text:
PADANG, Indonesia (CNN) -- As many as 4,000 people could be buried under the rubble in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Indonesia, United Nations officials said Saturday.

Indonesian soldiers crawl under the rubble of a collapsed building to search for victims.

Local disaster management officials put the death toll from the quakes at 540.

Earlier U.N. figures that put the death toll at 1,100 were just estimates, said El-Mostafa Benlamlih, a U.N. humanitarian coordinator.

A 7.6-magnitude quake struck Sumatra on Wednesday and a 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit Thursday morning in the same region.

Wednesday's quake reduced buildings to rubble in the city. People used hammers, chisels and bare hands to dig through debris for survivors and belongings.  Watch CNN's Arwa Damon report on search-and-rescue efforts Â»

Staff at a local hospital treated the injured outside the semi-collapsed building as bodies of the dead lay in makeshift morgues.

An area that now looks like a flattened mess of destruction was, just days ago, a group of three villages.

Officials believe 90 percent of the residents -- as many as a few hundred people -- were buried, just one piece of the devastation from two large earthquakes that struck Indonesia in as many days.

The stench of dead bodies fills the air.

Indonesia's health ministry and ministry of social affairs said Friday they believe thousands remain buried beneath rubble.

The West Sumatran capital, Padang, with about a million residents, is near the epicenter.

CNN's Arwa Damon spoke with a few dozen survivors from these villages in the area, most of whom only made it through because they weren't home during the quake. They remained huddled together in a tent, in shock over what had happened.

One older woman said eight of her family members were buried. She had been buried up to her chest and had to dig herself out.

Another survivor, a 27-year-old man, told CNN four of his family members were killed. His home used to be on top of a cliff in the area. Now, there is only mud.

Search and rescue teams are working with the military, but so far, only 25 bodies have been recovered.

With each passing day, the scope of the devastation grows.  Watch aftermath at house leveled by quake Â»

President Obama spoke with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday after trying several times to reach him, the White House said.

Obama received an update on the situation on the ground from Yudhoyono in the five-minute call.

The White House statement says Obama "offered, on behalf of the United States, to do everything we can to help alleviate the suffering and provide assistance to the relief operation."

The U.N.'s Holmes told reporters Thursday that hundreds are believed to be injured. "These numbers, I fear, will rise as more information becomes available," he added.

Telecommunications are difficult in the region, roads are cut off, and the hardest-hit area, including Padang, lacks power and other services, Holmes said. In addition, heavy rainfall has hindered search and rescue efforts.

Some have suggested the damage may be worse than that of a 6.3-magnitude quake centered in the central Java city of Yogyakarta in May 2006, Holmes said. That temblor killed more than 5,000 people and triggered fears of an eruption from a nearby volcano.

Many people wandered the streets of Padang stunned and dazed. Some searched the rubble for survivors.

Staff at a local hospital treated the injured outside the semi-collapsed building as bodies of the dead lay in makeshift morgues.

Several of the hospital's buildings were severely damaged. Damage in the town itself was spotty; some buildings remained intact near others in ruins.

"Aftershocks can be just as devastating as the initial quake," said Adjie Fachrurrazi, emergency response coordinator in Indonesia for the CARE aid organization, in a statement. "After an earthquake of this size, we know the immediate needs are going to be getting safe water, food and emergency supplies to the survivors. The question now is: How bad is it? We're hoping for the best, but the information so far is not looking good."

Amelia Merrick, the operations director for World Vision Indonesia, described the situation as "quite devastating."

"Bridges have gone down, phone lines are in total disrepair," she said. "It's difficult for us to assess the situation."

Earlier this month, an earthquake in West Java killed 57 people.

CNN's Arwa Damon and Ben Adams near Padang, Indonesia; Andy Saputra in Jakarta, Indonesia; and Tricia Escobedo in Atlanta, Georgia, contributed to this report.

text: PADANG

text: Indonesia

text: CNN

text: As

text: many

text: as

text: people

text: could

text: be

text: buried

text: under

text: the

text: rubble

text: in

text: the

text: aftermath

text: of

text: the

text: devastating

text: earthquakes

text: in

text: Indonesia

text: United

text: Nations

text: officials

text: said

text: Saturday

text: Indonesian

text: soldiers

text: crawl

text: under

text: the

text: rubble

text: of

text: a

text: collapsed

text: building

text: to

text: search

text: for

text: victims

text: Local

text: disaster

text: management

text: officials

text: put

text: the

text: death

text: toll

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text: quakes

text: at

text: Earlier

text: U.N.

text: figures

text: that

text: put

text: the

text: death

text: toll

text: at

text: were

text: just

text: estimates

text: said

text: El

text: Mostafa

text: Benlamlih

text: a

text: U.N.

text: humanitarian

text: coordinator

text: A

text: quake

text: struck

text: Sumatra

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: and

text: a

text: earthquake

text: hit

text: Thursday

text: morning

text: in

text: the

text: same

text: region

text: Wednesday

text: 's

text: quake

text: reduced

text: buildings

text: to

text: rubble

text: in

text: the

text: city

text: People

text: used

text: hammers

text: chisels

text: and

text: bare

text: hands

text: to

text: dig

text: through

text: debris

text: for

text: survivors

text: and

text: belongings

text: Watch

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Arwa

text: Damon

text: report

text: on

text: search

text: and

text: rescue

text: efforts

text: Â

text: Staff

text: at

text: a

text: local

text: hospital

text: treated

text: the

text: injured

text: outside

text: the

text: semi

text: collapsed

text: building

text: as

text: bodies

text: of

text: the

text: dead

text: lay

text: in

text: makeshift

text: morgues

text: An

text: area

text: that

text: now

text: looks

text: like

text: a

text: flattened

text: mess

text: of

text: destruction

text: was

text: just

text: days

text: ago

text: a

text: group

text: of

text: three

text: villages

text: Officials

text: believe

text: percent

text: of

text: the

text: residents

text: as

text: many

text: as

text: a

text: few

text: hundred

text: people

text: were

text: buried

text: just

text: one

text: piece

text: of

text: the

text: devastation

text: from

text: two

text: large

text: earthquakes

text: that

text: struck

text: Indonesia

text: in

text: as

text: many

text: days

text: The

text: stench

text: of

text: dead

text: bodies

text: fills

text: the

text: air

text: Indonesia

text: 's

text: health

text: ministry

text: and

text: ministry

text: of

text: social

text: affairs

text: said

text: Friday

text: they

text: believe

text: thousands

text: remain

text: buried

text: beneath

text: rubble

text: The

text: West

text: Sumatran

text: capital

text: Padang

text: with

text: about

text: a

text: million

text: residents

text: is

text: near

text: the

text: epicenter

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Arwa

text: Damon

text: spoke

text: with

text: a

text: few

text: dozen

text: survivors

text: from

text: these

text: villages

text: in

text: the

text: area

text: most

text: of

text: whom

text: only

text: made

text: it

text: through

text: because

text: they

text: were

text: n't

text: home

text: during

text: the

text: quake

text: They

text: remained

text: huddled

text: together

text: in

text: a

text: tent

text: in

text: shock

text: over

text: what

text: had

text: happened

text: One

text: older

text: woman

text: said

text: eight

text: of

text: her

text: family

text: members

text: were

text: buried

text: She

text: had

text: been

text: buried

text: up

text: to

text: her

text: chest

text: and

text: had

text: to

text: dig

text: herself

text: out

text: Another

text: survivor

text: a

text: old

text: man

text: told

text: CNN

text: four

text: of

text: his

text: family

text: members

text: were

text: killed

text: His

text: home

text: used

text: to

text: be

text: on

text: top

text: of

text: a

text: cliff

text: in

text: the

text: area

text: Now

text: there

text: is

text: only

text: mud

text: Search

text: and

text: rescue

text: teams

text: are

text: working

text: with

text: the

text: military

text: but

text: so

text: far

text: only

text: bodies

text: have

text: been

text: recovered

text: With

text: each

text: passing

text: day

text: the

text: scope

text: of

text: the

text: devastation

text: grows

text: Watch

text: aftermath

text: at

text: house

text: leveled

text: by

text: quake

text: Â

text: President

text: Obama

text: spoke

text: with

text: Indonesian

text: President

text: Susilo

text: Bambang

text: Yudhoyono

text: on

text: Friday

text: after

text: trying

text: several

text: times

text: to

text: reach

text: him

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: said

text: Obama

text: received

text: an

text: update

text: on

text: the

text: situation

text: on

text: the

text: ground

text: from

text: Yudhoyono

text: in

text: the

text: five

text: minute

text: call

text: The

text: White

text: House

text: statement

text: says

text: Obama

text: offered

text: on

text: behalf

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: to

text: do

text: everything

text: we

text: can

text: to

text: help

text: alleviate

text: the

text: suffering

text: and

text: provide

text: assistance

text: to

text: the

text: relief

text: operation

text: The

text: U.N.

text: 's

text: Holmes

text: told

text: reporters

text: Thursday

text: that

text: hundreds

text: are

text: believed

text: to

text: be

text: injured

text: These

text: numbers

text: I

text: fear

text: will

text: rise

text: as

text: more

text: information

text: becomes

text: available

text: he

text: added

text: Telecommunications

text: are

text: difficult

text: in

text: the

text: region

text: roads

text: are

text: cut

text: off

text: and

text: the

text: hardest

text: hit

text: area

text: including

text: Padang

text: lacks

text: power

text: and

text: other

text: services

text: Holmes

text: said

text: In

text: addition

text: heavy

text: rainfall

text: has

text: hindered

text: search

text: and

text: rescue

text: efforts

text: Some

text: have

text: suggested

text: the

text: damage

text: may

text: be

text: worse

text: than

text: that

text: of

text: a

text: quake

text: centered

text: in

text: the

text: central

text: Java

text: city

text: of

text: Yogyakarta

text: in

text: May

text: Holmes

text: said

text: That

text: temblor

text: killed

text: more

text: than

text: people

text: and

text: triggered

text: fears

text: of

text: an

text: eruption

text: from

text: a

text: nearby

text: volcano

text: Many

text: people

text: wandered

text: the

text: streets

text: of

text: Padang

text: stunned

text: and

text: dazed

text: Some

text: searched

text: the

text: rubble

text: for

text: survivors

text: Staff

text: at

text: a

text: local

text: hospital

text: treated

text: the

text: injured

text: outside

text: the

text: semi

text: collapsed

text: building

text: as

text: bodies

text: of

text: the

text: dead

text: lay

text: in

text: makeshift

text: morgues

text: Several

text: of

text: the

text: hospital

text: 's

text: buildings

text: were

text: severely

text: damaged

text: Damage

text: in

text: the

text: town

text: itself

text: was

text: spotty

text: some

text: buildings

text: remained

text: intact

text: near

text: others

text: in

text: ruins

text: Aftershocks

text: can

text: be

text: just

text: as

text: devastating

text: as

text: the

text: initial

text: quake

text: said

text: Adjie

text: Fachrurrazi

text: emergency

text: response

text: coordinator

text: in

text: Indonesia

text: for

text: the

text: CARE

text: aid

text: organization

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: After

text: an

text: earthquake

text: of

text: this

text: size

text: we

text: know

text: the

text: immediate

text: needs

text: are

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: getting

text: safe

text: water

text: food

text: and

text: emergency

text: supplies

text: to

text: the

text: survivors

text: The

text: question

text: now

text: is

text: How

text: bad

text: is

text: it

text: We

text: 're

text: hoping

text: for

text: the

text: best

text: but

text: the

text: information

text: so

text: far

text: is

text: not

text: looking

text: good

text: Amelia

text: Merrick

text: the

text: operations

text: director

text: for

text: World

text: Vision

text: Indonesia

text: described

text: the

text: situation

text: as

text: quite

text: devastating

text: Bridges

text: have

text: gone

text: down

text: phone

text: lines

text: are

text: in

text: total

text: disrepair

text: she

text: said

text: It

text: 's

text: difficult

text: for

text: us

text: to

text: assess

text: the

text: situation

text: Earlier

text: this

text: month

text: an

text: earthquake

text: in

text: West

text: Java

text: killed

text: people

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Arwa

text: Damon

text: and

text: Ben

text: Adams

text: near

text: Padang

text: Indonesia

text: Andy

text: Saputra

text: in

text: Jakarta

text: Indonesia

text: and

text: Tricia

text: Escobedo

text: in

text: Atlanta

text: Georgia

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: what caused this

answer: devastating earthquakes in Indonesia,

text: devastating earthquakes in Indonesia,

question: What is the current death toll?

answer: 1,100

question: What are people digging through?

answer: rubble

text: rubble

question: What kinds of tools have people been using to did through the rubble for survivors?

answer: hammers, chisels and bare hands

text: hammers, chisels and bare hands

question: What has hampered the rescue efforts?

answer: , heavy rainfal

text: , heavy rainfal

question: Who fears that 4,000 people are buried beneath rubble?

answer: United Nations officials

text: United Nations officials

question: when did this happen

answer: Saturday.

text: Saturday.

question: What has hampered rescue efforts?

answer: , heavy rainfal

text: , heavy rainfal


text:
Jerusalem (CNN) -- Following an investigation, Israel apologized to Egypt this week over an August incident in which five Egyptian border guards were killed, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said.

The apology, issued Tuesday, was overshadowed by news that a deal had been reached for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by the Palestinian group Hamas more than five years ago. However, it was largely seen as an olive branch to the transitional Egyptian government, as relations between Israel and Egypt have become strained in recent months.

On August 18, militants crossed into Israel from Egyptian territory to attack Israeli civilian targets. Eight Israeli citizens were killed in the attacks, which Israel has said were the work of a jihadist group based in Gaza. Responding to the attacks, Israeli troops killed five Egyptian border guards while in pursuit of the militants.

The investigation into the incident was conducted by senior Israel Defense Forces officials and Egyptian army officials, the Ministry of Defense said. For security reasons, the ministry said, the results of the probe remain sealed.

Israel issued a rare statement of regret three days after the incident, after Egypt suggested it was recalling its ambassador in protest.

The overture, however, was deemed insufficient by many in Egypt and days later, angry protesters ransacked the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. The entire staff was hastily withdrawn after U.S. President Barack Obama personally intervened with the Egyptians to secure their safe passage, but the sequence of events dealt a blow to Israeli-Egyptian relations.

In the wake of the embassy incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would stick to its 1979 peace agreement with Egypt.

In the Tuesday statement, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the August militant attack was "despicable" and "meant to murder as many Israeli citizens as possible and destroy the peaceful relations that are strategically important between Israel and Egypt," the Tuesday statement said.

But "based on the findings of the investigation, the defense minister decided to express his apology to Egypt over the death of every Egyptian policeman who was killed while on duty as a result of Israeli fire."

Netanyahu, meanwhile, spoke Thursday with the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi and thanked him for the "central role" Egypt played in the agreement for Shalit's return, the prime minister's office said.

"Your assistance warms the cockles of the heart of all Israeli citizens," Netanyahu told Tantawi.

text: Jerusalem

text: CNN

text: Following

text: an

text: investigation

text: Israel

text: apologized

text: to

text: Egypt

text: this

text: week

text: over

text: an

text: August

text: incident

text: in

text: which

text: five

text: Egyptian

text: border

text: guards

text: were

text: killed

text: the

text: Israeli

text: Ministry

text: of

text: Defense

text: said

text: The

text: apology

text: issued

text: Tuesday

text: was

text: overshadowed

text: by

text: news

text: that

text: a

text: deal

text: had

text: been

text: reached

text: for

text: the

text: release

text: of

text: Israeli

text: soldier

text: Gilad

text: Shalit

text: who

text: was

text: captured

text: by

text: the

text: Palestinian

text: group

text: Hamas

text: more

text: than

text: five

text: years

text: ago

text: However

text: it

text: was

text: largely

text: seen

text: as

text: an

text: olive

text: branch

text: to

text: the

text: transitional

text: Egyptian

text: government

text: as

text: relations

text: between

text: Israel

text: and

text: Egypt

text: have

text: become

text: strained

text: in

text: recent

text: months

text: On

text: August

text: militants

text: crossed

text: into

text: Israel

text: from

text: Egyptian

text: territory

text: to

text: attack

text: Israeli

text: civilian

text: targets

text: Eight

text: Israeli

text: citizens

text: were

text: killed

text: in

text: the

text: attacks

text: which

text: Israel

text: has

text: said

text: were

text: the

text: work

text: of

text: a

text: jihadist

text: group

text: based

text: in

text: Gaza

text: Responding

text: to

text: the

text: attacks

text: Israeli

text: troops

text: killed

text: five

text: Egyptian

text: border

text: guards

text: while

text: in

text: pursuit

text: of

text: the

text: militants

text: The

text: investigation

text: into

text: the

text: incident

text: was

text: conducted

text: by

text: senior

text: Israel

text: Defense

text: Forces

text: officials

text: and

text: Egyptian

text: army

text: officials

text: the

text: Ministry

text: of

text: Defense

text: said

text: For

text: security

text: reasons

text: the

text: ministry

text: said

text: the

text: results

text: of

text: the

text: probe

text: remain

text: sealed

text: Israel

text: issued

text: a

text: rare

text: statement

text: of

text: regret

text: three

text: days

text: after

text: the

text: incident

text: after

text: Egypt

text: suggested

text: it

text: was

text: recalling

text: its

text: ambassador

text: in

text: protest

text: The

text: overture

text: however

text: was

text: deemed

text: insufficient

text: by

text: many

text: in

text: Egypt

text: and

text: days

text: later

text: angry

text: protesters

text: ransacked

text: the

text: Israeli

text: Embassy

text: in

text: Cairo

text: The

text: entire

text: staff

text: was

text: hastily

text: withdrawn

text: after

text: U.S.

text: President

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: personally

text: intervened

text: with

text: the

text: Egyptians

text: to

text: secure

text: their

text: safe

text: passage

text: but

text: the

text: sequence

text: of

text: events

text: dealt

text: a

text: blow

text: to

text: Israeli

text: Egyptian

text: relations

text: In

text: the

text: wake

text: of

text: the

text: embassy

text: incident

text: Israeli

text: Prime

text: Minister

text: Benjamin

text: Netanyahu

text: said

text: Israel

text: would

text: stick

text: to

text: its

text: peace

text: agreement

text: with

text: Egypt

text: In

text: the

text: Tuesday

text: statement

text: Israeli

text: Defense

text: Minister

text: Ehud

text: Barak

text: said

text: the

text: August

text: militant

text: attack

text: was

text: despicable

text: and

text: meant

text: to

text: murder

text: as

text: many

text: Israeli

text: citizens

text: as

text: possible

text: and

text: destroy

text: the

text: peaceful

text: relations

text: that

text: are

text: strategically

text: important

text: between

text: Israel

text: and

text: Egypt

text: the

text: Tuesday

text: statement

text: said

text: But

text: based

text: on

text: the

text: findings

text: of

text: the

text: investigation

text: the

text: defense

text: minister

text: decided

text: to

text: express

text: his

text: apology

text: to

text: Egypt

text: over

text: the

text: death

text: of

text: every

text: Egyptian

text: policeman

text: who

text: was

text: killed

text: while

text: on

text: duty

text: as

text: a

text: result

text: of

text: Israeli

text: fire

text: Netanyahu

text: meanwhile

text: spoke

text: Thursday

text: with

text: the

text: head

text: of

text: Egypt

text: 's

text: Supreme

text: Council

text: of

text: the

text: Armed

text: Forces

text: Field

text: Marshal

text: Mohamed

text: Tantawi

text: and

text: thanked

text: him

text: for

text: the

text: central

text: role

text: Egypt

text: played

text: in

text: the

text: agreement

text: for

text: Shalit

text: 's

text: return

text: the

text: prime

text: minister

text: 's

text: office

text: said

text: Your

text: assistance

text: warms

text: the

text: cockles

text: of

text: the

text: heart

text: of

text: all

text: Israeli

text: citizens

text: Netanyahu

text: told

text: Tantawi

question: Who did Israeli troop[s kill?

answer: five Egyptian border guards

text: five Egyptian border guards

question: To who Netanyahu has been spoke to about Salit`s return?

answer: head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi

text: head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi

question: where did 5 Egyptian border guards were killed?

answer: Jerusalem

text: Jerusalem

question: What did Netanyahu do?

answer: said Israel would stick to its 1979 peace agreement with Egypt.

text: said Israel would stick to its 1979 peace agreement with Egypt.

question: What are the relations between the nations?

answer: strained

text: strained

question: when did Relations between the two nations have been strained ?

answer: in recent months.

text: in recent months.

question: What happens in incident in August on Egyptian border?

answer: five

text: five


text:
(CNN) -- The U.S. military did major damage to the site of one of the wonders of the ancient world while converting it into a base, the United Nations said in a new report.

An U.S. soldier looks over the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq in 2004.

The site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was converted into Camp Alpha shortly after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003.

The troops and their contractors caused "major damage" by digging, cutting, scraping and leveling while they were revamping the site to meet military standards, the U.N. cultural agency, UNESCO, said in a report.

"Key structures that were damaged include the Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way," the report added.

The Ishtar Gate, an entrance to the northern part of the city, is decorated with animals that portray the symbol of the god of the city of Babylon.

"Damage to the gate includes smashed bricks on nine of the bodies of the animals adorning the gate," according to the report.

A military official said she had not seen the U.N. report, but added that one of the reasons troops set up a base at the site was to safeguard it.

"Coalition forces first occupied the Babylon site in April 2003 during the ground campaign of Operation Iraqi Freedom with a purpose, among others, of protecting the ruins from looting after the provincial museums in Babylon and Kufa were robbed of their entire contents," said Lt. Col. Tamara Parker, a spokeswoman.

"U.S. forces respect historical sites in Iraq," she added.

The United Nations lists additional damage to the site, including trenches used as firing positions and barbed wire secured to various spots.

The stakes used to set up the barbed wire damaged walls, according to the report.

Babylon, an hour's drive south of Baghdad, dates to ancient Mesopotamia. The city on the banks of the Euphrates River was the home of Hammurabi and later Nebuchadnezzar, who built the famous gardens for his wife. Alexander the Great wished to make Babylon his capital, but died before realizing his plan.

During colonial times, archaeologists hauled off Babylon's artifacts to Europe. Some of those artifacts can be seen in a museum in Berlin, Germany.

The site was occupied by Camp Alpha from September 2003 till December 2004, the report said.

The United States has agreed to pay $800,000 to help rehabilitate the Babylon site, an Iraqi official said.

"We were very disappointed when multinational forces took over these ancient sites as bases although they knew how important these sites are to Iraqis and to the entire world," said Abdulzahra al-Talaqani, spokesman for the ministry of tourism.

Plans are under way to clean up the area in August with the help of hundreds of volunteers, according to al-Talaqani.

The U.N. report noted that U.S. troops were not solely responsible for ruining the 4,000-year-old city. Before their arrival, local residents had contributed to the damage, mostly through development, the report said.

"The features of the western side of the city of Babylon disappeared many years ago due to encroachment by agriculture and development on the archaeological zone," the report said.

text: CNN

text: The

text: U.S.

text: military

text: did

text: major

text: damage

text: to

text: the

text: site

text: of

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: wonders

text: of

text: the

text: ancient

text: world

text: while

text: converting

text: it

text: into

text: a

text: base

text: the

text: United

text: Nations

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: new

text: report

text: An

text: U.S.

text: soldier

text: looks

text: over

text: the

text: ancient

text: city

text: of

text: Babylon

text: in

text: Iraq

text: in

text: The

text: site

text: of

text: the

text: Hanging

text: Gardens

text: of

text: Babylon

text: was

text: converted

text: into

text: Camp

text: Alpha

text: shortly

text: after

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: invaded

text: Iraq

text: in

text: The

text: troops

text: and

text: their

text: contractors

text: caused

text: major

text: damage

text: by

text: digging

text: cutting

text: scraping

text: and

text: leveling

text: while

text: they

text: were

text: revamping

text: the

text: site

text: to

text: meet

text: military

text: standards

text: the

text: U.N.

text: cultural

text: agency

text: UNESCO

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: report

text: Key

text: structures

text: that

text: were

text: damaged

text: include

text: the

text: Ishtar

text: Gate

text: and

text: the

text: Processional

text: Way

text: the

text: report

text: added

text: The

text: Ishtar

text: Gate

text: an

text: entrance

text: to

text: the

text: northern

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: city

text: is

text: decorated

text: with

text: animals

text: that

text: portray

text: the

text: symbol

text: of

text: the

text: god

text: of

text: the

text: city

text: of

text: Babylon

text: Damage

text: to

text: the

text: gate

text: includes

text: smashed

text: bricks

text: on

text: nine

text: of

text: the

text: bodies

text: of

text: the

text: animals

text: adorning

text: the

text: gate

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: report

text: A

text: military

text: official

text: said

text: she

text: had

text: not

text: seen

text: the

text: U.N.

text: report

text: but

text: added

text: that

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: reasons

text: troops

text: set

text: up

text: a

text: base

text: at

text: the

text: site

text: was

text: to

text: safeguard

text: it

text: Coalition

text: forces

text: first

text: occupied

text: the

text: Babylon

text: site

text: in

text: April

text: during

text: the

text: ground

text: campaign

text: of

text: Operation

text: Iraqi

text: Freedom

text: with

text: a

text: purpose

text: among

text: others

text: of

text: protecting

text: the

text: ruins

text: from

text: looting

text: after

text: the

text: provincial

text: museums

text: in

text: Babylon

text: and

text: Kufa

text: were

text: robbed

text: of

text: their

text: entire

text: contents

text: said

text: Lt

text: Col

text: Tamara

text: Parker

text: a

text: spokeswoman

text: U.S.

text: forces

text: respect

text: historical

text: sites

text: in

text: Iraq

text: she

text: added

text: The

text: United

text: Nations

text: lists

text: additional

text: damage

text: to

text: the

text: site

text: including

text: trenches

text: used

text: as

text: firing

text: positions

text: and

text: barbed

text: wire

text: secured

text: to

text: various

text: spots

text: The

text: stakes

text: used

text: to

text: set

text: up

text: the

text: barbed

text: wire

text: damaged

text: walls

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: report

text: Babylon

text: an

text: hour

text: 's

text: drive

text: south

text: of

text: Baghdad

text: dates

text: to

text: ancient

text: Mesopotamia

text: The

text: city

text: on

text: the

text: banks

text: of

text: the

text: Euphrates

text: River

text: was

text: the

text: home

text: of

text: Hammurabi

text: and

text: later

text: Nebuchadnezzar

text: who

text: built

text: the

text: famous

text: gardens

text: for

text: his

text: wife

text: Alexander

text: the

text: Great

text: wished

text: to

text: make

text: Babylon

text: his

text: capital

text: but

text: died

text: before

text: realizing

text: his

text: plan

text: During

text: colonial

text: times

text: archaeologists

text: hauled

text: off

text: Babylon

text: 's

text: artifacts

text: to

text: Europe

text: Some

text: of

text: those

text: artifacts

text: can

text: be

text: seen

text: in

text: a

text: museum

text: in

text: Berlin

text: Germany

text: The

text: site

text: was

text: occupied

text: by

text: Camp

text: Alpha

text: from

text: September

text: till

text: December

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: The

text: United

text: States

text: has

text: agreed

text: to

text: pay

text: to

text: help

text: rehabilitate

text: the

text: Babylon

text: site

text: an

text: Iraqi

text: official

text: said

text: We

text: were

text: very

text: disappointed

text: when

text: multinational

text: forces

text: took

text: over

text: these

text: ancient

text: sites

text: as

text: bases

text: although

text: they

text: knew

text: how

text: important

text: these

text: sites

text: are

text: to

text: Iraqis

text: and

text: to

text: the

text: entire

text: world

text: said

text: Abdulzahra

text: al

text: Talaqani

text: spokesman

text: for

text: the

text: ministry

text: of

text: tourism

text: Plans

text: are

text: under

text: way

text: to

text: clean

text: up

text: the

text: area

text: in

text: August

text: with

text: the

text: help

text: of

text: hundreds

text: of

text: volunteers

text: according

text: to

text: al

text: Talaqani

text: The

text: U.N.

text: report

text: noted

text: that

text: U.S.

text: troops

text: were

text: not

text: solely

text: responsible

text: for

text: ruining

text: the

text: old

text: city

text: Before

text: their

text: arrival

text: local

text: residents

text: had

text: contributed

text: to

text: the

text: damage

text: mostly

text: through

text: development

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: The

text: features

text: of

text: the

text: western

text: side

text: of

text: the

text: city

text: of

text: Babylon

text: disappeared

text: many

text: years

text: ago

text: due

text: to

text: encroachment

text: by

text: agriculture

text: and

text: development

text: on

text: the

text: archaeological

text: zone

text: the

text: report

text: said

question: How much is the U.S. paying to clean the site?

answer: $800,000

question: Where was Camp Alpha built?

answer: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

text: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

question: what was build on historic site

answer: Camp Alpha

text: Camp Alpha

question: What does the U.N. report claim about Babylon?

answer: U.S. military did major damage to the site

text: U.S. military did major damage to the site

question: What landmark suffered extensive damage?

answer: The site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

text: The site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

question: who damaged babylon

answer: U.S. military

text: U.S. military

question: Where was Camp Alpha?

answer: site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

text: site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

question: Who is accused of damaging Babylon?

answer: U.S. military

text: U.S. military

question: how much damage

answer: major

text: major


text:
(CNN) -- When scores of disgruntled Tunisians took to the streets in January to demand the ouster of their country's president, actor Dhafer L'Abidine was watching from afar.

Based in the UK, L'Abidine, who is one of Tunisia's most famous actors, went through a roller-coaster of emotions as he watched the unfolding of the uprising that subsequently spurred the Arab Spring.

"I was trying to keep in touch all the time and see what happens and follow the news and understand what's happening," remembers L'Abidine.

"You go through everything," he says. "Sadness, frustration and then happy moments at the end so it was a difficult time but I think it was an amazing time and I think what's happening now is quite amazing because you've got the first free elections coming in October -- it's a new page in the Tunisian history."

The months of civil unrest culminated in the collapse of the regime of Tunisia's President Zine el Abidine who ruled the country for more than 20 years.

Today, the north African country is still dealing with the aftermath of the revolution but people remain optimistic that the move to democracy can still be achieved.

L'Abidine, who has set up a production company in Tunisia, believes the recent events will open up opportunities for artists in the country, giving them the freedom to express themselves without any restrictions.

"Before, if you write something that doesn't suit the ideas of the dictatorship or the government then there's no way you're going to make it," says L'Abidine, a former football player and model.

"Now, at least we've got the freedom to write stories that we want to tell -- the censorship is not there. I think this is a great opportunity for artists, whether singers or writers or filmmakers, just to go for it and use the opportunity into progressing the movie industry back home."

The talented actor is perhaps best-known for his part in big-budget romantic comedy "Sex and the City 2," in which he played the role of a charming host whose job was to look after the film's four main characters on a trip to Abu Dhabi.

"It was great fun," says L'Abidine about his part in the Hollywood movie. "I had some filming to do in New York and then in Morocco and it was a great experience -- just to be involved in such an iconic TV program and then a film, so I'm very happy about having been part of that."

While L'Abidine has been carving a successful path as an actor in the international stage -- his work also includes roles in "Centurion" and "The Stone Merchant" -- he's maintained links with the region he's from, getting the best of the two worlds.

The much-traveled actor has appeared in several TV series across the Middle East and North Africa and also presented one of the biggest talent shows in the region -- "Prince of Poets" -- with an audience of about 20 million viewers per show.

"I'm lucky in a way that actually I can go back to Tunisia or in the Middle East and do different roles in Arabic or sometimes in French or in English," says L'Abidine who is fluent in four languages. "Playing different parts and also being in England there's a great opportunity to do different roles."

But long before wowing moviegoers, L'Abidine pursued his teenage passion for football in Tunisia, going to school during the day and training in the evening.

After spending three years in France, where he studied computer science and played football, L'Abidine returned to Tunisia before relocating to the United Kingdom to follow his dream of acting.

But settling in his new environment wasn't without challenges -- L'Abidine, who at the time didn't speak the language, had to divide his time between studying hard and working part-time in restaurants and bars in London to support himself.

"There were hard times but now when you look back they were very useful and actually you can learn from them and they make you who you are -- at the end, you can't have a life experience just with good things, the difficult times are also very useful for now and for the future," says L'Abidine.

Passionate about his country, L'Abidine says January's revolution shows the world that Tunisia is not just a tourist destination but a place with long history and rich culture.

"I'm proud to be Tunisian and I'm proud to what's happening now in Tunisia and I'm proud of the people who actually lost their lives so then people like me and others can have a better future," he says.

"I'm very grateful to them, I think it's a difficult time for other counties now -- Arab countries -- because they're going through the same process but I think the reward at the end is so great.

"I'm positive about it and I think it's an amazing time for the Arab world."

text: CNN

text: When

text: scores

text: of

text: disgruntled

text: Tunisians

text: took

text: to

text: the

text: streets

text: in

text: January

text: to

text: demand

text: the

text: ouster

text: of

text: their

text: country

text: 's

text: president

text: actor

text: Dhafer

text: L'Abidine

text: was

text: watching

text: from

text: afar

text: Based

text: in

text: the

text: UK

text: L'Abidine

text: who

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: Tunisia

text: 's

text: most

text: famous

text: actors

text: went

text: through

text: a

text: roller

text: coaster

text: of

text: emotions

text: as

text: he

text: watched

text: the

text: unfolding

text: of

text: the

text: uprising

text: that

text: subsequently

text: spurred

text: the

text: Arab

text: Spring

text: I

text: was

text: trying

text: to

text: keep

text: in

text: touch

text: all

text: the

text: time

text: and

text: see

text: what

text: happens

text: and

text: follow

text: the

text: news

text: and

text: understand

text: what

text: 's

text: happening

text: remembers

text: L'Abidine

text: You

text: go

text: through

text: everything

text: he

text: says

text: Sadness

text: frustration

text: and

text: then

text: happy

text: moments

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: so

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: difficult

text: time

text: but

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: was

text: an

text: amazing

text: time

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: what

text: 's

text: happening

text: now

text: is

text: quite

text: amazing

text: because

text: you

text: 've

text: got

text: the

text: first

text: free

text: elections

text: coming

text: in

text: October

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: new

text: page

text: in

text: the

text: Tunisian

text: history

text: The

text: months

text: of

text: civil

text: unrest

text: culminated

text: in

text: the

text: collapse

text: of

text: the

text: regime

text: of

text: Tunisia

text: 's

text: President

text: Zine

text: el

text: Abidine

text: who

text: ruled

text: the

text: country

text: for

text: more

text: than

text: years

text: Today

text: the

text: north

text: African

text: country

text: is

text: still

text: dealing

text: with

text: the

text: aftermath

text: of

text: the

text: revolution

text: but

text: people

text: remain

text: optimistic

text: that

text: the

text: move

text: to

text: democracy

text: can

text: still

text: be

text: achieved

text: L'Abidine

text: who

text: has

text: set

text: up

text: a

text: production

text: company

text: in

text: Tunisia

text: believes

text: the

text: recent

text: events

text: will

text: open

text: up

text: opportunities

text: for

text: artists

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: giving

text: them

text: the

text: freedom

text: to

text: express

text: themselves

text: without

text: any

text: restrictions

text: Before

text: if

text: you

text: write

text: something

text: that

text: does

text: n't

text: suit

text: the

text: ideas

text: of

text: the

text: dictatorship

text: or

text: the

text: government

text: then

text: there

text: 's

text: no

text: way

text: you

text: 're

text: going

text: to

text: make

text: it

text: says

text: L'Abidine

text: a

text: former

text: football

text: player

text: and

text: model

text: Now

text: at

text: least

text: we

text: 've

text: got

text: the

text: freedom

text: to

text: write

text: stories

text: that

text: we

text: want

text: to

text: tell

text: the

text: censorship

text: is

text: not

text: there

text: I

text: think

text: this

text: is

text: a

text: great

text: opportunity

text: for

text: artists

text: whether

text: singers

text: or

text: writers

text: or

text: filmmakers

text: just

text: to

text: go

text: for

text: it

text: and

text: use

text: the

text: opportunity

text: into

text: progressing

text: the

text: movie

text: industry

text: back

text: home

text: The

text: talented

text: actor

text: is

text: perhaps

text: best

text: known

text: for

text: his

text: part

text: in

text: big

text: budget

text: romantic

text: comedy

text: Sex

text: and

text: the

text: City

text: in

text: which

text: he

text: played

text: the

text: role

text: of

text: a

text: charming

text: host

text: whose

text: job

text: was

text: to

text: look

text: after

text: the

text: film

text: 's

text: four

text: main

text: characters

text: on

text: a

text: trip

text: to

text: Abu

text: Dhabi

text: It

text: was

text: great

text: fun

text: says

text: L'Abidine

text: about

text: his

text: part

text: in

text: the

text: Hollywood

text: movie

text: I

text: had

text: some

text: filming

text: to

text: do

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: and

text: then

text: in

text: Morocco

text: and

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: great

text: experience

text: just

text: to

text: be

text: involved

text: in

text: such

text: an

text: iconic

text: TV

text: program

text: and

text: then

text: a

text: film

text: so

text: I

text: 'm

text: very

text: happy

text: about

text: having

text: been

text: part

text: of

text: that

text: While

text: L'Abidine

text: has

text: been

text: carving

text: a

text: successful

text: path

text: as

text: an

text: actor

text: in

text: the

text: international

text: stage

text: his

text: work

text: also

text: includes

text: roles

text: in

text: Centurion

text: and

text: The

text: Stone

text: Merchant

text: he

text: 's

text: maintained

text: links

text: with

text: the

text: region

text: he

text: 's

text: from

text: getting

text: the

text: best

text: of

text: the

text: two

text: worlds

text: The

text: much

text: traveled

text: actor

text: has

text: appeared

text: in

text: several

text: TV

text: series

text: across

text: the

text: Middle

text: East

text: and

text: North

text: Africa

text: and

text: also

text: presented

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: biggest

text: talent

text: shows

text: in

text: the

text: region

text: Prince

text: of

text: Poets

text: with

text: an

text: audience

text: of

text: about

text: million

text: viewers

text: per

text: show

text: I

text: 'm

text: lucky

text: in

text: a

text: way

text: that

text: actually

text: I

text: can

text: go

text: back

text: to

text: Tunisia

text: or

text: in

text: the

text: Middle

text: East

text: and

text: do

text: different

text: roles

text: in

text: Arabic

text: or

text: sometimes

text: in

text: French

text: or

text: in

text: English

text: says

text: L'Abidine

text: who

text: is

text: fluent

text: in

text: four

text: languages

text: Playing

text: different

text: parts

text: and

text: also

text: being

text: in

text: England

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: great

text: opportunity

text: to

text: do

text: different

text: roles

text: But

text: long

text: before

text: wowing

text: moviegoers

text: L'Abidine

text: pursued

text: his

text: teenage

text: passion

text: for

text: football

text: in

text: Tunisia

text: going

text: to

text: school

text: during

text: the

text: day

text: and

text: training

text: in

text: the

text: evening

text: After

text: spending

text: three

text: years

text: in

text: France

text: where

text: he

text: studied

text: computer

text: science

text: and

text: played

text: football

text: L'Abidine

text: returned

text: to

text: Tunisia

text: before

text: relocating

text: to

text: the

text: United

text: Kingdom

text: to

text: follow

text: his

text: dream

text: of

text: acting

text: But

text: settling

text: in

text: his

text: new

text: environment

text: was

text: n't

text: without

text: challenges

text: L'Abidine

text: who

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: did

text: n't

text: speak

text: the

text: language

text: had

text: to

text: divide

text: his

text: time

text: between

text: studying

text: hard

text: and

text: working

text: part

text: time

text: in

text: restaurants

text: and

text: bars

text: in

text: London

text: to

text: support

text: himself

text: There

text: were

text: hard

text: times

text: but

text: now

text: when

text: you

text: look

text: back

text: they

text: were

text: very

text: useful

text: and

text: actually

text: you

text: can

text: learn

text: from

text: them

text: and

text: they

text: make

text: you

text: who

text: you

text: are

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: you

text: ca

text: n't

text: have

text: a

text: life

text: experience

text: just

text: with

text: good

text: things

text: the

text: difficult

text: times

text: are

text: also

text: very

text: useful

text: for

text: now

text: and

text: for

text: the

text: future

text: says

text: L'Abidine

text: Passionate

text: about

text: his

text: country

text: L'Abidine

text: says

text: January

text: 's

text: revolution

text: shows

text: the

text: world

text: that

text: Tunisia

text: is

text: not

text: just

text: a

text: tourist

text: destination

text: but

text: a

text: place

text: with

text: long

text: history

text: and

text: rich

text: culture

text: I

text: 'm

text: proud

text: to

text: be

text: Tunisian

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: proud

text: to

text: what

text: 's

text: happening

text: now

text: in

text: Tunisia

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: proud

text: of

text: the

text: people

text: who

text: actually

text: lost

text: their

text: lives

text: so

text: then

text: people

text: like

text: me

text: and

text: others

text: can

text: have

text: a

text: better

text: future

text: he

text: says

text: I

text: 'm

text: very

text: grateful

text: to

text: them

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: difficult

text: time

text: for

text: other

text: counties

text: now

text: Arab

text: countries

text: because

text: they

text: 're

text: going

text: through

text: the

text: same

text: process

text: but

text: I

text: think

text: the

text: reward

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: is

text: so

text: great

text: I

text: 'm

text: positive

text: about

text: it

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: 's

text: an

text: amazing

text: time

text: for

text: the

text: Arab

text: world

question: What show is he know for appearing in?

answer: "Prince of Poets"

text: "Prince of Poets"

question: What is the name of the actor?

answer: Dhafer L'Abidine

text: Dhafer L'Abidine

question: Is he a famous person in tunisia?

answer: Dhafer L'Abidine

text: Dhafer L'Abidine

question: What role is he best known for?

answer: of a charming host whose job was to look after the film's four main characters on a trip to Abu Dhabi.

text: of a charming host whose job was to look after the film's four main characters on a trip to Abu Dhabi.

question: which role is he best known for?

answer: "Sex and the City 2,"

text: "Sex and the City 2,"

question: What country is the actor from?

answer: Tunisia's

text: Tunisia's

question: when was the uprising in Tunisia?

answer: in January

text: in January


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House and Senate Democrats reached agreement late Monday on a budget resolution for 2010, which includes key spending priorities for the young Obama administration.

The Senate and House could vote on the budget resolution Tuesday. President Obama's budget request is $3.67 trillion.

"This budget is a major accomplishment," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said in a statement. "We are meeting President Obama's goals of reducing our dependence on foreign energy, striving for excellence in education, reforming our health care system, and providing middle-class tax relief."

The agreement came as lawmakers were reconciling the House and Senate versions of the budget package. The president's budget request is $3.67 trillion.

The full Senate and House are each expected to vote on the fiscal 2010 budget resolution this week. The House vote could come as soon as Tuesday.

Budget negotiators have fast-tracked part of the budget process. Major health reform is likely to pass this year, because the special process -- known as budget reconciliation -- won't allow Republicans to filibuster the legislation, as was widely expected.

Democrats, who currently control 58 seats in the Senate, will be able to pass it with a simple majority vote, instead of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster.

Separately, conservative Democrats in the House, who have been pushing for a strong statement from leadership on fiscal responsibility in the budget, may have some of their concerns addressed.

A Democratic aide told CNN that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer are drafting a letter to Senate leaders "throwing down the gauntlet" to insist that a pay-as-you-go system be followed, which would require new federal spending to be offset with budget cuts or tax increases.

President Barack Obama called for the so-called "PAYGO" legislation in his weekend radio address.

The budget resolution would limit increases in non-defense discretionary spending to 2.9 percent through 2014, according to Conrad.

"While the budget resolution takes important steps in the near-term of cutting the deficit in half by 2012 and by two-thirds by 2014, it is clear that more will be needed to address the long-term fiscal imbalance confronting the nation beyond the five-year budget window," said Conrad.

President Obama gathered his Cabinet members last week and challenged them to cut a total of $100 million in the next 90 days.

In the context of the federal budget, $100 million in savings is a tiny amount, critics said. It is the equivalent, according to one example, of having a car dealer offer to shave $1 from the cost of a $36,700 vehicle.

"Any amount of savings is obviously welcome," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said at the time. "But ($100 million is) about the average amount we'll spend every single day just covering the interest on the stimulus package that we passed earlier this year."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said ordinary Americans would nevertheless appreciate the savings effort.

"Only in Washington, D.C., is $100 million dollars not a lot of money. It is where I'm from. It is where I grew up. And I think it is for hundreds of millions of Americans."

CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: House

text: and

text: Senate

text: Democrats

text: reached

text: agreement

text: late

text: Monday

text: on

text: a

text: budget

text: resolution

text: for

text: which

text: includes

text: key

text: spending

text: priorities

text: for

text: the

text: young

text: Obama

text: administration

text: The

text: Senate

text: and

text: House

text: could

text: vote

text: on

text: the

text: budget

text: resolution

text: Tuesday

text: President

text: Obama

text: 's

text: budget

text: request

text: is

text: trillion

text: This

text: budget

text: is

text: a

text: major

text: accomplishment

text: Senate

text: Budget

text: Committee

text: Chairman

text: Kent

text: Conrad

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: We

text: are

text: meeting

text: President

text: Obama

text: 's

text: goals

text: of

text: reducing

text: our

text: dependence

text: on

text: foreign

text: energy

text: striving

text: for

text: excellence

text: in

text: education

text: reforming

text: our

text: health

text: care

text: system

text: and

text: providing

text: middle

text: class

text: tax

text: relief

text: The

text: agreement

text: came

text: as

text: lawmakers

text: were

text: reconciling

text: the

text: House

text: and

text: Senate

text: versions

text: of

text: the

text: budget

text: package

text: The

text: president

text: 's

text: budget

text: request

text: is

text: trillion

text: The

text: full

text: Senate

text: and

text: House

text: are

text: each

text: expected

text: to

text: vote

text: on

text: the

text: fiscal

text: budget

text: resolution

text: this

text: week

text: The

text: House

text: vote

text: could

text: come

text: as

text: soon

text: as

text: Tuesday

text: Budget

text: negotiators

text: have

text: fast

text: tracked

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: budget

text: process

text: Major

text: health

text: reform

text: is

text: likely

text: to

text: pass

text: this

text: year

text: because

text: the

text: special

text: process

text: known

text: as

text: budget

text: reconciliation

text: wo

text: n't

text: allow

text: Republicans

text: to

text: filibuster

text: the

text: legislation

text: as

text: was

text: widely

text: expected

text: Democrats

text: who

text: currently

text: control

text: seats

text: in

text: the

text: Senate

text: will

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: pass

text: it

text: with

text: a

text: simple

text: majority

text: vote

text: instead

text: of

text: the

text: needed

text: to

text: overcome

text: a

text: filibuster

text: Separately

text: conservative

text: Democrats

text: in

text: the

text: House

text: who

text: have

text: been

text: pushing

text: for

text: a

text: strong

text: statement

text: from

text: leadership

text: on

text: fiscal

text: responsibility

text: in

text: the

text: budget

text: may

text: have

text: some

text: of

text: their

text: concerns

text: addressed

text: A

text: Democratic

text: aide

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: House

text: Speaker

text: Nancy

text: Pelosi

text: and

text: House

text: Majority

text: Whip

text: Steny

text: Hoyer

text: are

text: drafting

text: a

text: letter

text: to

text: Senate

text: leaders

text: throwing

text: down

text: the

text: gauntlet

text: to

text: insist

text: that

text: a

text: pay

text: as

text: you

text: go

text: system

text: be

text: followed

text: which

text: would

text: require

text: new

text: federal

text: spending

text: to

text: be

text: offset

text: with

text: budget

text: cuts

text: or

text: tax

text: increases

text: President

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: called

text: for

text: the

text: so

text: called

text: PAYGO

text: legislation

text: in

text: his

text: weekend

text: radio

text: address

text: The

text: budget

text: resolution

text: would

text: limit

text: increases

text: in

text: non

text: defense

text: discretionary

text: spending

text: to

text: percent

text: through

text: according

text: to

text: Conrad

text: While

text: the

text: budget

text: resolution

text: takes

text: important

text: steps

text: in

text: the

text: near

text: term

text: of

text: cutting

text: the

text: deficit

text: in

text: half

text: by

text: and

text: by

text: two

text: thirds

text: by

text: it

text: is

text: clear

text: that

text: more

text: will

text: be

text: needed

text: to

text: address

text: the

text: long

text: term

text: fiscal

text: imbalance

text: confronting

text: the

text: nation

text: beyond

text: the

text: five

text: year

text: budget

text: window

text: said

text: Conrad

text: President

text: Obama

text: gathered

text: his

text: Cabinet

text: members

text: last

text: week

text: and

text: challenged

text: them

text: to

text: cut

text: a

text: total

text: of

text: million

text: in

text: the

text: next

text: days

text: In

text: the

text: context

text: of

text: the

text: federal

text: budget

text: million

text: in

text: savings

text: is

text: a

text: tiny

text: amount

text: critics

text: said

text: It

text: is

text: the

text: equivalent

text: according

text: to

text: one

text: example

text: of

text: having

text: a

text: car

text: dealer

text: offer

text: to

text: shave

text: from

text: the

text: cost

text: of

text: a

text: vehicle

text: Any

text: amount

text: of

text: savings

text: is

text: obviously

text: welcome

text: Senate

text: Minority

text: Leader

text: Mitch

text: McConnell

text: R

text: Kentucky

text: said

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: But

text: million

text: is

text: about

text: the

text: average

text: amount

text: we

text: 'll

text: spend

text: every

text: single

text: day

text: just

text: covering

text: the

text: interest

text: on

text: the

text: stimulus

text: package

text: that

text: we

text: passed

text: earlier

text: this

text: year

text: White

text: House

text: Press

text: Secretary

text: Robert

text: Gibbs

text: said

text: ordinary

text: Americans

text: would

text: nevertheless

text: appreciate

text: the

text: savings

text: effort

text: Only

text: in

text: Washington

text: D.C.

text: is

text: million

text: dollars

text: not

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: money

text: It

text: is

text: where

text: I

text: 'm

text: from

text: It

text: is

text: where

text: I

text: grew

text: up

text: And

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: is

text: for

text: hundreds

text: of

text: millions

text: of

text: Americans

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Deirdre

text: Walsh

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What are they voting for?

answer: budget resolution

text: budget resolution

question: When do senate and house vote?

answer: Tuesday.

text: Tuesday.

question: When are they voting?

answer: Tuesday.

text: Tuesday.


text:
(CNN) -- Just days before he was sworn in, President Obama was giving his daughters a tour of the Lincoln Memorial when one of them pointed to a copy of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address carved into the wall.

President Obama strides into history as the nation's first black president.

Obama's 7-year-old daughter, Sasha, told her father that Lincoln's speech was really long. Would he have to give a speech as long? Obama's answer was completed by his older daughter, 10-year-old Malia.

"I said, 'Actually, that one is pretty short. Mine may even be a little longer,' " Obama told CNN recently. "At which point, Malia turns to me and says, 'First African-American president, better be good.' "

The story is light-hearted, but it touches on a delicate question: Will people hold Obama to a different standard because he is the first African-American president?

Americans appear split by race on that answer. According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, 53 percent of blacks say the American public will hold Obama to a higher standard than past presidents because he is black. Most whites -- 61 percent -- say Obama's race will not matter in how he will be judged.

The question divided several people who were racial pioneers themselves.

Alexander Jefferson was one of the first blacks allowed to become a fighter pilot. He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black pilots who escorted bombers in World War II.

"We had to be twice as good to be average," he says.

Obama won't face the same pressures he did because his presidential predecessor was so inept, Jefferson says.

"No, the world is ready for him," he says. "The [George W.] Bush debacle was so depressing."

Jefferson was shot down by ground fire on his 19th mission and spent a year in German prison camps. He wrote about his POW experiences in "Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW."

Jefferson says he dealt with the pressures of being a racial pioneer by drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors for him.

"I sit on the backs of everyone who came before me," says Jefferson, who attended Obama's inauguration with other Tuskegee Airmen.

Jefferson says he would have emotionally imploded if he'd thought too much about the pressures of representing all blacks and dealing with the racism he encountered when he returned home to a segregated America after the war.

"I did what I had to do so I didn't go stark-raving mad," he says. "There wasn't all this self-analysis and back and forth. I was too damn busy with a wife, a child and a mortgage."

Michele Andrea Bowen couldn't avoid a bout of constant self-analysis. She was one of the first African-American students admitted to a doctorate program in history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"I know Obama is going to be held to a different standard," says Bowen, author of "Up at the College" and books such as "Holy Ghost Corner," which celebrate black faith and culture.

Bowen says she faced relentless scrutiny, and so will Obama.

"You know that it was hard for you to get in it, and you know they're watching you," Bowen says. "And you know that they're judging you by a critical standard that's sometimes not fair."

Bowen says a white classmate, her partner in dissertation, once confided to her that he received the same grades as she did, even though he knew his work was inferior.

"It toughened me up," Bowen says. "It can give you headaches and stomachaches. I learned you have to be thankful that God blessed you with that opportunity. At some point, you stop worrying, and you trust God."

'Would Bush have been president if he were black?'

Perhaps Obama will avoid those stomachaches because of the massive good will his election has generated. But that could change quickly if Obama makes a controversial decision or a mistake, says Andrew Rojecki, co-author of "The Black Image in the White Mind: Media and Race in America."

Rojecki says people who say Obama isn't going to be held to a different standard because of his skin color didn't pay attention to his campaign.

He says Obama had to deal with challenges that other candidates didn't have to face. Obama's run for office was almost ended by his association with his minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose incendiary sermons shocked many.

But Republican presidential nominee John McCain's relationship with the Rev. John Hagee, who was accused of anti-Semitism, never threatened to end his campaign, Rojecki says.

"Obama was held responsible for what his minister said, and McCain was associated with Hagee, but somehow that didn't stick," says Rojecki, a communication professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Even people who regard themselves as the most progressive, open-minded supporters may subconsciously hold Obama to a different standard, Rojecki says.

He says several academic studies show that it often takes people longer to associate good qualities to blacks when different faces are flashed across a screen.

"They have these stereotypes buried in their subconscious," he says. "That's why people cross the street when they see a young black man. They'd rather not take a chance."

Obama virtually had to be perfect to overcome those stereotypes, Rojecki says. He was the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review, he has an Ivy League-educated wife and adorable daughters, and he ran a great campaign.

"He's the perfect symbol of achievement," Rojecki says.

White candidates for office don't have to have an uninterrupted life of achievement to be considered for the Oval Office, Rojecki says.

"If George W. Bush were black, do you think he would be president?" Rojecki says.

Jefferson, the Tuskegee Airman, says Obama should have at least one consolation. The problems he confronts now are so immense that anyone, even someone who was considered by many to be perfect, would not be able to escape withering judgment.

"If the president was Jesus Christ, '' Jefferson says, "they would still debate if he's qualified."

text: CNN

text: Just

text: days

text: before

text: he

text: was

text: sworn

text: in

text: President

text: Obama

text: was

text: giving

text: his

text: daughters

text: a

text: tour

text: of

text: the

text: Lincoln

text: Memorial

text: when

text: one

text: of

text: them

text: pointed

text: to

text: a

text: copy

text: of

text: Abraham

text: Lincoln

text: 's

text: second

text: inaugural

text: address

text: carved

text: into

text: the

text: wall

text: President

text: Obama

text: strides

text: into

text: history

text: as

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: first

text: black

text: president

text: Obama

text: 's

text: old

text: daughter

text: Sasha

text: told

text: her

text: father

text: that

text: Lincoln

text: 's

text: speech

text: was

text: really

text: long

text: Would

text: he

text: have

text: to

text: give

text: a

text: speech

text: as

text: long

text: Obama

text: 's

text: answer

text: was

text: completed

text: by

text: his

text: older

text: daughter

text: old

text: Malia

text: I

text: said

text: Actually

text: that

text: one

text: is

text: pretty

text: short

text: Mine

text: may

text: even

text: be

text: a

text: little

text: longer

text: Obama

text: told

text: CNN

text: recently

text: At

text: which

text: point

text: Malia

text: turns

text: to

text: me

text: and

text: says

text: First

text: African

text: American

text: president

text: better

text: be

text: good

text: The

text: story

text: is

text: light

text: hearted

text: but

text: it

text: touches

text: on

text: a

text: delicate

text: question

text: Will

text: people

text: hold

text: Obama

text: to

text: a

text: different

text: standard

text: because

text: he

text: is

text: the

text: first

text: African

text: American

text: president

text: Americans

text: appear

text: split

text: by

text: race

text: on

text: that

text: answer

text: According

text: to

text: a

text: CNN

text: Opinion

text: Research

text: Corp.

text: poll

text: percent

text: of

text: blacks

text: say

text: the

text: American

text: public

text: will

text: hold

text: Obama

text: to

text: a

text: higher

text: standard

text: than

text: past

text: presidents

text: because

text: he

text: is

text: black

text: Most

text: whites

text: percent

text: say

text: Obama

text: 's

text: race

text: will

text: not

text: matter

text: in

text: how

text: he

text: will

text: be

text: judged

text: The

text: question

text: divided

text: several

text: people

text: who

text: were

text: racial

text: pioneers

text: themselves

text: Alexander

text: Jefferson

text: was

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: first

text: blacks

text: allowed

text: to

text: become

text: a

text: fighter

text: pilot

text: He

text: was

text: a

text: member

text: of

text: the

text: Tuskegee

text: Airmen

text: a

text: group

text: of

text: black

text: pilots

text: who

text: escorted

text: bombers

text: in

text: World

text: War

text: II

text: We

text: had

text: to

text: be

text: twice

text: as

text: good

text: to

text: be

text: average

text: he

text: says

text: Obama

text: wo

text: n't

text: face

text: the

text: same

text: pressures

text: he

text: did

text: because

text: his

text: presidential

text: predecessor

text: was

text: so

text: inept

text: Jefferson

text: says

text: No

text: the

text: world

text: is

text: ready

text: for

text: him

text: he

text: says

text: The

text: George

text: W.

text: Bush

text: debacle

text: was

text: so

text: depressing

text: Jefferson

text: was

text: shot

text: down

text: by

text: ground

text: fire

text: on

text: his

text: mission

text: and

text: spent

text: a

text: year

text: in

text: German

text: prison

text: camps

text: He

text: wrote

text: about

text: his

text: POW

text: experiences

text: in

text: Red

text: Tail

text: Captured

text: Red

text: Tail

text: Free

text: Memoirs

text: of

text: a

text: Tuskegee

text: Airman

text: and

text: POW

text: Jefferson

text: says

text: he

text: dealt

text: with

text: the

text: pressures

text: of

text: being

text: a

text: racial

text: pioneer

text: by

text: drawing

text: on

text: the

text: strength

text: of

text: black

text: leaders

text: who

text: opened

text: doors

text: for

text: him

text: I

text: sit

text: on

text: the

text: backs

text: of

text: everyone

text: who

text: came

text: before

text: me

text: says

text: Jefferson

text: who

text: attended

text: Obama

text: 's

text: inauguration

text: with

text: other

text: Tuskegee

text: Airmen

text: Jefferson

text: says

text: he

text: would

text: have

text: emotionally

text: imploded

text: if

text: he

text: 'd

text: thought

text: too

text: much

text: about

text: the

text: pressures

text: of

text: representing

text: all

text: blacks

text: and

text: dealing

text: with

text: the

text: racism

text: he

text: encountered

text: when

text: he

text: returned

text: home

text: to

text: a

text: segregated

text: America

text: after

text: the

text: war

text: I

text: did

text: what

text: I

text: had

text: to

text: do

text: so

text: I

text: did

text: n't

text: go

text: stark

text: raving

text: mad

text: he

text: says

text: There

text: was

text: n't

text: all

text: this

text: self

text: analysis

text: and

text: back

text: and

text: forth

text: I

text: was

text: too

text: damn

text: busy

text: with

text: a

text: wife

text: a

text: child

text: and

text: a

text: mortgage

text: Michele

text: Andrea

text: Bowen

text: could

text: n't

text: avoid

text: a

text: bout

text: of

text: constant

text: self

text: analysis

text: She

text: was

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: first

text: African

text: American

text: students

text: admitted

text: to

text: a

text: doctorate

text: program

text: in

text: history

text: at

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: North

text: Carolina

text: at

text: Chapel

text: Hill

text: I

text: know

text: Obama

text: is

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: held

text: to

text: a

text: different

text: standard

text: says

text: Bowen

text: author

text: of

text: Up

text: at

text: the

text: College

text: and

text: books

text: such

text: as

text: Holy

text: Ghost

text: Corner

text: which

text: celebrate

text: black

text: faith

text: and

text: culture

text: Bowen

text: says

text: she

text: faced

text: relentless

text: scrutiny

text: and

text: so

text: will

text: Obama

text: You

text: know

text: that

text: it

text: was

text: hard

text: for

text: you

text: to

text: get

text: in

text: it

text: and

text: you

text: know

text: they

text: 're

text: watching

text: you

text: Bowen

text: says

text: And

text: you

text: know

text: that

text: they

text: 're

text: judging

text: you

text: by

text: a

text: critical

text: standard

text: that

text: 's

text: sometimes

text: not

text: fair

text: Bowen

text: says

text: a

text: white

text: classmate

text: her

text: partner

text: in

text: dissertation

text: once

text: confided

text: to

text: her

text: that

text: he

text: received

text: the

text: same

text: grades

text: as

text: she

text: did

text: even

text: though

text: he

text: knew

text: his

text: work

text: was

text: inferior

text: It

text: toughened

text: me

text: up

text: Bowen

text: says

text: It

text: can

text: give

text: you

text: headaches

text: and

text: stomachaches

text: I

text: learned

text: you

text: have

text: to

text: be

text: thankful

text: that

text: God

text: blessed

text: you

text: with

text: that

text: opportunity

text: At

text: some

text: point

text: you

text: stop

text: worrying

text: and

text: you

text: trust

text: God

text: Would

text: Bush

text: have

text: been

text: president

text: if

text: he

text: were

text: black

text: Perhaps

text: Obama

text: will

text: avoid

text: those

text: stomachaches

text: because

text: of

text: the

text: massive

text: good

text: will

text: his

text: election

text: has

text: generated

text: But

text: that

text: could

text: change

text: quickly

text: if

text: Obama

text: makes

text: a

text: controversial

text: decision

text: or

text: a

text: mistake

text: says

text: Andrew

text: Rojecki

text: co

text: author

text: of

text: The

text: Black

text: Image

text: in

text: the

text: White

text: Mind

text: Media

text: and

text: Race

text: in

text: America

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: people

text: who

text: say

text: Obama

text: is

text: n't

text: going

text: to

text: be

text: held

text: to

text: a

text: different

text: standard

text: because

text: of

text: his

text: skin

text: color

text: did

text: n't

text: pay

text: attention

text: to

text: his

text: campaign

text: He

text: says

text: Obama

text: had

text: to

text: deal

text: with

text: challenges

text: that

text: other

text: candidates

text: did

text: n't

text: have

text: to

text: face

text: Obama

text: 's

text: run

text: for

text: office

text: was

text: almost

text: ended

text: by

text: his

text: association

text: with

text: his

text: minister

text: the

text: Rev.

text: Jeremiah

text: Wright

text: whose

text: incendiary

text: sermons

text: shocked

text: many

text: But

text: Republican

text: presidential

text: nominee

text: John

text: McCain

text: 's

text: relationship

text: with

text: the

text: Rev.

text: John

text: Hagee

text: who

text: was

text: accused

text: of

text: anti

text: Semitism

text: never

text: threatened

text: to

text: end

text: his

text: campaign

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: Obama

text: was

text: held

text: responsible

text: for

text: what

text: his

text: minister

text: said

text: and

text: McCain

text: was

text: associated

text: with

text: Hagee

text: but

text: somehow

text: that

text: did

text: n't

text: stick

text: says

text: Rojecki

text: a

text: communication

text: professor

text: at

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: Illinois

text: at

text: Chicago

text: Even

text: people

text: who

text: regard

text: themselves

text: as

text: the

text: most

text: progressive

text: open

text: minded

text: supporters

text: may

text: subconsciously

text: hold

text: Obama

text: to

text: a

text: different

text: standard

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: He

text: says

text: several

text: academic

text: studies

text: show

text: that

text: it

text: often

text: takes

text: people

text: longer

text: to

text: associate

text: good

text: qualities

text: to

text: blacks

text: when

text: different

text: faces

text: are

text: flashed

text: across

text: a

text: screen

text: They

text: have

text: these

text: stereotypes

text: buried

text: in

text: their

text: subconscious

text: he

text: says

text: That

text: 's

text: why

text: people

text: cross

text: the

text: street

text: when

text: they

text: see

text: a

text: young

text: black

text: man

text: They

text: 'd

text: rather

text: not

text: take

text: a

text: chance

text: Obama

text: virtually

text: had

text: to

text: be

text: perfect

text: to

text: overcome

text: those

text: stereotypes

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: He

text: was

text: the

text: first

text: black

text: editor

text: of

text: the

text: Harvard

text: Law

text: Review

text: he

text: has

text: an

text: Ivy

text: League

text: educated

text: wife

text: and

text: adorable

text: daughters

text: and

text: he

text: ran

text: a

text: great

text: campaign

text: He

text: 's

text: the

text: perfect

text: symbol

text: of

text: achievement

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: White

text: candidates

text: for

text: office

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: to

text: have

text: an

text: uninterrupted

text: life

text: of

text: achievement

text: to

text: be

text: considered

text: for

text: the

text: Oval

text: Office

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: If

text: George

text: W.

text: Bush

text: were

text: black

text: do

text: you

text: think

text: he

text: would

text: be

text: president

text: Rojecki

text: says

text: Jefferson

text: the

text: Tuskegee

text: Airman

text: says

text: Obama

text: should

text: have

text: at

text: least

text: one

text: consolation

text: The

text: problems

text: he

text: confronts

text: now

text: are

text: so

text: immense

text: that

text: anyone

text: even

text: someone

text: who

text: was

text: considered

text: by

text: many

text: to

text: be

text: perfect

text: would

text: not

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: escape

text: withering

text: judgment

text: If

text: the

text: president

text: was

text: Jesus

text: Christ

text: Jefferson

text: says

text: they

text: would

text: still

text: debate

text: if

text: he

text: 's

text: qualified

question: What poll shows about Obama race?

answer: CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

text: CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

question: what percentage poll shows americans split by race?

answer: CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

text: CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

question: who conducted the polls?

answer: CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

text: CNN/Opinion Research Corp.

question: What Racial pioneers say about extraordinary?

answer: drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors for him.

text: drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors for him.

question: What does one racial pioneer say about pressure?

answer: by drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors for him.

text: by drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors for him.

question: what is the reason for pressure?

answer: being a racial pioneer by drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors

text: being a racial pioneer by drawing on the strength of black leaders who opened doors