburbia and Facebook fans who shower the Dalai Lama with praise.

"Have a nice and easy day with Obama! Namaste," one woman wrote Thursday. "thank you for all your love, guidance and wisdom ... u changed my life," a man added. And then this from a college-student fan: "HH Dalai Lama!! You kick metaphorical ass!!!"

How has all this attention not gone to his head?

"When fame happens, people get carried away, right? The Dalai Lama, despite tremendous adoration as well as adulation ... is very conscious of that," Tethong said. "One of the Buddhist practices is to always be very aware of one's self and how one looks at one's self and not to be carried away with one's ego."

Not standing on formalities -- he playfully threw snow at reporters outside the White House on Thursday -- staying grounded and his constant ability to exude warmth and joy have made him easy to love, people who admire him say.

"He really is the real deal -- a truly loveable guy. He lives his values," said Jamie Metzl, executive vice president of the Asia Society, a global organization that seeks to increase understanding and relationships between the U.S. and Asia. "Recognizing someone who lives their life according to such positive principles helps us all grow."

And Metzl, who said he's met the Dalai Lama three times, suggested the Chinese government, through its denunciation of the spiritual leader, has bolstered his recognition. He said that by saying the Dalai Lama is "a wolf in sheep's clothing," a claim Metzl said doesn't match what people read and see, "the Chinese are doing a great deal to turn him into a rock star."

But nothing does more to make people appreciate the Dalai Lama than being with him, said Charles Raison, a psychiatrist with Emory University Medical School.

Raison, who's been involved in a program where Western doctors work with and exchange teachings with Buddhist monks, recounted a time when he, his wife and several others met with the Dalai Lama about four years ago.

"Many people, myself included, have a powerful experience in his presence. I nearly erupted in tears," he said. And his wife, whom he said "does not have a religious bone in her body" was "just beaming."

He said studies have long shown that people have a physiological response to the behaviors, feelings and even smells put forth by others.

"Buddhists," he added, "say that sweet smells come from a saint -- a mark of spiritual advancement."

text: CNN

text: He

text: 's

text: been

text: decorated

text: with

text: awards

text: and

text: called

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: world

text: 's

text: most

text: influential

text: people

text: He

text: 's

text: addressed

text: packed

text: auditoriums

text: and

text: waved

text: to

text: crowds

text: who

text: line

text: streets

text: just

text: to

text: catch

text: a

text: passing

text: glimpse

text: of

text: him

text: He

text: 's

text: shaken

text: the

text: hands

text: of

text: countless

text: global

text: dignitaries

text: and

text: earned

text: a

text: fan

text: base

text: following

text: on

text: Facebook

text: that

text: might

text: rival

text: that

text: of

text: Hollywood

text: stars

text: He

text: is

text: His

text: Holiness

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: the

text: old

text: spiritual

text: leader

text: of

text: Tibet

text: and

text: the

text: head

text: of

text: the

text: Tibetan

text: government

text: in

text: exile

text: based

text: in

text: Dharamsala

text: India

text: And

text: though

text: he

text: describes

text: himself

text: according

text: to

text: his

text: Web

text: site

text: as

text: a

text: simple

text: Buddhist

text: monk

text: the

text: love

text: so

text: many

text: Americans

text: and

text: others

text: have

text: for

text: him

text: has

text: no

text: doubt

text: bestowed

text: on

text: him

text: iconic

text: status

text: whether

text: he

text: sees

text: it

text: that

text: way

text: or

text: not

text: I

text: 'd

text: love

text: to

text: be

text: in

text: his

text: presence

text: I

text: 'd

text: love

text: to

text: be

text: in

text: an

text: audience

text: where

text: he

text: speaks

text: said

text: Jerilee

text: Auclair

text: of

text: Vancouver

text: Washington

text: who

text: has

text: yet

text: to

text: have

text: that

text: pleasure

text: I

text: yearn

text: for

text: it

text: I

text: watch

text: his

text: schedule

text: to

text: see

text: if

text: when

text: he

text: 'll

text: be

text: in

text: my

text: area

text: I

text: love

text: what

text: he

text: stands

text: for

text: His

text: inner

text: peace

text: inspires

text: me

text: to

text: find

text: mine

text: daily

text: She

text: 's

text: far

text: from

text: alone

text: in

text: her

text: admiration

text: A

text: CNN

text: Opinion

text: Research

text: Corp.

text: survey

text: released

text: Thursday

text: the

text: same

text: day

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: visited

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: showed

text: that

text: percent

text: of

text: Americans

text: hold

text: a

text: favorable

text: view

text: of

text: him

text: putting

text: him

text: in

text: the

text: same

text: neighborhood

text: as

text: other

text: major

text: religious

text: figures

text: said

text: CNN

text: Polling

text: Director

text: Keating

text: Holland

text: Favorable

text: ratings

text: for

text: the

text: pope

text: at

text: percent

text: and

text: Billy

text: Graham

text: at

text: percent

text: are

text: virtually

text: identical

text: Not

text: bad

text: for

text: a

text: guy

text: who

text: lives

text: on

text: the

text: opposite

text: side

text: of

text: the

text: globe

text: is

text: entrenched

text: in

text: a

text: decades

text: old

text: political

text: and

text: cultural

text: struggle

text: many

text: do

text: n't

text: understand

text: and

text: lives

text: according

text: to

text: a

text: tradition

text: few

text: Americans

text: follow

text: Less

text: than

text: percent

text: of

text: Americans

text: identify

text: themselves

text: as

text: Buddhist

text: with

text: less

text: than

text: percent

text: of

text: those

text: being

text: Tibetan

text: Buddhist

text: according

text: to

text: The

text: Pew

text: Forum

text: on

text: Religion

text: Public

text: Life

text: But

text: what

text: he

text: represents

text: resonates

text: with

text: Americans

text: who

text: may

text: need

text: a

text: figure

text: like

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: to

text: look

text: to

text: said

text: Ganden

text: Thurman

text: executive

text: director

text: of

text: New

text: York

text: City

text: 's

text: Tibet

text: House

text: an

text: organization

text: dedicated

text: to

text: preserving

text: Tibetan

text: culture

text: and

text: civilization

text: He

text: stands

text: for

text: achieving

text: peace

text: by

text: way

text: of

text: peace

text: and

text: since

text: Gandhi

text: and

text: Martin

text: Luther

text: King

text: are

text: n't

text: around

text: he

text: 's

text: a

text: placeholder

text: for

text: that

text: kind

text: of

text: position

text: he

text: said

text: He

text: says

text: he

text: 's

text: a

text: simple

text: monk

text: but

text: that

text: 's

text: wishful

text: thinking

text: He

text: 's

text: a

text: monk

text: that

text: 's

text: been

text: saddled

text: with

text: the

text: responsibility

text: of

text: shouldering

text: the

text: hopes

text: and

text: dreams

text: of

text: millions

text: of

text: Tibetan

text: people

text: He

text: 's

text: doing

text: the

text: best

text: he

text: can

text: with

text: that

text: and

text: frankly

text: these

text: are

text: the

text: kind

text: of

text: people

text: we

text: admire

text: Not

text: that

text: Thurman

text: always

text: treated

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: with

text: this

text: kind

text: of

text: reverence

text: His

text: father

text: Robert

text: Thurman

text: co

text: founded

text: the

text: Tibet

text: House

text: is

text: an

text: Indo

text: Tibetan

text: Buddhist

text: studies

text: professor

text: at

text: Columbia

text: University

text: and

text: holds

text: the

text: first

text: endowed

text: chair

text: in

text: Buddhist

text: studies

text: in

text: the

text: West

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: university

text: 's

text: online

text: biography

text: The

text: older

text: Thurman

text: who

text: also

text: happens

text: to

text: be

text: the

text: father

text: of

text: actress

text: Uma

text: Thurman

text: was

text: a

text: personal

text: student

text: of

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: and

text: it

text: was

text: through

text: this

text: relationship

text: that

text: his

text: son

text: first

text: met

text: the

text: spiritual

text: leader

text: My

text: earliest

text: memory

text: of

text: meeting

text: him

text: I

text: was

text: around

text: I

text: was

text: a

text: pretty

text: rambunctious

text: old

text: he

text: said

text: with

text: a

text: laugh

text: guessing

text: that

text: he

text: probably

text: jumped

text: on

text: His

text: Holiness

text: and

text: grabbed

text: at

text: the

text: man

text: 's

text: glasses

text: Diplomatic

text: protocol

text: was

text: n't

text: high

text: on

text: my

text: list

text: of

text: priorities

text: Tenzin

text: Tethong

text: has

text: known

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: since

text: he

text: was

text: a

text: child

text: He

text: worked

text: in

text: the

text: exile

text: government

text: and

text: served

text: as

text: the

text: spiritual

text: leader

text: 's

text: representative

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: and

text: Washington

text: during

text: the

text: and

text: Now

text: the

text: president

text: of

text: The

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: Foundation

text: a

text: Redwood

text: City

text: California

text: organization

text: that

text: promotes

text: peace

text: Tethong

text: said

text: he

text: organized

text: the

text: Tibetan

text: leader

text: 's

text: first

text: visit

text: to

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: in

text: years

text: after

text: he

text: had

text: gone

text: into

text: exile

text: He

text: recalled

text: not

text: being

text: sure

text: they

text: 'd

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: pull

text: off

text: the

text: visit

text: because

text: by

text: the

text: early

text: the

text: U.S.

text: had

text: normalized

text: its

text: relations

text: with

text: China

text: which

text: has

text: long

text: viewed

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: as

text: a

text: threat

text: to

text: its

text: national

text: unity

text: on

text: the

text: issue

text: of

text: Tibetan

text: autonomy

text: But

text: they

text: came

text: at

text: the

text: invitation

text: of

text: various

text: colleges

text: and

text: religious

text: groups

text: and

text: the

text: American

text: fascination

text: with

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: the

text: curiosity

text: about

text: his

text: exotic

text: past

text: his

text: beliefs

text: and

text: his

text: teachings

text: spoke

text: volumes

text: then

text: Tethong

text: said

text: In

text: the

text: decades

text: since

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: 's

text: star

text: power

text: has

text: only

text: risen

text: as

text: Americans

text: have

text: learned

text: more

text: about

text: his

text: commitment

text: to

text: nonviolence

text: interfaith

text: outreach

text: and

text: more

text: For

text: starters

text: there

text: was

text: that

text: Nobel

text: Peace

text: Prize

text: he

text: won

text: in

text: High

text: profile

text: supporters

text: like

text: actor

text: Richard

text: Gere

text: helped

text: give

text: him

text: and

text: his

text: people

text: 's

text: struggles

text: pop

text: culture

text: prominence

text: as

text: did

text: several

text: mainstream

text: films

text: including

text: Seven

text: Years

text: in

text: Tibet

text: starring

text: Brad

text: Pitt

text: and

text: Kundun

text: directed

text: by

text: Martin

text: Scorsese

text: With

text: the

text: increased

text: exposure

text: there

text: has

text: also

text: been

text: a

text: growing

text: prevalence

text: of

text: Free

text: Tibet

text: bumper

text: stickers

text: the

text: appearance

text: of

text: Tibetan

text: prayer

text: flags

text: in

text: suburbia

text: and

text: Facebook

text: fans

text: who

text: shower

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: with

text: praise

text: Have

text: a

text: nice

text: and

text: easy

text: day

text: with

text: Obama

text: Namaste

text: one

text: woman

text: wrote

text: Thursday

text: thank

text: you

text: for

text: all

text: your

text: love

text: guidance

text: and

text: wisdom

text: u

text: changed

text: my

text: life

text: a

text: man

text: added

text: And

text: then

text: this

text: from

text: a

text: college

text: student

text: fan

text: HH

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: You

text: kick

text: metaphorical

text: ass

text: How

text: has

text: all

text: this

text: attention

text: not

text: gone

text: to

text: his

text: head

text: When

text: fame

text: happens

text: people

text: get

text: carried

text: away

text: right

text: The

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: despite

text: tremendous

text: adoration

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: adulation

text: is

text: very

text: conscious

text: of

text: that

text: Tethong

text: said

text: One

text: of

text: the

text: Buddhist

text: practices

text: is

text: to

text: always

text: be

text: very

text: aware

text: of

text: one

text: 's

text: self

text: and

text: how

text: one

text: looks

text: at

text: one

text: 's

text: self

text: and

text: not

text: to

text: be

text: carried

text: away

text: with

text: one

text: 's

text: ego

text: Not

text: standing

text: on

text: formalities

text: he

text: playfully

text: threw

text: snow

text: at

text: reporters

text: outside

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: on

text: Thursday

text: staying

text: grounded

text: and

text: his

text: constant

text: ability

text: to

text: exude

text: warmth

text: and

text: joy

text: have

text: made

text: him

text: easy

text: to

text: love

text: people

text: who

text: admire

text: him

text: say

text: He

text: really

text: is

text: the

text: real

text: deal

text: a

text: truly

text: loveable

text: guy

text: He

text: lives

text: his

text: values

text: said

text: Jamie

text: Metzl

text: executive

text: vice

text: president

text: of

text: the

text: Asia

text: Society

text: a

text: global

text: organization

text: that

text: seeks

text: to

text: increase

text: understanding

text: and

text: relationships

text: between

text: the

text: U.S.

text: and

text: Asia

text: Recognizing

text: someone

text: who

text: lives

text: their

text: life

text: according

text: to

text: such

text: positive

text: principles

text: helps

text: us

text: all

text: grow

text: And

text: Metzl

text: who

text: said

text: he

text: 's

text: met

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: three

text: times

text: suggested

text: the

text: Chinese

text: government

text: through

text: its

text: denunciation

text: of

text: the

text: spiritual

text: leader

text: has

text: bolstered

text: his

text: recognition

text: He

text: said

text: that

text: by

text: saying

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: is

text: a

text: wolf

text: in

text: sheep

text: 's

text: clothing

text: a

text: claim

text: Metzl

text: said

text: does

text: n't

text: match

text: what

text: people

text: read

text: and

text: see

text: the

text: Chinese

text: are

text: doing

text: a

text: great

text: deal

text: to

text: turn

text: him

text: into

text: a

text: rock

text: star

text: But

text: nothing

text: does

text: more

text: to

text: make

text: people

text: appreciate

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: than

text: being

text: with

text: him

text: said

text: Charles

text: Raison

text: a

text: psychiatrist

text: with

text: Emory

text: University

text: Medical

text: School

text: Raison

text: who

text: 's

text: been

text: involved

text: in

text: a

text: program

text: where

text: Western

text: doctors

text: work

text: with

text: and

text: exchange

text: teachings

text: with

text: Buddhist

text: monks

text: recounted

text: a

text: time

text: when

text: he

text: his

text: wife

text: and

text: several

text: others

text: met

text: with

text: the

text: Dalai

text: Lama

text: about

text: four

text: years

text: ago

text: Many

text: people

text: myself

text: included

text: have

text: a

text: powerful

text: experience

text: in

text: his

text: presence

text: I

text: nearly

text: erupted

text: in

text: tears

text: he

text: said

text: And

text: his

text: wife

text: whom

text: he

text: said

text: does

text: not

text: have

text: a

text: religious

text: bone

text: in

text: her

text: body

text: was

text: just

text: beaming

text: He

text: said

text: studies

text: have

text: long

text: shown

text: that

text: people

text: have

text: a

text: physiological

text: response

text: to

text: the

text: behaviors

text: feelings

text: and

text: even

text: smells

text: put

text: forth

text: by

text: others

text: Buddhists

text: he

text: added

text: say

text: that

text: sweet

text: smells

text: come

text: from

text: a

text: saint

text: a

text: mark

text: of

text: spiritual

text: advancement

question: Who has a broad base of fans

answer: Dalai Lama,

text: Dalai Lama,

question: What does Buddhism help him in regarding to fame?

answer: how one looks at one's self and not to be carried away with one's ego."

text: how one looks at one's self and not to be carried away with one's ego."

question: Who filled the symbolic placeholder left by Gandhi and MLK?

answer: Dalai Lama,

text: Dalai Lama,

question: Who does 56 percent of Americans view him favorably?

answer: Dalai Lama,

text: Dalai Lama,

question: Who has broad base of fans in America?

answer: Dalai Lama,

text: Dalai Lama,

question: What inspires people

answer: His inner peace

text: His inner peace

question: What does Buddhism help him avoid

answer: very aware of one's self and how one looks at one's self and not to be carried away with one's ego."

text: very aware of one's self and how one looks at one's self and not to be carried away with one's ego."

question: What percentage of Americans view him favorably?

answer: 56 percent

text: 56 percent


text:
Washington (CNN) -- The United States and Russia say they will be unable to reach a deal on an arms control treaty by the end of the year to replace their existing one, which expired this month.

Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. delegation -- led by Assistant Secretary Rose Gottemoeller -- had returned for a recess from the START negotiations in Geneva.

Talks are expected to resume in mid-January with new proposals.

"The team has gone through an intensive period of negotiations with their Russian counterparts over more than two months," Crowley said. "Our goal remains to conclude a solid treaty for the president's signature as soon as possible."

The 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, commonly known as START, expired on December 5 but the leaders agreed to honor its spirit until a new treaty could be negotiated to replace it.

President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who met last week in Copenhagen, Denmark, had hoped to sign an agreement by the end of the year.

A statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry's Web site said, "Preparation of the new treaty is practically complete" but "a few problems have to be overcome in order to finalize the treaty and submit it to [the] presidents of Russia and the United States. This will be done very soon."

"Having resolved most issues discussed in recent months, delegations arrived at corresponding positions," the statement said. "The Russian side would like to emphasize the talks have been constructive and business-like. It reflects partnership and mutual respect which characterize the current stage in the relations between Russia and the United States."

Crowley also cited a few "hurdles" to an agreement, including the complexity of the weapons systems, agreement on the numbers of warhead reductions, and verification. But he said the two sides hope to finalize a deal to replace START when they meet next month.

"Clearly, over the course of these two months, we have made dramatic progress," he said. "There are still issues that we continue to work through, so there's still more work to be done. But I think we remain confident that, given good faith and the ongoing efforts of both sides, that this will get done."

text: Washington

text: CNN

text: The

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: Russia

text: say

text: they

text: will

text: be

text: unable

text: to

text: reach

text: a

text: deal

text: on

text: an

text: arms

text: control

text: treaty

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: to

text: replace

text: their

text: existing

text: one

text: which

text: expired

text: this

text: month

text: Assistant

text: Secretary

text: of

text: State

text: P.J.

text: Crowley

text: told

text: reporters

text: Tuesday

text: that

text: the

text: U.S.

text: delegation

text: led

text: by

text: Assistant

text: Secretary

text: Rose

text: Gottemoeller

text: had

text: returned

text: for

text: a

text: recess

text: from

text: the

text: START

text: negotiations

text: in

text: Geneva

text: Talks

text: are

text: expected

text: to

text: resume

text: in

text: mid

text: January

text: with

text: new

text: proposals

text: The

text: team

text: has

text: gone

text: through

text: an

text: intensive

text: period

text: of

text: negotiations

text: with

text: their

text: Russian

text: counterparts

text: over

text: more

text: than

text: two

text: months

text: Crowley

text: said

text: Our

text: goal

text: remains

text: to

text: conclude

text: a

text: solid

text: treaty

text: for

text: the

text: president

text: 's

text: signature

text: as

text: soon

text: as

text: possible

text: The

text: Strategic

text: Arms

text: Reduction

text: Treaty

text: commonly

text: known

text: as

text: START

text: expired

text: on

text: December

text: but

text: the

text: leaders

text: agreed

text: to

text: honor

text: its

text: spirit

text: until

text: a

text: new

text: treaty

text: could

text: be

text: negotiated

text: to

text: replace

text: it

text: President

text: Obama

text: and

text: Russian

text: President

text: Dmitry

text: Medvedev

text: who

text: met

text: last

text: week

text: in

text: Copenhagen

text: Denmark

text: had

text: hoped

text: to

text: sign

text: an

text: agreement

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: A

text: statement

text: on

text: the

text: Russian

text: Foreign

text: Ministry

text: 's

text: Web

text: site

text: said

text: Preparation

text: of

text: the

text: new

text: treaty

text: is

text: practically

text: complete

text: but

text: a

text: few

text: problems

text: have

text: to

text: be

text: overcome

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: finalize

text: the

text: treaty

text: and

text: submit

text: it

text: to

text: the

text: presidents

text: of

text: Russia

text: and

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: This

text: will

text: be

text: done

text: very

text: soon

text: Having

text: resolved

text: most

text: issues

text: discussed

text: in

text: recent

text: months

text: delegations

text: arrived

text: at

text: corresponding

text: positions

text: the

text: statement

text: said

text: The

text: Russian

text: side

text: would

text: like

text: to

text: emphasize

text: the

text: talks

text: have

text: been

text: constructive

text: and

text: business

text: like

text: It

text: reflects

text: partnership

text: and

text: mutual

text: respect

text: which

text: characterize

text: the

text: current

text: stage

text: in

text: the

text: relations

text: between

text: Russia

text: and

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: Crowley

text: also

text: cited

text: a

text: few

text: hurdles

text: to

text: an

text: agreement

text: including

text: the

text: complexity

text: of

text: the

text: weapons

text: systems

text: agreement

text: on

text: the

text: numbers

text: of

text: warhead

text: reductions

text: and

text: verification

text: But

text: he

text: said

text: the

text: two

text: sides

text: hope

text: to

text: finalize

text: a

text: deal

text: to

text: replace

text: START

text: when

text: they

text: meet

text: next

text: month

text: Clearly

text: over

text: the

text: course

text: of

text: these

text: two

text: months

text: we

text: have

text: made

text: dramatic

text: progress

text: he

text: said

text: There

text: are

text: still

text: issues

text: that

text: we

text: continue

text: to

text: work

text: through

text: so

text: there

text: 's

text: still

text: more

text: work

text: to

text: be

text: done

text: But

text: I

text: think

text: we

text: remain

text: confident

text: that

text: given

text: good

text: faith

text: and

text: the

text: ongoing

text: efforts

text: of

text: both

text: sides

text: that

text: this

text: will

text: get

text: done

question: When did START expire?

answer: this month.

text: this month.

question: Which countries are in talks?

answer: United States

text: United States

question: When are talks expected to resume?

answer: mid-January

text: mid-January


text:
(CNN)  -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was once a student revolutionary himself, perhaps not much different from the thousands of protesters who this week have taken to the streets in Iran.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became a political activist while a religious scholar studying under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

Khamenei became a political activist while a religious scholar studying under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, among others, according to his biography on his official Web site.

He was part of a circle of clerics who opposed the rule of the shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and was jailed by the shah's secret police, the Savak, at least six times in the 1960s and 1970s. He says he was tortured in prison before being exiled in 1976, three years before the revolution that deposed the shah.

Khomeini was in exile in Paris, France, when the shah fled Iran in 1979. He appointed Khamenei to represent him on an Islamic Revolutionary Council, alongside other key figures such as Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The appointment may have been a career-making moment for Khamenei, who was a fairly low-level scholar at the time, said Iran analyst Shireen Hunter, a visiting scholar at Georgetown University in Washington. Learn more about Iran's recent history

"He is not qualified to be an ayatollah," or top-ranking Islamic scholar, she said, saying he had picked up the title by dint of succeeding Khomeini as supreme leader, "like an honorary doctorate."

Khamenei, now 70, was briefly minister of defense and head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the early 1980s before becoming president, a post he held from 1982 to 1990.

In power, he clashed ideologically with Rafsanjani, favoring a more left-wing politics than Rafsanjani, who came from a more bourgeois background than the poor Khamenei.

He also locked horns with the man who was prime minister when he was president -- Mir Hossein Moussavi, now the most prominent opposition leader.

The two had similar anti-American, left-wing politics but struggled over power in what Hunter called "the two-headed monster" that was then the Iranian political structure.

"There were turf battles between the president and the prime minister," she said.

Khomeini died in 1989, and Khamenei was appointed the next supreme leader. The post of prime minister was abolished.

Rafsanjani seems to have been a "kingmaker" in the elevation of Khamenei to the top job, Hunter said, perhaps thinking he would be the power behind the throne.

But with time, Khamenei has become his own man, she said. Rafsanjani was president in the 1990s, but lost a comeback attempt in 2005 -- defeated by current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

As supreme leader, Khamenei is the ultimate arbiter of policy in Iran.

He appoints the Guardian Council, the country's election authority. He also appoints key posts in the intelligence services and the armed forces, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard. Additionally, he confirms the president's election.

In theory, the supreme leader is appointed by a body of clerics whom voters elect. But in practice, this body -- the Assembly of Experts -- has answered to the supreme leader.

Khamenei's authority has been challenged at times. Nearly half the members of Iran's parliament criticized him openly in 2004 for ordering general elections to go ahead despite a widespread belief that they would not be free or fair.

The elections took place as scheduled.

Khamenei supports the country's controversial nuclear program, and when President Obama reached out directly to the people of Iran with a video message, it was Khamenei who responded.

Khamenei said in March he saw no change in U.S. policy toward Iran despite Obama's promise of a "new beginning."

He said a change in rhetoric was not enough, and Washington must practice what it preaches, according to the English-language Press TV channel in Iran.

He hailed the disputed Iranian presidential election as "a miracle" for the record turnout, but that very public enthusiasm for the election may signal a shift that Khamenei failed to anticipate.

"He has now very much become his own man, but the country has changed," Hunter said.

"Look at the women's situation. They make a big deal out of saying how many women they have educated. That is true, but then you cannot expect them to keep doing things the same way."

text: CNN

text: Iranian

text: Supreme

text: Leader

text: Ayatollah

text: Ali

text: Khamenei

text: was

text: once

text: a

text: student

text: revolutionary

text: himself

text: perhaps

text: not

text: much

text: different

text: from

text: the

text: thousands

text: of

text: protesters

text: who

text: this

text: week

text: have

text: taken

text: to

text: the

text: streets

text: in

text: Iran

text: Ayatollah

text: Ali

text: Khamenei

text: became

text: a

text: political

text: activist

text: while

text: a

text: religious

text: scholar

text: studying

text: under

text: Ayatollah

text: Ruhollah

text: Khomeini

text: Khamenei

text: became

text: a

text: political

text: activist

text: while

text: a

text: religious

text: scholar

text: studying

text: under

text: Ayatollah

text: Ruhollah

text: Khomeini

text: among

text: others

text: according

text: to

text: his

text: biography

text: on

text: his

text: official

text: Web

text: site

text: He

text: was

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: circle

text: of

text: clerics

text: who

text: opposed

text: the

text: rule

text: of

text: the

text: shah

text: of

text: Iran

text: Mohammed

text: Reza

text: Pahlavi

text: and

text: was

text: jailed

text: by

text: the

text: shah

text: 's

text: secret

text: police

text: the

text: Savak

text: at

text: least

text: six

text: times

text: in

text: the

text: and

text: He

text: says

text: he

text: was

text: tortured

text: in

text: prison

text: before

text: being

text: exiled

text: in

text: three

text: years

text: before

text: the

text: revolution

text: that

text: deposed

text: the

text: shah

text: Khomeini

text: was

text: in

text: exile

text: in

text: Paris

text: France

text: when

text: the

text: shah

text: fled

text: Iran

text: in

text: He

text: appointed

text: Khamenei

text: to

text: represent

text: him

text: on

text: an

text: Islamic

text: Revolutionary

text: Council

text: alongside

text: other

text: key

text: figures

text: such

text: as

text: Ayatollah

text: Ali

text: Akbar

text: Hashemi

text: Rafsanjani

text: The

text: appointment

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: a

text: career

text: making

text: moment

text: for

text: Khamenei

text: who

text: was

text: a

text: fairly

text: low

text: level

text: scholar

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: said

text: Iran

text: analyst

text: Shireen

text: Hunter

text: a

text: visiting

text: scholar

text: at

text: Georgetown

text: University

text: in

text: Washington

text: Learn

text: more

text: about

text: Iran

text: 's

text: recent

text: history

text: He

text: is

text: not

text: qualified

text: to

text: be

text: an

text: ayatollah

text: or

text: top

text: ranking

text: Islamic

text: scholar

text: she

text: said

text: saying

text: he

text: had

text: picked

text: up

text: the

text: title

text: by

text: dint

text: of

text: succeeding

text: Khomeini

text: as

text: supreme

text: leader

text: like

text: an

text: honorary

text: doctorate

text: Khamenei

text: now

text: was

text: briefly

text: minister

text: of

text: defense

text: and

text: head

text: of

text: Iran

text: 's

text: Revolutionary

text: Guards

text: in

text: the

text: early

text: before

text: becoming

text: president

text: a

text: post

text: he

text: held

text: from

text: to

text: In

text: power

text: he

text: clashed

text: ideologically

text: with

text: Rafsanjani

text: favoring

text: a

text: more

text: left

text: wing

text: politics

text: than

text: Rafsanjani

text: who

text: came

text: from

text: a

text: more

text: bourgeois

text: background

text: than

text: the

text: poor

text: Khamenei

text: He

text: also

text: locked

text: horns

text: with

text: the

text: man

text: who

text: was

text: prime

text: minister

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: president

text: Mir

text: Hossein

text: Moussavi

text: now

text: the

text: most

text: prominent

text: opposition

text: leader

text: The

text: two

text: had

text: similar

text: anti

text: American

text: left

text: wing

text: politics

text: but

text: struggled

text: over

text: power

text: in

text: what

text: Hunter

text: called

text: the

text: two

text: headed

text: monster

text: that

text: was

text: then

text: the

text: Iranian

text: political

text: structure

text: There

text: were

text: turf

text: battles

text: between

text: the

text: president

text: and

text: the

text: prime

text: minister

text: she

text: said

text: Khomeini

text: died

text: in

text: and

text: Khamenei

text: was

text: appointed

text: the

text: next

text: supreme

text: leader

text: The

text: post

text: of

text: prime

text: minister

text: was

text: abolished

text: Rafsanjani

text: seems

text: to

text: have

text: been

text: a

text: kingmaker

text: in

text: the

text: elevation

text: of

text: Khamenei

text: to

text: the

text: top

text: job

text: Hunter

text: said

text: perhaps

text: thinking

text: he

text: would

text: be

text: the

text: power

text: behind

text: the

text: throne

text: But

text: with

text: time

text: Khamenei

text: has

text: become

text: his

text: own

text: man

text: she

text: said

text: Rafsanjani

text: was

text: president

text: in

text: the

text: but

text: lost

text: a

text: comeback

text: attempt

text: in

text: defeated

text: by

text: current

text: President

text: Mahmoud

text: Ahmadinejad

text: As

text: supreme

text: leader

text: Khamenei

text: is

text: the

text: ultimate

text: arbiter

text: of

text: policy

text: in

text: Iran

text: He

text: appoints

text: the

text: Guardian

text: Council

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: election

text: authority

text: He

text: also

text: appoints

text: key

text: posts

text: in

text: the

text: intelligence

text: services

text: and

text: the

text: armed

text: forces

text: including

text: the

text: powerful

text: Revolutionary

text: Guard

text: Additionally

text: he

text: confirms

text: the

text: president

text: 's

text: election

text: In

text: theory

text: the

text: supreme

text: leader

text: is

text: appointed

text: by

text: a

text: body

text: of

text: clerics

text: whom

text: voters

text: elect

text: But

text: in

text: practice

text: this

text: body

text: the

text: Assembly

text: of

text: Experts

text: has

text: answered

text: to

text: the

text: supreme

text: leader

text: Khamenei

text: 's

text: authority

text: has

text: been

text: challenged

text: at

text: times

text: Nearly

text: half

text: the

text: members

text: of

text: Iran

text: 's

text: parliament

text: criticized

text: him

text: openly

text: in

text: for

text: ordering

text: general

text: elections

text: to

text: go

text: ahead

text: despite

text: a

text: widespread

text: belief

text: that

text: they

text: would

text: not

text: be

text: free

text: or

text: fair

text: The

text: elections

text: took

text: place

text: as

text: scheduled

text: Khamenei

text: supports

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: controversial

text: nuclear

text: program

text: and

text: when

text: President

text: Obama

text: reached

text: out

text: directly

text: to

text: the

text: people

text: of

text: Iran

text: with

text: a

text: video

text: message

text: it

text: was

text: Khamenei

text: who

text: responded

text: Khamenei

text: said

text: in

text: March

text: he

text: saw

text: no

text: change

text: in

text: U.S.

text: policy

text: toward

text: Iran

text: despite

text: Obama

text: 's

text: promise

text: of

text: a

text: new

text: beginning

text: He

text: said

text: a

text: change

text: in

text: rhetoric

text: was

text: not

text: enough

text: and

text: Washington

text: must

text: practice

text: what

text: it

text: preaches

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: English

text: language

text: Press

text: TV

text: channel

text: in

text: Iran

text: He

text: hailed

text: the

text: disputed

text: Iranian

text: presidential

text: election

text: as

text: a

text: miracle

text: for

text: the

text: record

text: turnout

text: but

text: that

text: very

text: public

text: enthusiasm

text: for

text: the

text: election

text: may

text: signal

text: a

text: shift

text: that

text: Khamenei

text: failed

text: to

text: anticipate

text: He

text: has

text: now

text: very

text: much

text: become

text: his

text: own

text: man

text: but

text: the

text: country

text: has

text: changed

text: Hunter

text: said

text: Look

text: at

text: the

text: women

text: 's

text: situation

text: They

text: make

text: a

text: big

text: deal

text: out

text: of

text: saying

text: how

text: many

text: women

text: they

text: have

text: educated

text: That

text: is

text: true

text: but

text: then

text: you

text: can

text: not

text: expect

text: them

text: to

text: keep

text: doing

text: things

text: the

text: same

text: way

question: What was Khamenei's previous position?

answer: minister of defense and head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards

text: minister of defense and head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards

question: When was Khamenei president?

answer: 1982 to 1990.

text: 1982 to 1990.


text:
NEW YORK (CNN)  -- An employee of a luxurious New York hotel has been arrested in connection with the slaying of a woman in one of the hotel's residential condominiums, police say.

The Jumeirah Essex House is a landmark on Central Park South in New York.

Derrick Praileau, 29, faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Andree Bejjani, 44.

Police said Bejjani, who was originally from Lebanon, had moved to New York from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and had been staying in a residential condominium at the Jumeirah Essex House since August.

Bejjani's nude body was found Saturday afternoon on the 10th floor of the hotel on Central Park South. Her throat was slashed, authorities said. Police have not revealed a suspected motive for the slaying.

"This incident occurred in one of the private condominiums at The Essex House complex," the hotel said in a statement provided to CNN. "Our sincere condolences go out to the victim's family and we have offered our full support during this difficult time."

The statement continued: "We understand that a hotel employee has been arrested pending charges in conjunction with this incident. We continue to fully cooperate with the police throughout their investigation."

A message left with Praileau's defense attorney was not returned.

The hotel referred to Praileau only as an employee, but the New York Daily News said he was its housekeeping manager, citing Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

The 44-story Essex House opened in 1931, a landmark Art Deco building. It recently underwent a $90 million renovation.

The hotel has more than 500 luxury rooms and suites, along with several privately-owned residences. One six-room unit is currently on the market for $8.25 million.

text: NEW

text: YORK

text: CNN

text: An

text: employee

text: of

text: a

text: luxurious

text: New

text: York

text: hotel

text: has

text: been

text: arrested

text: in

text: connection

text: with

text: the

text: slaying

text: of

text: a

text: woman

text: in

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: hotel

text: 's

text: residential

text: condominiums

text: police

text: say

text: The

text: Jumeirah

text: Essex

text: House

text: is

text: a

text: landmark

text: on

text: Central

text: Park

text: South

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: Derrick

text: Praileau

text: faces

text: second

text: degree

text: murder

text: charges

text: in

text: connection

text: with

text: the

text: death

text: of

text: Andree

text: Bejjani

text: Police

text: said

text: Bejjani

text: who

text: was

text: originally

text: from

text: Lebanon

text: had

text: moved

text: to

text: New

text: York

text: from

text: Dubai

text: United

text: Arab

text: Emirates

text: and

text: had

text: been

text: staying

text: in

text: a

text: residential

text: condominium

text: at

text: the

text: Jumeirah

text: Essex

text: House

text: since

text: August

text: Bejjani

text: 's

text: nude

text: body

text: was

text: found

text: Saturday

text: afternoon

text: on

text: the

text: floor

text: of

text: the

text: hotel

text: on

text: Central

text: Park

text: South

text: Her

text: throat

text: was

text: slashed

text: authorities

text: said

text: Police

text: have

text: not

text: revealed

text: a

text: suspected

text: motive

text: for

text: the

text: slaying

text: This

text: incident

text: occurred

text: in

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: private

text: condominiums

text: at

text: The

text: Essex

text: House

text: complex

text: the

text: hotel

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: provided

text: to

text: CNN

text: Our

text: sincere

text: condolences

text: go

text: out

text: to

text: the

text: victim

text: 's

text: family

text: and

text: we

text: have

text: offered

text: our

text: full

text: support

text: during

text: this

text: difficult

text: time

text: The

text: statement

text: continued

text: We

text: understand

text: that

text: a

text: hotel

text: employee

text: has

text: been

text: arrested

text: pending

text: charges

text: in

text: conjunction

text: with

text: this

text: incident

text: We

text: continue

text: to

text: fully

text: cooperate

text: with

text: the

text: police

text: throughout

text: their

text: investigation

text: A

text: message

text: left

text: with

text: Praileau

text: 's

text: defense

text: attorney

text: was

text: not

text: returned

text: The

text: hotel

text: referred

text: to

text: Praileau

text: only

text: as

text: an

text: employee

text: but

text: the

text: New

text: York

text: Daily

text: News

text: said

text: he

text: was

text: its

text: housekeeping

text: manager

text: citing

text: Police

text: Commissioner

text: Raymond

text: Kelly

text: The

text: Essex

text: House

text: opened

text: in

text: a

text: landmark

text: Art

text: Deco

text: building

text: It

text: recently

text: underwent

text: a

text: million

text: renovation

text: The

text: hotel

text: has

text: more

text: than

text: luxury

text: rooms

text: and

text: suites

text: along

text: with

text: several

text: privately

text: owned

text: residences

text: One

text: six

text: room

text: unit

text: is

text: currently

text: on

text: the

text: market

text: for

text: million

question: Who was Praileau?

answer: housekeeping manager,

text: housekeeping manager,

question: What does Derrick Praileau face?

answer: second-degree murder charges

text: second-degree murder charges

question: who caused this crime

answer: Derrick Praileau,

text: Derrick Praileau,

question: Who was found dead on Saturday?

answer: Andree Bejjani,

text: Andree Bejjani,

question: how much old its Andree Bejjani?

answer: 44.


text:
(CNN) -- Among the entertainers who have donated their energies to the USO in recent years are Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Kid Rock, Queensryche, Toby Keith, Lewis Black and Robin Williams.

Stephen Colbert's trip to Iraq, facilitated by the USO, was six months in the planning.

But when the USO conducts a public opinion survey asking people who they think of when the military service organization is mentioned, one name always comes up.

"The first thing out of their mouths is 'Bob Hope,' " said Mark Phillips, the USO's vice president for communications, with an audible shrug. "And if they're not part of the military, the list stops there."

As the country celebrates Independence Day and pays tribute to the men and women who serve in its armed forces, the USO is trying to change that mindset.

The organization, which was founded in 1941 to bring comfort and entertainment to America's men and women in uniform, has been focusing its support on American troops stationed around the world, particularly those in the military theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan, said Phillips.

As part of that initiative, it's paying a great deal of attention to the troops' desires, whether they be for high technology -- the USO recently brought video game/HDTV entertainment centers and satellite-based telephone systems to some areas -- or a diversity of entertainers, including rappers and NFL players.

The Colbert trip was a meeting of the minds between the Comedy Central star and the military, said Rachel Tischler, the USO's vice president for entertainment operations. The "Colbert Report" host, who has attested to his interest in Iraq in such venues as Newsweek magazine (he was a guest editor last month), expressed interest in going, a request that made its way up the chain of command to Gen. David Petraeus, the former leader of coalition forces in Iraq. Petraeus liked the idea, said Tischler, and the principals were put in touch with the USO.

Colbert's excursion, which the comedian called "Operation Iraqi Stephen," was unusual for the USO, she added.

"We try to keep our footprint small," she said, noting that the organization is reliant on the military to feed and house its guests. In "Colbert's" case, the footprint was considerably larger: Colbert's staff and several USO employees -- not to mention 150 volunteers. The trip required six months of planning.

But the broadcasts went well, with Colbert paying tribute to the military and the USO's volunteers (as well as his own staff) on the "Report."

He also put in a plug for USO donations: "The USO does more than bring my show to Baghdad," Colbert said on the show. "They also deliver much-needed care packages to the troops." (Whereupon, in a care-package primer, Colbert and Tom Hanks filled a box with shaving gel, Tang and a demolished ice sculpture.)

The group remains greatly dependent on the kindness of strangers, said Phillips.

"We're primarily a volunteer organization," he said, noting the USO has fewer than 400 paid employees and 25,000 volunteers. Though the USO does receive a small congressional appropriation -- $20 million in 2008 -- much of its funding comes from individuals, corporations and in the form of in-kind services.

Jamie Masada, the owner of Los Angeles' Laugh Factory comedy club, said the organization is close to his heart. He followed a tour of Laugh Factory comedians with an invitation to service members to visit his club.

"What we try to do is give the soldiers -- the people that are out there putting their lives on the line for our country ... we try to say, one day if you come to Los Angeles, if you want to be a comedian, our door is open to you. We want you to send us some material, some jokes," he said.

At a recent USO fundraiser, five service members were given the opportunity to compete for the title of "funniest service member." The group was given advice from several notable comedians, including Tom Dreesen and Paul Rodriguez, and the winner received cash, gift certificates and a performance at the club, complete with name on the marquee.

A number of performers return again and again. Toby Keith has gone on at least seven USO tours; "He insists on going to the smallest, most remote places," said Phillips. Actor Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band are also frequent participants.

"There aren't enough words to describe just how grateful I am to our nation's troops," said Keith in a press release before this year's tour. "I've participated in several USO tours over the years and I've seen firsthand their sacrifice. And I will not stop doing all I can to show my support and lift their spirits."

Many entertainers shy away from publicity, particularly on the home front. "We have celebrities come to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Walter Reed ... and they almost always insist we don't talk about [the visits]," said Tischler.

At its core, Phillips said, the USO remains dedicated to the needs of U.S. service members.

"Service members in Iraq and Afghanistan are frequently at small, remote bases," said Phillips. "There's little in the way of creature comforts. Those are the things we try to deliver."

text: CNN

text: Among

text: the

text: entertainers

text: who

text: have

text: donated

text: their

text: energies

text: to

text: the

text: USO

text: in

text: recent

text: years

text: are

text: Stephen

text: Colbert

text: Jon

text: Stewart

text: Scarlett

text: Johansson

text: Kid

text: Rock

text: Queensryche

text: Toby

text: Keith

text: Lewis

text: Black

text: and

text: Robin

text: Williams

text: Stephen

text: Colbert

text: 's

text: trip

text: to

text: Iraq

text: facilitated

text: by

text: the

text: USO

text: was

text: six

text: months

text: in

text: the

text: planning

text: But

text: when

text: the

text: USO

text: conducts

text: a

text: public

text: opinion

text: survey

text: asking

text: people

text: who

text: they

text: think

text: of

text: when

text: the

text: military

text: service

text: organization

text: is

text: mentioned

text: one

text: name

text: always

text: comes

text: up

text: The

text: first

text: thing

text: out

text: of

text: their

text: mouths

text: is

text: Bob

text: Hope

text: said

text: Mark

text: Phillips

text: the

text: USO

text: 's

text: vice

text: president

text: for

text: communications

text: with

text: an

text: audible

text: shrug

text: And

text: if

text: they

text: 're

text: not

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: military

text: the

text: list

text: stops

text: there

text: As

text: the

text: country

text: celebrates

text: Independence

text: Day

text: and

text: pays

text: tribute

text: to

text: the

text: men

text: and

text: women

text: who

text: serve

text: in

text: its

text: armed

text: forces

text: the

text: USO

text: is

text: trying

text: to

text: change

text: that

text: mindset

text: The

text: organization

text: which

text: was

text: founded

text: in

text: to

text: bring

text: comfort

text: and

text: entertainment

text: to

text: America

text: 's

text: men

text: and

text: women

text: in

text: uniform

text: has

text: been

text: focusing

text: its

text: support

text: on

text: American

text: troops

text: stationed

text: around

text: the

text: world

text: particularly

text: those

text: in

text: the

text: military

text: theaters

text: of

text: Iraq

text: and

text: Afghanistan

text: said

text: Phillips

text: As

text: part

text: of

text: that

text: initiative

text: it

text: 's

text: paying

text: a

text: great

text: deal

text: of

text: attention

text: to

text: the

text: troops

text: desires

text: whether

text: they

text: be

text: for

text: high

text: technology

text: the

text: USO

text: recently

text: brought

text: video

text: game

text: HDTV

text: entertainment

text: centers

text: and

text: satellite

text: based

text: telephone

text: systems

text: to

text: some

text: areas

text: or

text: a

text: diversity

text: of

text: entertainers

text: including

text: rappers

text: and

text: NFL

text: players

text: The

text: Colbert

text: trip

text: was

text: a

text: meeting

text: of

text: the

text: minds

text: between

text: the

text: Comedy

text: Central

text: star

text: and

text: the

text: military

text: said

text: Rachel

text: Tischler

text: the

text: USO

text: 's

text: vice

text: president

text: for

text: entertainment

text: operations

text: The

text: Colbert

text: Report

text: host

text: who

text: has

text: attested

text: to

text: his

text: interest

text: in

text: Iraq

text: in

text: such

text: venues

text: as

text: Newsweek

text: magazine

text: he

text: was

text: a

text: guest

text: editor

text: last

text: month

text: expressed

text: interest

text: in

text: going

text: a

text: request

text: that

text: made

text: its

text: way

text: up

text: the

text: chain

text: of

text: command

text: to

text: Gen.

text: David

text: Petraeus

text: the

text: former

text: leader

text: of

text: coalition

text: forces

text: in

text: Iraq

text: Petraeus

text: liked

text: the

text: idea

text: said

text: Tischler

text: and

text: the

text: principals

text: were

text: put

text: in

text: touch

text: with

text: the

text: USO

text: Colbert

text: 's

text: excursion

text: which

text: the

text: comedian

text: called

text: Operation

text: Iraqi

text: Stephen

text: was

text: unusual

text: for

text: the

text: USO

text: she

text: added

text: We

text: try

text: to

text: keep

text: our

text: footprint

text: small

text: she

text: said

text: noting

text: that

text: the

text: organization

text: is

text: reliant

text: on

text: the

text: military

text: to

text: feed

text: and

text: house

text: its

text: guests

text: In

text: Colbert

text: 's

text: case

text: the

text: footprint

text: was

text: considerably

text: larger

text: Colbert

text: 's

text: staff

text: and

text: several

text: USO

text: employees

text: not

text: to

text: mention

text: volunteers

text: The

text: trip

text: required

text: six

text: months

text: of

text: planning

text: But

text: the

text: broadcasts

text: went

text: well

text: with

text: Colbert

text: paying

text: tribute

text: to

text: the

text: military

text: and

text: the

text: USO

text: 's

text: volunteers

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: his

text: own

text: staff

text: on

text: the

text: Report

text: He

text: also

text: put

text: in

text: a

text: plug

text: for

text: USO

text: donations

text: The

text: USO

text: does

text: more

text: than

text: bring

text: my

text: show

text: to

text: Baghdad

text: Colbert

text: said

text: on

text: the

text: show

text: They

text: also

text: deliver

text: much

text: needed

text: care

text: packages

text: to

text: the

text: troops

text: Whereupon

text: in

text: a

text: care

text: package

text: primer

text: Colbert

text: and

text: Tom

text: Hanks

text: filled

text: a

text: box

text: with

text: shaving

text: gel

text: Tang

text: and

text: a

text: demolished

text: ice

text: sculpture

text: The

text: group

text: remains

text: greatly

text: dependent

text: on

text: the

text: kindness

text: of

text: strangers

text: said

text: Phillips

text: We

text: 're

text: primarily

text: a

text: volunteer

text: organization

text: he

text: said

text: noting

text: the

text: USO

text: has

text: fewer

text: than

text: paid

text: employees

text: and

text: volunteers

text: Though

text: the

text: USO

text: does

text: receive

text: a

text: small

text: congressional

text: appropriation

text: million

text: in

text: much

text: of

text: its

text: funding

text: comes

text: from

text: individuals

text: corporations

text: and

text: in

text: the

text: form

text: of

text: in

text: kind

text: services

text: Jamie

text: Masada

text: the

text: owner

text: of

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: Laugh

text: Factory

text: comedy

text: club

text: said

text: the

text: organization

text: is

text: close

text: to

text: his

text: heart

text: He

text: followed

text: a

text: tour

text: of

text: Laugh

text: Factory

text: comedians

text: with

text: an

text: invitation

text: to

text: service

text: members

text: to

text: visit

text: his

text: club

text: What

text: we

text: try

text: to

text: do

text: is

text: give

text: the

text: soldiers

text: the

text: people

text: that

text: are

text: out

text: there

text: putting

text: their

text: lives

text: on

text: the

text: line

text: for

text: our

text: country

text: we

text: try

text: to

text: say

text: one

text: day

text: if

text: you

text: come

text: to

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: if

text: you

text: want

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: comedian

text: our

text: door

text: is

text: open

text: to

text: you

text: We

text: want

text: you

text: to

text: send

text: us

text: some

text: material

text: some

text: jokes

text: he

text: said

text: At

text: a

text: recent

text: USO

text: fundraiser

text: five

text: service

text: members

text: were

text: given

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: compete

text: for

text: the

text: title

text: of

text: funniest

text: service

text: member

text: The

text: group

text: was

text: given

text: advice

text: from

text: several

text: notable

text: comedians

text: including

text: Tom

text: Dreesen

text: and

text: Paul

text: Rodriguez

text: and

text: the

text: winner

text: received

text: cash

text: gift

text: certificates

text: and

text: a

text: performance

text: at

text: the

text: club

text: complete

text: with

text: name

text: on

text: the

text: marquee

text: A

text: number

text: of

text: performers

text: return

text: again

text: and

text: again

text: Toby

text: Keith

text: has

text: gone

text: on

text: at

text: least

text: seven

text: USO

text: tours

text: He

text: insists

text: on

text: going

text: to

text: the

text: smallest

text: most

text: remote

text: places

text: said

text: Phillips

text: Actor

text: Gary

text: Sinise

text: and

text: his

text: Lt

text: Dan

text: Band

text: are

text: also

text: frequent

text: participants

text: There

text: are

text: n't

text: enough

text: words

text: to

text: describe

text: just

text: how

text: grateful

text: I

text: am

text: to

text: our

text: nation

text: 's

text: troops

text: said

text: Keith

text: in

text: a

text: press

text: release

text: before

text: this

text: year

text: 's

text: tour

text: I

text: 've

text: participated

text: in

text: several

text: USO

text: tours

text: over

text: the

text: years

text: and

text: I

text: 've

text: seen

text: firsthand

text: their

text: sacrifice

text: And

text: I

text: will

text: not

text: stop

text: doing

text: all

text: I

text: can

text: to

text: show

text: my

text: support

text: and

text: lift

text: their

text: spirits

text: Many

text: entertainers

text: shy

text: away

text: from

text: publicity

text: particularly

text: on

text: the

text: home

text: front

text: We

text: have

text: celebrities

text: come

text: to

text: Bethesda

text: Naval

text: Hospital

text: Walter

text: Reed

text: and

text: they

text: almost

text: always

text: insist

text: we

text: do

text: n't

text: talk

text: about

text: the

text: visits

text: said

text: Tischler

text: At

text: its

text: core

text: Phillips

text: said

text: the

text: USO

text: remains

text: dedicated

text: to

text: the

text: needs

text: of

text: U.S.

text: service

text: members

text: Service

text: members

text: in

text: Iraq

text: and

text: Afghanistan

text: are

text: frequently

text: at

text: small

text: remote

text: bases

text: said

text: Phillips

text: There

text: 's

text: little

text: in

text: the

text: way

text: of

text: creature

text: comforts

text: Those

text: are

text: the

text: things

text: we

text: try

text: to

text: deliver

question: What do the group offer troops overseas?

answer: bring comfort and entertainment

text: bring comfort and entertainment

question: Where was the Colbert Report located?

answer: Iraq,

text: Iraq,

question: Whats the groups name?

answer: USO

text: USO

question: Who is frequently associated with USO?

answer: Colbert, Jon Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Kid Rock, Queensryche, Toby Keith, Lewis Black and Robin Williams.

text: Colbert, Jon Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Kid Rock, Queensryche, Toby Keith, Lewis Black and Robin Williams.