text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Military hardware that can be used in nuclear devices and ground fighting can be easily purchased In the United States and shipped overseas, a government investigation revealed Thursday.

This inclinometer, which can be

used in homemade bombs, was easily bought and shipped overseas.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) watchdog agency set up fake companies to obtain military and dual use items -- which have both military and commercial use -- in the United States and ship them overseas, according to a report made public at a House subcommittee hearing.

The domestic purchases allow buyers to avoid U.S. restrictions on sales to foreign entities, it noted.

Items purchased in the bogus transactions included parts for making nuclear devices and guiding missiles that could carry nuclear warheads, as well as night-vision devices, body armor and other hardware for ground combat, said the report provided to the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.

"There appears to be a gigantic loophole within our laws that makes it easy for our enemies to get hold of our superior military technology and use it against us," said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan.

Gregory Kutz, a GAO managing director who led the 13-month investigation, said it found "sensitive dual-use and military technology can be easily and legally purchased from manufacturers and distributors within the United States and illegally exported without detection."

He stressed that no laws were broken by any of the companies that sold items to the undercover GAO operation, and that the magnitude of trying to check all overseas travelers and shipments made it impossible to halt illegal export of the items under current law.

Committee members said the lack of regulation or export controls made the situation particularly troubling.

"The scandal here may be what is legal, not what is illegal," said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon.

However, he warned against excessive regulations that could stifle necessary commerce in items used by law enforcement, medical and other industries.

Kutz held up some of the items purchased by undercover investigators, including a small device that looked like a spark plug called a triggered spark gap. The item has medical applications and can also be used to detonate a nuclear weapon, he said.

Kutz also displayed a small device called a gyro chip that can be used to steer guided missiles. Other items on display in the committee room included some used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that target U.S. soldiers in Iraq, as well as sophisticated body armor and night-vision devices.

Undercover investigators complied with all required checks in purchasing the equipment, Kutz said, including the submission of end-user agreements that forbid exporting the equipment or using it in any nuclear, biological and missile weapons. Such documents amount to an "honor system" pledge, rather than any enforcement mechanism, he said.

The only further checks involved are confirming the validity of credit cards and the existence of Web sites, Kutz said. Most of the transactions took place by e-mail and telephone calls.

"The kind of front company we used and the kind of scheme we used is the kind being used by terrorist organizations today," Kutz said. "This was not a hypothetical situation; this is being done."

The investigation shipped some of the dual-use items to "a country that is a known trans-shipment point for terrorist governments and foreign governments attempting to acquire sensitive technology," Kutz said.

He declined to name the country, but said it was in southeast Asia and that the shipments were simple packages labeled documents and sent by regular mail.

"As GAO proves, a cardboard box and the U.S. Postal Service is all it takes to move dual-use items out of the country," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts.

One of those duped by the investigation -- Nicholas Fitton, a technology dealer in Georgia -- told the committee he complied with all required checks in selling an F-16 engine computer to what he thought was a legitimate U.S. buyer.

Asked by Stupak why anyone other than the military would need such a device, Fitton said his customers often are museums, collectors and film companies seeking authentic items.

Fitton said existing regulations were counter-productive, with seemingly harmless items associated with military gear more tightly controlled than the dual-use items of the investigation. At the same time, he said, making the system too restrictive would harm the competitive ability of U.S. manufacturers.

Export laws in the United States have remained virtually unchanged since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Anne-Marie Lasowski of the GAO told the committee.

She called for a "holistic" approach involving all agencies charged with security and commerce for an issue involving billions of dollars in exports.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: Military

text: hardware

text: that

text: can

text: be

text: used

text: in

text: nuclear

text: devices

text: and

text: ground

text: fighting

text: can

text: be

text: easily

text: purchased

text: In

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: shipped

text: overseas

text: a

text: government

text: investigation

text: revealed

text: Thursday

text: This

text: inclinometer

text: which

text: can

text: be

text: used

text: in

text: homemade

text: bombs

text: was

text: easily

text: bought

text: and

text: shipped

text: overseas

text: The

text: Government

text: Accountability

text: Office

text: GAO

text: watchdog

text: agency

text: set

text: up

text: fake

text: companies

text: to

text: obtain

text: military

text: and

text: dual

text: use

text: items

text: which

text: have

text: both

text: military

text: and

text: commercial

text: use

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: ship

text: them

text: overseas

text: according

text: to

text: a

text: report

text: made

text: public

text: at

text: a

text: House

text: subcommittee

text: hearing

text: The

text: domestic

text: purchases

text: allow

text: buyers

text: to

text: avoid

text: U.S.

text: restrictions

text: on

text: sales

text: to

text: foreign

text: entities

text: it

text: noted

text: Items

text: purchased

text: in

text: the

text: bogus

text: transactions

text: included

text: parts

text: for

text: making

text: nuclear

text: devices

text: and

text: guiding

text: missiles

text: that

text: could

text: carry

text: nuclear

text: warheads

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: night

text: vision

text: devices

text: body

text: armor

text: and

text: other

text: hardware

text: for

text: ground

text: combat

text: said

text: the

text: report

text: provided

text: to

text: the

text: House

text: Energy

text: and

text: Commerce

text: subcommittee

text: There

text: appears

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: gigantic

text: loophole

text: within

text: our

text: laws

text: that

text: makes

text: it

text: easy

text: for

text: our

text: enemies

text: to

text: get

text: hold

text: of

text: our

text: superior

text: military

text: technology

text: and

text: use

text: it

text: against

text: us

text: said

text: Rep.

text: Bart

text: Stupak

text: D

text: Michigan

text: Gregory

text: Kutz

text: a

text: GAO

text: managing

text: director

text: who

text: led

text: the

text: investigation

text: said

text: it

text: found

text: sensitive

text: dual

text: use

text: and

text: military

text: technology

text: can

text: be

text: easily

text: and

text: legally

text: purchased

text: from

text: manufacturers

text: and

text: distributors

text: within

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: illegally

text: exported

text: without

text: detection

text: He

text: stressed

text: that

text: no

text: laws

text: were

text: broken

text: by

text: any

text: of

text: the

text: companies

text: that

text: sold

text: items

text: to

text: the

text: undercover

text: GAO

text: operation

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: magnitude

text: of

text: trying

text: to

text: check

text: all

text: overseas

text: travelers

text: and

text: shipments

text: made

text: it

text: impossible

text: to

text: halt

text: illegal

text: export

text: of

text: the

text: items

text: under

text: current

text: law

text: Committee

text: members

text: said

text: the

text: lack

text: of

text: regulation

text: or

text: export

text: controls

text: made

text: the

text: situation

text: particularly

text: troubling

text: The

text: scandal

text: here

text: may

text: be

text: what

text: is

text: legal

text: not

text: what

text: is

text: illegal

text: said

text: Rep.

text: Greg

text: Walden

text: R

text: Oregon

text: However

text: he

text: warned

text: against

text: excessive

text: regulations

text: that

text: could

text: stifle

text: necessary

text: commerce

text: in

text: items

text: used

text: by

text: law

text: enforcement

text: medical

text: and

text: other

text: industries

text: Kutz

text: held

text: up

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: items

text: purchased

text: by

text: undercover

text: investigators

text: including

text: a

text: small

text: device

text: that

text: looked

text: like

text: a

text: spark

text: plug

text: called

text: a

text: triggered

text: spark

text: gap

text: The

text: item

text: has

text: medical

text: applications

text: and

text: can

text: also

text: be

text: used

text: to

text: detonate

text: a

text: nuclear

text: weapon

text: he

text: said

text: Kutz

text: also

text: displayed

text: a

text: small

text: device

text: called

text: a

text: gyro

text: chip

text: that

text: can

text: be

text: used

text: to

text: steer

text: guided

text: missiles

text: Other

text: items

text: on

text: display

text: in

text: the

text: committee

text: room

text: included

text: some

text: used

text: in

text: improvised

text: explosive

text: devices

text: IEDs

text: that

text: target

text: U.S.

text: soldiers

text: in

text: Iraq

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: sophisticated

text: body

text: armor

text: and

text: night

text: vision

text: devices

text: Undercover

text: investigators

text: complied

text: with

text: all

text: required

text: checks

text: in

text: purchasing

text: the

text: equipment

text: Kutz

text: said

text: including

text: the

text: submission

text: of

text: end

text: user

text: agreements

text: that

text: forbid

text: exporting

text: the

text: equipment

text: or

text: using

text: it

text: in

text: any

text: nuclear

text: biological

text: and

text: missile

text: weapons

text: Such

text: documents

text: amount

text: to

text: an

text: honor

text: system

text: pledge

text: rather

text: than

text: any

text: enforcement

text: mechanism

text: he

text: said

text: The

text: only

text: further

text: checks

text: involved

text: are

text: confirming

text: the

text: validity

text: of

text: credit

text: cards

text: and

text: the

text: existence

text: of

text: Web

text: sites

text: Kutz

text: said

text: Most

text: of

text: the

text: transactions

text: took

text: place

text: by

text: e

text: mail

text: and

text: telephone

text: calls

text: The

text: kind

text: of

text: front

text: company

text: we

text: used

text: and

text: the

text: kind

text: of

text: scheme

text: we

text: used

text: is

text: the

text: kind

text: being

text: used

text: by

text: terrorist

text: organizations

text: today

text: Kutz

text: said

text: This

text: was

text: not

text: a

text: hypothetical

text: situation

text: this

text: is

text: being

text: done

text: The

text: investigation

text: shipped

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: dual

text: use

text: items

text: to

text: a

text: country

text: that

text: is

text: a

text: known

text: trans

text: shipment

text: point

text: for

text: terrorist

text: governments

text: and

text: foreign

text: governments

text: attempting

text: to

text: acquire

text: sensitive

text: technology

text: Kutz

text: said

text: He

text: declined

text: to

text: name

text: the

text: country

text: but

text: said

text: it

text: was

text: in

text: southeast

text: Asia

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: shipments

text: were

text: simple

text: packages

text: labeled

text: documents

text: and

text: sent

text: by

text: regular

text: mail

text: As

text: GAO

text: proves

text: a

text: cardboard

text: box

text: and

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Postal

text: Service

text: is

text: all

text: it

text: takes

text: to

text: move

text: dual

text: use

text: items

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: country

text: said

text: Rep.

text: Edward

text: Markey

text: D

text: Massachusetts

text: One

text: of

text: those

text: duped

text: by

text: the

text: investigation

text: Nicholas

text: Fitton

text: a

text: technology

text: dealer

text: in

text: Georgia

text: told

text: the

text: committee

text: he

text: complied

text: with

text: all

text: required

text: checks

text: in

text: selling

text: an

text: engine

text: computer

text: to

text: what

text: he

text: thought

text: was

text: a

text: legitimate

text: U.S.

text: buyer

text: Asked

text: by

text: Stupak

text: why

text: anyone

text: other

text: than

text: the

text: military

text: would

text: need

text: such

text: a

text: device

text: Fitton

text: said

text: his

text: customers

text: often

text: are

text: museums

text: collectors

text: and

text: film

text: companies

text: seeking

text: authentic

text: items

text: Fitton

text: said

text: existing

text: regulations

text: were

text: counter

text: productive

text: with

text: seemingly

text: harmless

text: items

text: associated

text: with

text: military

text: gear

text: more

text: tightly

text: controlled

text: than

text: the

text: dual

text: use

text: items

text: of

text: the

text: investigation

text: At

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: he

text: said

text: making

text: the

text: system

text: too

text: restrictive

text: would

text: harm

text: the

text: competitive

text: ability

text: of

text: U.S.

text: manufacturers

text: Export

text: laws

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: have

text: remained

text: virtually

text: unchanged

text: since

text: the

text: Sept.

text: terrorist

text: attacks

text: Anne

text: Marie

text: Lasowski

text: of

text: the

text: GAO

text: told

text: the

text: committee

text: She

text: called

text: for

text: a

text: holistic

text: approach

text: involving

text: all

text: agencies

text: charged

text: with

text: security

text: and

text: commerce

text: for

text: an

text: issue

text: involving

text: billions

text: of

text: dollars

text: in

text: exports

question: What is the hardware used for?

answer: in nuclear devices and ground fighting

text: in nuclear devices and ground fighting

question: What did GAO buy?

answer: military and dual use items

text: military and dual use items

question: What does the gigantic loophole do?

answer: makes it easy for our enemies to get hold of our superior military technology and use it against us,"

text: makes it easy for our enemies to get hold of our superior military technology and use it against us,"

question: What was purchased?

answer: Military hardware that can be used in nuclear devices and ground fighting

text: Military hardware that can be used in nuclear devices and ground fighting

question: What is the cause of enemies getting U.S. technology, according to a lawmaker?

answer: easily purchased In the United States and shipped overseas,

text: easily purchased In the United States and shipped overseas,


text:
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A meeting between the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan was canceled Friday when bad weather prevented Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari from traveling to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (pictured) has met Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai before.

An official in Pakistan's Foreign Office said the meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and top government officials will be rescheduled for the near future.

The visit was to have taken place amid ongoing warfare and tension along the Afghan-Pakistan border and was to have focused on the nations cooperating in the fight against terror.

Some of the Taliban militants conducting attacks in Afghanistan have been based in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province and nearby tribal regions.

The group's resurgence has prompted U.S. commanders and the incoming Barack Obama administration to put more of a focus on confronting militants along the volatile border.

In the past, Afghan and Pakistani leaders have blamed the other for the security problems in the region.

Zardari was to have been accompanied on the trip by the governor of North West Frontier Province, as well as his foreign minister and adviser on internal affairs.

The two presidents also planned to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations and trade.

Both men have met before, when Karzai visited Pakistan in September to attend Zardari's swearing-in ceremony.

text: KABUL

text: Afghanistan

text: CNN

text: A

text: meeting

text: between

text: the

text: leaders

text: of

text: Pakistan

text: and

text: Afghanistan

text: was

text: canceled

text: Friday

text: when

text: bad

text: weather

text: prevented

text: Pakistani

text: President

text: Asif

text: Ali

text: Zardari

text: from

text: traveling

text: to

text: the

text: Afghan

text: capital

text: Kabul

text: Pakistani

text: President

text: Asif

text: Ali

text: Zardari

text: pictured

text: has

text: met

text: Afghan

text: counterpart

text: Hamid

text: Karzai

text: before

text: An

text: official

text: in

text: Pakistan

text: 's

text: Foreign

text: Office

text: said

text: the

text: meeting

text: with

text: Afghan

text: President

text: Hamid

text: Karzai

text: and

text: top

text: government

text: officials

text: will

text: be

text: rescheduled

text: for

text: the

text: near

text: future

text: The

text: visit

text: was

text: to

text: have

text: taken

text: place

text: amid

text: ongoing

text: warfare

text: and

text: tension

text: along

text: the

text: Afghan

text: Pakistan

text: border

text: and

text: was

text: to

text: have

text: focused

text: on

text: the

text: nations

text: cooperating

text: in

text: the

text: fight

text: against

text: terror

text: Some

text: of

text: the

text: Taliban

text: militants

text: conducting

text: attacks

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: have

text: been

text: based

text: in

text: Pakistan

text: 's

text: North

text: West

text: Frontier

text: Province

text: and

text: nearby

text: tribal

text: regions

text: The

text: group

text: 's

text: resurgence

text: has

text: prompted

text: U.S.

text: commanders

text: and

text: the

text: incoming

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: administration

text: to

text: put

text: more

text: of

text: a

text: focus

text: on

text: confronting

text: militants

text: along

text: the

text: volatile

text: border

text: In

text: the

text: past

text: Afghan

text: and

text: Pakistani

text: leaders

text: have

text: blamed

text: the

text: other

text: for

text: the

text: security

text: problems

text: in

text: the

text: region

text: Zardari

text: was

text: to

text: have

text: been

text: accompanied

text: on

text: the

text: trip

text: by

text: the

text: governor

text: of

text: North

text: West

text: Frontier

text: Province

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: his

text: foreign

text: minister

text: and

text: adviser

text: on

text: internal

text: affairs

text: The

text: two

text: presidents

text: also

text: planned

text: to

text: discuss

text: the

text: expansion

text: of

text: bilateral

text: relations

text: and

text: trade

text: Both

text: men

text: have

text: met

text: before

text: when

text: Karzai

text: visited

text: Pakistan

text: in

text: September

text: to

text: attend

text: Zardari

text: 's

text: swearing

text: in

text: ceremony

question: Both countries have blamed each other for what?

answer: security problems in the region.

text: security problems in the region.

question: What have they blamed each other for?

answer: security problems in the region.

text: security problems in the region.

question: Who is due to meet Karzai?

answer: President Asif Ali Zardari

text: President Asif Ali Zardari

question: Who is due to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai?

answer: Asif Ali Zardari

text: Asif Ali Zardari

question: Zardari is due to meet who?

answer: Hamid Karzai

text: Hamid Karzai

question: Name of the Pakastani president?

answer: Asif Ali Zardari

text: Asif Ali Zardari

question: The visit took place amid what?

answer: ongoing warfare and tension along the Afghan-Pakistan border

text: ongoing warfare and tension along the Afghan-Pakistan border

question: Who is attacking from Pakistan's North West Province?

answer: Taliban militants

text: Taliban militants

question: Who is attacking Afghanistan from Pakistan's North West Province?

answer: Taliban

text: Taliban

question: Who has been blamed for the security problems?

answer: Afghan and Pakistani leaders

text: Afghan and Pakistani leaders

question: What have both sides blamed each other for?

answer: security problems in the region.

text: security problems in the region.


text:
(CNN)  -- Glitzy Dubai lures globetrotters with its modern architectural wonders and a bounty of luxury shopping, dining and lodging.

This United Arab Emirates metropolis boasts "sunshine, shopping, seaside, sports and safety" as key selling points on its tourism website.

Caroline Faraj is CNN's chief operations director in Dubai and editor of CNN Arabic. Faraj, originally from Jordan, moved to Dubai in December 2001.

We asked Faraj to share her tips for visiting this dynamic city:

Where can you get the best view of the city?

At Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. The tower's observation deck, At The Top, is located on level 124.

To which restaurant would you take your loved one for an anniversary or other special occasion?

Try Pierchic at Madinat Jumeirah Hotel. This romantic restaurant is at the end of a pier that stretches over the waters of the Persian Gulf. Time Out Dubai named Pierchic as the best seafood restaurant in 2010.

Where is the best place to people watch?

The Dancing Fountain at Burj Khalifa. On a lake outside, choreographed water shows are put on multiple times each evening.

What is your favorite neighborhood?

Zabeel Park, where you can run, walk, play games, barbecue, rent a boat on a small lake or visit the space and science museum. This park stretches over about 117 acres in central Dubai.

What's the best way to blend in?

Visit one of the souks (markets), like the gold market, or spice, textile or fish souks.

What's the biggest misconception about your city?

Some come to Dubai with a misconception that you can do whatever you want in Dubai. To a certain extent that might be true, but there are restrictions, rules and the need to respect the culture of the country.

For example, with regards to consuming alcohol, only Christian ex-pats can apply for a license to buy alcohol from special shops, but visitors can find it in hotels, too.

Where do you go to relax?

I go to a spa, and the best one is at the Park Hyatt. The hotel's Amara spa is on the banks of the Dubai Creek.

I also go sometimes to a resort to enjoy the beach.

What essential thing should visitors see/experience if they only have a few hours?

Take a creek tour in an abra, a small crossing boat. And if there is time, take the bus tour that gives you a quick briefing on the architecture and souks as well as the desert safari trip in the middle of the dunes.

Where's your favorite place to spend a night out on the town?

Trader Vic's with its Cuban live music.

Are there local specialty dishes or drinks that visitors must try?

If you like seafood, then I would recommend trying fish cooked the traditional way, which is either salt cured (called maleh), sun-dried (Al kaseef) or ground dried fish (sahnah).

What is a good local souvenir?

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates, so I would suggest the bottles that have sands in seven colors coming from the seven emirates.

text: CNN

text: Glitzy

text: Dubai

text: lures

text: globetrotters

text: with

text: its

text: modern

text: architectural

text: wonders

text: and

text: a

text: bounty

text: of

text: luxury

text: shopping

text: dining

text: and

text: lodging

text: This

text: United

text: Arab

text: Emirates

text: metropolis

text: boasts

text: sunshine

text: shopping

text: seaside

text: sports

text: and

text: safety

text: as

text: key

text: selling

text: points

text: on

text: its

text: tourism

text: website

text: Caroline

text: Faraj

text: is

text: CNN

text: 's

text: chief

text: operations

text: director

text: in

text: Dubai

text: and

text: editor

text: of

text: CNN

text: Arabic

text: Faraj

text: originally

text: from

text: Jordan

text: moved

text: to

text: Dubai

text: in

text: December

text: We

text: asked

text: Faraj

text: to

text: share

text: her

text: tips

text: for

text: visiting

text: this

text: dynamic

text: city

text: Where

text: can

text: you

text: get

text: the

text: best

text: view

text: of

text: the

text: city

text: At

text: Burj

text: Khalifa

text: which

text: is

text: the

text: tallest

text: building

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: The

text: tower

text: 's

text: observation

text: deck

text: At

text: The

text: Top

text: is

text: located

text: on

text: level

text: To

text: which

text: restaurant

text: would

text: you

text: take

text: your

text: loved

text: one

text: for

text: an

text: anniversary

text: or

text: other

text: special

text: occasion

text: Try

text: Pierchic

text: at

text: Madinat

text: Jumeirah

text: Hotel

text: This

text: romantic

text: restaurant

text: is

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: a

text: pier

text: that

text: stretches

text: over

text: the

text: waters

text: of

text: the

text: Persian

text: Gulf

text: Time

text: Out

text: Dubai

text: named

text: Pierchic

text: as

text: the

text: best

text: seafood

text: restaurant

text: in

text: Where

text: is

text: the

text: best

text: place

text: to

text: people

text: watch

text: The

text: Dancing

text: Fountain

text: at

text: Burj

text: Khalifa

text: On

text: a

text: lake

text: outside

text: choreographed

text: water

text: shows

text: are

text: put

text: on

text: multiple

text: times

text: each

text: evening

text: What

text: is

text: your

text: favorite

text: neighborhood

text: Zabeel

text: Park

text: where

text: you

text: can

text: run

text: walk

text: play

text: games

text: barbecue

text: rent

text: a

text: boat

text: on

text: a

text: small

text: lake

text: or

text: visit

text: the

text: space

text: and

text: science

text: museum

text: This

text: park

text: stretches

text: over

text: about

text: acres

text: in

text: central

text: Dubai

text: What

text: 's

text: the

text: best

text: way

text: to

text: blend

text: in

text: Visit

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: souks

text: markets

text: like

text: the

text: gold

text: market

text: or

text: spice

text: textile

text: or

text: fish

text: souks

text: What

text: 's

text: the

text: biggest

text: misconception

text: about

text: your

text: city

text: Some

text: come

text: to

text: Dubai

text: with

text: a

text: misconception

text: that

text: you

text: can

text: do

text: whatever

text: you

text: want

text: in

text: Dubai

text: To

text: a

text: certain

text: extent

text: that

text: might

text: be

text: true

text: but

text: there

text: are

text: restrictions

text: rules

text: and

text: the

text: need

text: to

text: respect

text: the

text: culture

text: of

text: the

text: country

text: For

text: example

text: with

text: regards

text: to

text: consuming

text: alcohol

text: only

text: Christian

text: ex

text: pats

text: can

text: apply

text: for

text: a

text: license

text: to

text: buy

text: alcohol

text: from

text: special

text: shops

text: but

text: visitors

text: can

text: find

text: it

text: in

text: hotels

text: too

text: Where

text: do

text: you

text: go

text: to

text: relax

text: I

text: go

text: to

text: a

text: spa

text: and

text: the

text: best

text: one

text: is

text: at

text: the

text: Park

text: Hyatt

text: The

text: hotel

text: 's

text: Amara

text: spa

text: is

text: on

text: the

text: banks

text: of

text: the

text: Dubai

text: Creek

text: I

text: also

text: go

text: sometimes

text: to

text: a

text: resort

text: to

text: enjoy

text: the

text: beach

text: What

text: essential

text: thing

text: should

text: visitors

text: see

text: experience

text: if

text: they

text: only

text: have

text: a

text: few

text: hours

text: Take

text: a

text: creek

text: tour

text: in

text: an

text: abra

text: a

text: small

text: crossing

text: boat

text: And

text: if

text: there

text: is

text: time

text: take

text: the

text: bus

text: tour

text: that

text: gives

text: you

text: a

text: quick

text: briefing

text: on

text: the

text: architecture

text: and

text: souks

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: the

text: desert

text: safari

text: trip

text: in

text: the

text: middle

text: of

text: the

text: dunes

text: Where

text: 's

text: your

text: favorite

text: place

text: to

text: spend

text: a

text: night

text: out

text: on

text: the

text: town

text: Trader

text: Vic

text: 's

text: with

text: its

text: Cuban

text: live

text: music

text: Are

text: there

text: local

text: specialty

text: dishes

text: or

text: drinks

text: that

text: visitors

text: must

text: try

text: If

text: you

text: like

text: seafood

text: then

text: I

text: would

text: recommend

text: trying

text: fish

text: cooked

text: the

text: traditional

text: way

text: which

text: is

text: either

text: salt

text: cured

text: called

text: maleh

text: sun

text: dried

text: Al

text: kaseef

text: or

text: ground

text: dried

text: fish

text: sahnah

text: What

text: is

text: a

text: good

text: local

text: souvenir

text: The

text: United

text: Arab

text: Emirates

text: is

text: a

text: federation

text: of

text: seven

text: emirates

text: so

text: I

text: would

text: suggest

text: the

text: bottles

text: that

text: have

text: sands

text: in

text: seven

text: colors

text: coming

text: from

text: the

text: seven

text: emirates

question: What does Caroline Faraj recommend?

answer: Pierchic at Madinat Jumeirah Hotel.

text: Pierchic at Madinat Jumeirah Hotel.

question: What is the type of boat you can take a tour in?

answer: small crossing

text: small crossing

question: What is an abra?

answer: a small crossing boat.

text: a small crossing boat.

question: What type of fish does Caroline Faraj recommend?

answer: salt cured (called maleh), sun-dried (Al kaseef) or ground dried

text: salt cured (called maleh), sun-dried (Al kaseef) or ground dried

question: Who recommends a Dubai Creek tour to visitors?

answer: Caroline Faraj

text: Caroline Faraj

question: Where do you go for a stunning view?

answer: Burj Khalifa,

text: Burj Khalifa,


text:
(CNN) -- A shadowy figure in the back seat of an SUV in surveillance photos is a second "person of interest" in the slaying of the University of North Carolina student body president, police said Monday.

Investigators say a second male appears in the back seat in this ATM photo, which has been colorized.

Police on Saturday released photos taken by an ATM camera that show a young man driving a sport utility vehicle possibly using one of student Eve Carson's ATM cards in the Chapel Hill area.

A large, shadowy form appears in the back seat of the vehicle, which police say may have been Carson's.

Carson, 22, was found shot to death early Wednesday in a suburban neighborhood near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. Her Toyota Highlander was found the next day in another neighborhood to the west, close to where she lived with roommates.

"We do believe there is a second unidentified male seated in the rear seat," the Chapel Hill Police Department said in a statement. "We have been exploring ways to enhance the quality of this photo in an effort to learn more about this person."

Police have not identified the pictured driver, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a vintage Houston Astros baseball cap.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran said Saturday that Carson's killing "feels like a random crime."

The medical examiner told police that there were no injuries to Carson's body besides gunshot wounds and no signs of sexual assault, Curran said.

On Sunday, more than 1,000 people crowded the First United Methodist Church in Carson's hometown of Athens, Georgia, for her funeral, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.

The University of North Carolina will hold a memorial service for Carson after students return from this week's spring break, Chancellor James Moeser said in a statement on the school's Web site.

On Saturday, the school's top-ranked men's basketball team wore reminders of the popular student president on their jerseys as they took on Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  Watch as students remember the slain campus leader Â»

The North Carolina players wore patches on the jerseys that simply read "Eve," and many of Duke's fans donned small light-blue ribbons as a show of support.

A moment of silence for Carson also was held before tipoff.

The UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees has pledged $25,000 to the Crime Stoppers program in the area for information leading to the arrest of anyone responsible in Carson's slaying. Carson was a student member of the board. E-mail to a friend

text: CNN

text: A

text: shadowy

text: figure

text: in

text: the

text: back

text: seat

text: of

text: an

text: SUV

text: in

text: surveillance

text: photos

text: is

text: a

text: second

text: person

text: of

text: interest

text: in

text: the

text: slaying

text: of

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: North

text: Carolina

text: student

text: body

text: president

text: police

text: said

text: Monday

text: Investigators

text: say

text: a

text: second

text: male

text: appears

text: in

text: the

text: back

text: seat

text: in

text: this

text: ATM

text: photo

text: which

text: has

text: been

text: colorized

text: Police

text: on

text: Saturday

text: released

text: photos

text: taken

text: by

text: an

text: ATM

text: camera

text: that

text: show

text: a

text: young

text: man

text: driving

text: a

text: sport

text: utility

text: vehicle

text: possibly

text: using

text: one

text: of

text: student

text: Eve

text: Carson

text: 's

text: ATM

text: cards

text: in

text: the

text: Chapel

text: Hill

text: area

text: A

text: large

text: shadowy

text: form

text: appears

text: in

text: the

text: back

text: seat

text: of

text: the

text: vehicle

text: which

text: police

text: say

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: Carson

text: 's

text: Carson

text: was

text: found

text: shot

text: to

text: death

text: early

text: Wednesday

text: in

text: a

text: suburban

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text: near

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: North

text: Carolina

text: at

text: Chapel

text: Hill

text: campus

text: Her

text: Toyota

text: Highlander

text: was

text: found

text: the

text: next

text: day

text: in

text: another

text: neighborhood

text: to

text: the

text: west

text: close

text: to

text: where

text: she

text: lived

text: with

text: roommates

text: We

text: do

text: believe

text: there

text: is

text: a

text: second

text: unidentified

text: male

text: seated

text: in

text: the

text: rear

text: seat

text: the

text: Chapel

text: Hill

text: Police

text: Department

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: We

text: have

text: been

text: exploring

text: ways

text: to

text: enhance

text: the

text: quality

text: of

text: this

text: photo

text: in

text: an

text: effort

text: to

text: learn

text: more

text: about

text: this

text: person

text: Police

text: have

text: not

text: identified

text: the

text: pictured

text: driver

text: who

text: was

text: wearing

text: a

text: hooded

text: sweatshirt

text: and

text: a

text: vintage

text: Houston

text: Astros

text: baseball

text: cap

text: Chapel

text: Hill

text: Police

text: Chief

text: Brian

text: Curran

text: said

text: Saturday

text: that

text: Carson

text: 's

text: killing

text: feels

text: like

text: a

text: random

text: crime

text: The

text: medical

text: examiner

text: told

text: police

text: that

text: there

text: were

text: no

text: injuries

text: to

text: Carson

text: 's

text: body

text: besides

text: gunshot

text: wounds

text: and

text: no

text: signs

text: of

text: sexual

text: assault

text: Curran

text: said

text: On

text: Sunday

text: more

text: than

text: people

text: crowded

text: the

text: First

text: United

text: Methodist

text: Church

text: in

text: Carson

text: 's

text: hometown

text: of

text: Athens

text: Georgia

text: for

text: her

text: funeral

text: the

text: Athens

text: Banner

text: Herald

text: reported

text: The

text: University

text: of

text: North

text: Carolina

text: will

text: hold

text: a

text: memorial

text: service

text: for

text: Carson

text: after

text: students

text: return

text: from

text: this

text: week

text: 's

text: spring

text: break

text: Chancellor

text: James

text: Moeser

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: on

text: the

text: school

text: 's

text: Web

text: site

text: On

text: Saturday

text: the

text: school

text: 's

text: top

text: ranked

text: men

text: 's

text: basketball

text: team

text: wore

text: reminders

text: of

text: the

text: popular

text: student

text: president

text: on

text: their

text: jerseys

text: as

text: they

text: took

text: on

text: Duke

text: University

text: in

text: Durham

text: North

text: Carolina

text: Watch

text: as

text: students

text: remember

text: the

text: slain

text: campus

text: leader

text: Â

text: The

text: North

text: Carolina

text: players

text: wore

text: patches

text: on

text: the

text: jerseys

text: that

text: simply

text: read

text: Eve

text: and

text: many

text: of

text: Duke

text: 's

text: fans

text: donned

text: small

text: light

text: blue

text: ribbons

text: as

text: a

text: show

text: of

text: support

text: A

text: moment

text: of

text: silence

text: for

text: Carson

text: also

text: was

text: held

text: before

text: tipoff

text: The

text: UNC

text: Chapel

text: Hill

text: board

text: of

text: trustees

text: has

text: pledged

text: to

text: the

text: Crime

text: Stoppers

text: program

text: in

text: the

text: area

text: for

text: information

text: leading

text: to

text: the

text: arrest

text: of

text: anyone

text: responsible

text: in

text: Carson

text: 's

text: slaying

text: Carson

text: was

text: a

text: student

text: member

text: of

text: the

text: board

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

question: Who was Carson?

answer: University of North Carolina student body president,

text: University of North Carolina student body president,

question: what did the atm show

answer: a young man driving a sport utility vehicle

text: a young man driving a sport utility vehicle

question: Who was found shot to death?

answer: Eve Carson's

text: Eve Carson's

question: What day was Carson found shot to death?

answer: Wednesday

text: Wednesday

question: who was found shot

answer: Carson,

text: Carson,

question: Where was Carson attended University?

answer: of North Carolina

text: of North Carolina

question: Who was the student body president?

answer: Eve Carson's

text: Eve Carson's

question: what was he using

answer: Eve Carson's ATM cards

text: Eve Carson's ATM cards


text:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CNN)  -- I wore a path between Washington and Philly for interviews and shoots for our recent "Cheating Death" special with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

In the field: Jeremy Harlan

My job as a photojournalist is to shoot and edit stories for CNN and make sure my news team eats well on the road.

On assignment: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Now, I love cheese steaks as much as the next guy. But my arteries can only take so much steak, cheese and peppers. So here are a few places that are great alternatives in the City of Brotherly Love.

Reading Terminal Market

Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

Cuisine: You name it, the market has it

How do I describe the Reading Terminal Market? It's like the Las Vegas of food. Everywhere you turn, there's something interesting to see, smell and taste. It is food sensory overload.

The hardest part of going to the market is not eating the very first thing you see. Give yourself 15 minutes to walk through the market before deciding where to spend your hard-earned lunch dollar.

I saw apple dumplings, muffalettas, spanakopita, pulled pork, snapper soup, strombolis, all the fresh veggies, meat and cheese you could throw in your fridge and of course cheese steaks.

I finally decided to stop at Dinic's Pork and Beef for the famous roast pork sandwich. The service was fast and friendly. The sandwich was fantastic, and if you sit at the counter long enough, you might hear one of Philly's finest talk about the crazy arrest of the day.

And make sure you save room for a smooth and creamy cupcake (or two) from the Flying Monkey.

Magic Carpet

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cuisine: Mediterranean/vegetarian

The first thing I ask our local contact on a story is where I'm eating lunch. If you ask Holly Auer, University of Pennsylvania Hospital's senior medical communications officer, she'll immediately say, "Magic Carpet."

This vegetarian culinary delight is actually a small vendor trailer just across from Penn Hospital. If you haven't been to Philly, you need to know this city takes its street vendor food pretty seriously.

I still scratch my head at how these folks make so much delicious food in such cramped quarters. My personal favorite at Magic Carpet is a pita sandwich stuffed with grape leaves. It's so good, I usually eat two.

Maybe the best part: The sandwiches are around five bucks. Definitely the worst part: the long line of neurosurgeons, med students, nurses and cardiologists waiting for their delicious ride on the Carpet, too.

The Franklin Fountain

Hours: noon-midnight

Cuisine: Ice cream

The Franklin Fountain is a cool escape back to the early 20th-century ice cream fountain shop. Although it opened in the summer of 2004, you would think it was 1944 when you walk in the door. The owners left no detail ignored in building this dairy delight.

The fountain offers sundaes, splits, ice cream waffle sandwiches, fresh pies, house-made cakes, phosphates and America's oldest soft drink, just to name a few.

Coffee lovers will enjoy the Lightning Rod sundae. Everyone will enjoy his or her trip back in time.

text: Philadelphia

text: Pennsylvania

text: CNN

text: I

text: wore

text: a

text: path

text: between

text: Washington

text: and

text: Philly

text: for

text: interviews

text: and

text: shoots

text: for

text: our

text: recent

text: Cheating

text: Death

text: special

text: with

text: Dr.

text: Sanjay

text: Gupta

text: In

text: the

text: field

text: Jeremy

text: Harlan

text: My

text: job

text: as

text: a

text: photojournalist

text: is

text: to

text: shoot

text: and

text: edit

text: stories

text: for

text: CNN

text: and

text: make

text: sure

text: my

text: news

text: team

text: eats

text: well

text: on

text: the

text: road

text: On

text: assignment

text: Philadelphia

text: Pennsylvania

text: Now

text: I

text: love

text: cheese

text: steaks

text: as

text: much

text: as

text: the

text: next

text: guy

text: But

text: my

text: arteries

text: can

text: only

text: take

text: so

text: much

text: steak

text: cheese

text: and

text: peppers

text: So

text: here

text: are

text: a

text: few

text: places

text: that

text: are

text: great

text: alternatives

text: in

text: the

text: City

text: of

text: Brotherly

text: Love

text: Reading

text: Terminal

text: Market

text: Hours

text: p.m.

text: Monday

text: through

text: Saturday

text: p.m.

text: Sunday

text: Cuisine

text: You

text: name

text: it

text: the

text: market

text: has

text: it

text: How

text: do

text: I

text: describe

text: the

text: Reading

text: Terminal

text: Market

text: It

text: 's

text: like

text: the

text: Las

text: Vegas

text: of

text: food

text: Everywhere

text: you

text: turn

text: there

text: 's

text: something

text: interesting

text: to

text: see

text: smell

text: and

text: taste

text: It

text: is

text: food

text: sensory

text: overload

text: The

text: hardest

text: part

text: of

text: going

text: to

text: the

text: market

text: is

text: not

text: eating

text: the

text: very

text: first

text: thing

text: you

text: see

text: Give

text: yourself

text: minutes

text: to

text: walk

text: through

text: the

text: market

text: before

text: deciding

text: where

text: to

text: spend

text: your

text: hard

text: earned

text: lunch

text: dollar

text: I

text: saw

text: apple

text: dumplings

text: muffalettas

text: spanakopita

text: pulled

text: pork

text: snapper

text: soup

text: strombolis

text: all

text: the

text: fresh

text: veggies

text: meat

text: and

text: cheese

text: you

text: could

text: throw

text: in

text: your

text: fridge

text: and

text: of

text: course

text: cheese

text: steaks

text: I

text: finally

text: decided

text: to

text: stop

text: at

text: Dinic

text: 's

text: Pork

text: and

text: Beef

text: for

text: the

text: famous

text: roast

text: pork

text: sandwich

text: The

text: service

text: was

text: fast

text: and

text: friendly

text: The

text: sandwich

text: was

text: fantastic

text: and

text: if

text: you

text: sit

text: at

text: the

text: counter

text: long

text: enough

text: you

text: might

text: hear

text: one

text: of

text: Philly

text: 's

text: finest

text: talk

text: about

text: the

text: crazy

text: arrest

text: of

text: the

text: day

text: And

text: make

text: sure

text: you

text: save

text: room

text: for

text: a

text: smooth

text: and

text: creamy

text: cupcake

text: or

text: two

text: from

text: the

text: Flying

text: Monkey

text: Magic

text: Carpet

text: Hours

text: p.m.

text: Cuisine

text: Mediterranean

text: vegetarian

text: The

text: first

text: thing

text: I

text: ask

text: our

text: local

text: contact

text: on

text: a

text: story

text: is

text: where

text: I

text: 'm

text: eating

text: lunch

text: If

text: you

text: ask

text: Holly

text: Auer

text: University

text: of

text: Pennsylvania

text: Hospital

text: 's

text: senior

text: medical

text: communications

text: officer

text: she

text: 'll

text: immediately

text: say

text: Magic

text: Carpet

text: This

text: vegetarian

text: culinary

text: delight

text: is

text: actually

text: a

text: small

text: vendor

text: trailer

text: just

text: across

text: from

text: Penn

text: Hospital

text: If

text: you

text: have

text: n't

text: been

text: to

text: Philly

text: you

text: need

text: to

text: know

text: this

text: city

text: takes

text: its

text: street

text: vendor

text: food

text: pretty

text: seriously

text: I

text: still

text: scratch

text: my

text: head

text: at

text: how

text: these

text: folks

text: make

text: so

text: much

text: delicious

text: food

text: in

text: such

text: cramped

text: quarters

text: My

text: personal

text: favorite

text: at

text: Magic

text: Carpet

text: is

text: a

text: pita

text: sandwich

text: stuffed

text: with

text: grape

text: leaves

text: It

text: 's

text: so

text: good

text: I

text: usually

text: eat

text: two

text: Maybe

text: the

text: best

text: part

text: The

text: sandwiches

text: are

text: around

text: five

text: bucks

text: Definitely

text: the

text: worst

text: part

text: the

text: long

text: line

text: of

text: neurosurgeons

text: med

text: students

text: nurses

text: and

text: cardiologists

text: waiting

text: for

text: their

text: delicious

text: ride

text: on

text: the

text: Carpet

text: too

text: The

text: Franklin

text: Fountain

text: Hours

text: noon

text: midnight

text: Cuisine

text: Ice

text: cream

text: The

text: Franklin

text: Fountain

text: is

text: a

text: cool

text: escape

text: back

text: to

text: the

text: early

text: century

text: ice

text: cream

text: fountain

text: shop

text: Although

text: it

text: opened

text: in

text: the

text: summer

text: of

text: you

text: would

text: think

text: it

text: was

text: when

text: you

text: walk

text: in

text: the

text: door

text: The

text: owners

text: left

text: no

text: detail

text: ignored

text: in

text: building

text: this

text: dairy

text: delight

text: The

text: fountain

text: offers

text: sundaes

text: splits

text: ice

text: cream

text: waffle

text: sandwiches

text: fresh

text: pies

text: house

text: made

text: cakes

text: phosphates

text: and

text: America

text: 's

text: oldest

text: soft

text: drink

text: just

text: to

text: name

text: a

text: few

text: Coffee

text: lovers

text: will

text: enjoy

text: the

text: Lightning

text: Rod

text: sundae

text: Everyone

text: will

text: enjoy

text: his

text: or

text: her

text: trip

text: back

text: in

text: time

question: Franklin Fountain is a cool escape back to to what?

answer: shop.

text: shop.

question: What is the Franklin Fountain?

answer: ice cream

text: ice cream

question: Reading Terminal Market is the what "of food"?

answer: Las Vegas

text: Las Vegas

question: What does Harlan talk about?

answer: edit stories for CNN and make sure my news team eats well on the road.

text: edit stories for CNN and make sure my news team eats well on the road.

question: CNN's Jeremy Harlan talks about what?

answer: food.

text: food.

question: Where is the "Las Vegas of food?

answer: Reading Terminal Market?

text: Reading Terminal Market?


text:
ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- Two Iranians who were caught up in the waves of arrests that followed the disputed presidential elections in June have accused their captors of raping them.

By telling his story, Ibrahim Sharifi says, he "committed social suicide so this incident wouldn't happen to others."

An Iranian man and a woman made the allegations in separate interviews with CNN. Both said they fled to Turkey from Iran after claiming to have been threatened by Iranian security services. While CNN does not normally use the names of alleged rape victims, their names are included here with their permission.

CNN could not independently confirm their accounts. But the testimony of one of the alleged rape victims, Ibrahim Sharifi, was revealed last month by a prominent Iranian opposition leader who claimed to have gathered at least four accounts of sexual assault this summer in Iranian prisons. Sharifi's allegations were also included in a report published last week by two Western human rights organizations investigating reports of abuse in Iranian prisons.

"What we're encountering are numerous accounts of brutality, poor treatment, even torture, serious beatings, and a couple of cases, as you know, of alleged sexual assault -- rape," said Joe Stork, Middle East deputy director for Human Rights Watch.

The Iranian government has launched two investigations into the allegations. Iran's judiciary concluded there was no evidence of rape. A parliamentary fact-finding committee is still working on the issue.

Repeated calls by CNN to get reaction from Iranian officials to the claims of the alleged victims did not result in a response.

"Take him and get him pregnant"

Twenty-four-year-old Ibrahim Sharifi is a university student from Tehran who campaigned actively on the Internet for opposition presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi in the run-up to the controversial June 12 vote.

When incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared winner, Sharifi joined the throngs of angry protesters in the streets who accused the government of rigging the election.

On June 22, Sharifi said, he was kidnapped, handcuffed, blindfolded and stuffed into a car by three unknown men while he was walking home from language lessons at the Italian Embassy. He said they drove him to an unknown location, where he was stripped to his underwear. There, he said, he endured several days of beatings and mock executions alongside other male prisoners, all the time tightly blindfolded.  Watch Ibrahim Sharifi describe being tortured and sexually assaulted Â»

"They took us and they put a noose around my neck in a way that I was forced to stand on my tiptoes, unable to breathe," Sharifi said. "Somebody was constantly telling us ... 'You have received the oral sentence to be hanged, we are just waiting for the written order.'"

"There was the stink of piss and blood. It smelled terrible," Sharifi recalled. "I was beaten so much I didn't have any energy left to cry."

On the fourth day of his detention, during one of these mock executions, Sharifi said he finally snapped.

"I said, if you want to kill us, go ahead. Why do you play such games with us? And the response was a kick in my stomach that made me fall."

Sharifi said his captors kicked him repeatedly in the stomach until he started vomiting blood. He showed a pink scar on his belly from a previous car accident that he said was torn open by the blows.

"Then the guy told someone else, 'Take him and get him pregnant,'" Sharifi said, his voice cracking with emotion. "They tied my hands to the wall and tied my legs, and then did that thing to me. While doing it, he was telling me, "You, who cannot even defend your you-know-what, you wanted to conduct a revolution?"

Sharifi said he blacked out during the rape and woke up later, handcuffed to a hospital bed. A day later, he said, his captors dumped him, blindfolded, on the side of a highway.

"I was raped. Raped four times"

Twenty-one-year-old Maryam Sabri spoke to CNN by telephone from a Turkish city where, like Sharifi, she is waiting for the U.N. High Commission for Refugees to process her request for asylum.

She said she was arrested by men in plainclothes on July 30 while attending a ceremony at the grave of Neda Agha-Soltan, the Iranian woman whose death was captured by cell phone camera after she was shot during a protest in the streets of Tehran.

"When I asked them where was I being taken to, why have you arrested me, who are you?" their response was a constant slap on my face," Sabri recounted.

Sabri said she was interrogated several times after being detained. The sexual assault began during the third interrogation, she said.

"He said, 'OK, you wanted your vote back? Now I'm going to give back your vote." It was then that I was raped. Raped four times," she said.

"My hands were tied and my eyes were blindfolded," she said. "He threw me on the ground while pressing my throat with one hand, and both my legs were under the weight of his legs so I couldn't move at all."

Sabri said the last time she was raped, her assailant took off her blindfold and said he would release her on the condition that, once out of prison, she remain in contact with him and cooperate with him.

Several days after her release, Sabri said the alleged rapist, described as a man in his late 30s with light eyes and several days' worth of stubble, began calling her on her cell phone and threatening her.

She fled Iran several weeks later and applied for refugee status in Turkey.

Rape as punishment?

Human rights organizations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran have expressed alarm about the reports of sexual assault in prison.

"The issue is, are the authorities using rape as a tool to pressure people, to punish people?" asked Stork, the Middle East deputy director for Human Rights Watch. "In the case of the one individual, Ibrahim Sharifi, it appears it was a punishment."

Iran's parliament and judiciary launched investigations into the allegations. But last month, Iranian security forces raided the offices of Karrubi, the opposition presidential candidate and longtime advocate for prisoners' rights who first publicized the rape allegations. The offices of another opposition candidate, Mir Hossein Moussavi, were also raided in September.

Iran's powerful conservative parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, said a special committee of Iran's parliament, or Majlis, conducted a "precise and comprehensive inquiry" into the treatment at Tehran's Evin and Kahrizak prisons and found "no cases of rape or sexual abuse," government-funded Press TV reported last month.

Larijani accused Karrubi of spreading "sheer lies."

However, not everyone was persuaded by the investigation. "The Iranian authorities appear more intent on finding the identities of those who claim to have been tortured by security officials than in carrying out an impartial investigation," said Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan.

Sabri and Sharifi are members of a growing population of expatriate Iranian dissidents in Turkey. Both face an uncertain future as refugees here and worry about the safety of their families back in Tehran.

Sabri claims her father was arrested after she first went public with her rape testimony on the U.S. government-funded network Voice of America.

Sharifi, meanwhile, said that before he fled Iran, government investigators accused him of lying about his prison experience for money ... charges he angrily denies.

"I broke a taboo in Iran," he said, weeping. "I sat in front of the camera and committed social suicide so this incident wouldn't happen to others."

"I want the whole world to know that Iran's problems are not only limited to the nuclear issue," he said. "The Iranian regime plays games with other countries of the world. It plays the same games with its own nation and people."

text: ISTANBUL

text: Turkey

text: CNN

text: Two

text: Iranians

text: who

text: were

text: caught

text: up

text: in

text: the

text: waves

text: of

text: arrests

text: that

text: followed

text: the

text: disputed

text: presidential

text: elections

text: in

text: June

text: have

text: accused

text: their

text: captors

text: of

text: raping

text: them

text: By

text: telling

text: his

text: story

text: Ibrahim

text: Sharifi

text: says

text: he

text: committed

text: social

text: suicide

text: so

text: this

text: incident

text: would

text: n't

text: happen

text: to

text: others

text: An

text: Iranian

text: man

text: and

text: a

text: woman

text: made

text: the

text: allegations

text: in

text: separate

text: interviews

text: with

text: CNN

text: Both

text: said

text: they

text: fled

text: to

text: Turkey

text: from

text: Iran

text: after

text: claiming

text: to

text: have

text: been

text: threatened

text: by

text: Iranian

text: security

text: services

text: While

text: CNN

text: does

text: not

text: normally

text: use

text: the

text: names

text: of

text: alleged

text: rape

text: victims

text: their

text: names

text: are

text: included

text: here

text: with

text: their

text: permission

text: CNN

text: could

text: not

text: independently

text: confirm

text: their

text: accounts

text: But

text: the

text: testimony

text: of

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: alleged

text: rape

text: victims

text: Ibrahim

text: Sharifi

text: was

text: revealed

text: last

text: month

text: by

text: a

text: prominent

text: Iranian

text: opposition

text: leader

text: who

text: claimed

text: to

text: have

text: gathered

text: at

text: least

text: four

text: accounts

text: of

text: sexual

text: assault

text: this

text: summer

text: in

text: Iranian

text: prisons

text: Sharifi

text: 's

text: allegations

text: were

text: also

text: included

text: in

text: a

text: report

text: published

text: last

text: week

text: by

text: two

text: Western

text: human

text: rights

text: organizations

text: investigating

text: reports

text: of

text: abuse

text: in

text: Iranian

text: prisons

text: What

text: we

text: 're

text: encountering

text: are

text: numerous

text: accounts

text: of

text: brutality

text: poor

text: treatment

text: even

text: torture

text: serious

text: beatings

text: and

text: a

text: couple

text: of

text: cases

text: as

text: you

text: know

text: of

text: alleged

text: sexual

text: assault

text: rape

text: said

text: Joe

text: Stork

text: Middle

text: East

text: deputy

text: director

text: for

text: Human

text: Rights

text: Watch

text: The

text: Iranian

text: government

text: has

text: launched

text: two

text: investigations

text: into

text: the

text: allegations

text: Iran

text: 's

text: judiciary

text: concluded

text: there

text: was

text: no

text: evidence

text: of

text: rape

text: A

text: parliamentary

text: fact

text: finding

text: committee

text: is

text: still

text: working

text: on

text: the

text: issue

text: Repeated

text: calls

text: by

text: CNN

text: to

text: get

text: reaction

text: from

text: Iranian

text: officials

text: to

text: the

text: claims

text: of

text: the

text: alleged

text: victims

text: did

text: not

text: result

text: in

text: a

text: response

text: Take

text: him

text: and

text: get

text: him

text: pregnant

text: Twenty

text: four

text: year

text: old

text: Ibrahim

text: Sharifi

text: is

text: a

text: university

text: student

text: from

text: Tehran

text: who

text: campaigned

text: actively

text: on

text: the

text: Internet

text: for

text: opposition

text: presidential

text: candidate

text: Mehdi

text: Karrubi

text: in

text: the

text: run

text: up

text: to

text: the

text: controversial

text: June

text: vote

text: When

text: incumbent

text: president

text: Mahmoud

text: Ahmadinejad

text: was

text: declared

text: winner

text: Sharifi

text: joined

text: the

text: throngs

text: of

text: angry

text: protesters

text: in

text: the

text: streets

text: who

text: accused

text: the

text: government

text: of

text: rigging

text: the

text: election

text: On

text: June

text: Sharifi

text: said

text: he

text: was

text: kidnapped

text: handcuffed

text: blindfolded

text: and

text: stuffed

text: into

text: a

text: car

text: by

text: three

text: unknown

text: men

text: while

text: he

text: was

text: walking

text: home

text: from

text: language

text: lessons

text: at

text: the

text: Italian

text: Embassy

text: He

text: said

text: they

text: drove

text: him

text: to

text: an

text: unknown

text: location

text: where

text: he

text: was

text: stripped

text: to

text: his

text: underwear

text: There

text: he

text: said

text: he

text: endured

text: several

text: days

text: of

text: beatings

text: and

text: mock

text: executions

text: alongside

text: other

text: male

text: prisoners

text: all

text: the

text: time

text: tightly

text: blindfolded

text: Watch

text: Ibrahim

text: Sharifi

text: describe

text: being

text: tortured

text: and

text: sexually

text: assaulted

text: Â

text: They

text: took

text: us

text: and

text: they

text: put

text: a

text: noose

text: around

text: my

text: neck

text: in

text: a

text: way

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: forced

text: to

text: stand

text: on

text: my

text: tiptoes

text: unable

text: to

text: breathe

text: Sharifi

text: said

text: Somebody

text: was

text: constantly

text: telling

text: us

text: You

text: have

text: received

text: the

text: oral

text: sentence

text: to

text: be

text: hanged

text: we

text: are

text: just

text: waiting

text: for

text: the

text: written

text: order

text: There

text: was

text: the

text: stink

text: of

text: piss

text: and

text: blood

text: It

text: smelled

text: terrible

text: Sharifi

text: recalled

text: I

text: was

text: beaten

text: so

text: much

text: I

text: did

text: n't

text: have

text: any

text: energy

text: left

text: to

text: cry

text: On

text: the

text: fourth

text: day

text: of

text: his

text: detention

text: during

text: one

text: of

text: these

text: mock

text: executions

text: Sharifi

text: said

text: he

text: finally

text: snapped

text: I

text: said

text: if

text: you

text: want

text: to

text: kill

text: us

text: go

text: ahead

text: Why

text: do

text: you

text: play

text: such

text: games

text: with

text: us

text: And

text: the

text: response

text: was

text: a

text: kick

text: in

text: my

text: stomach

text: that

text: made

text: me

text: fall

text: Sharifi

text: said

text: his

text: captors

text: kicked

text: him

text: repeatedly

text: in

text: the

text: stomach

text: until

text: he

text: started

text: vomiting

text: blood

text: He

text: showed

text: a

text: pink

text: scar

text: on

text: his

text: belly

text: from

text: a

text: previous

text: car

text: accident

text: that

text: he

text: said

text: was

text: torn

text: open

text: by

text: the

text: blows

text: Then

text: the

text: guy

text: told

text: someone

text: else

text: Take

text: him

text: and

text: get

text: him

text: pregnant

text: Sharifi

text: said

text: his

text: voice

text: cracking

text: with

text: emotion

text: They

text: tied

text: my

text: hands

text: to

text: the

text: wall

text: and

text: tied

text: my

text: legs

text: and

text: then

text: did

text: that

text: thing

text: to

text: me

text: While

text: doing

text: it

text: he

text: was

text: telling

text: me

text: You

text: who

text: can

text: not

text: even

text: defend

text: your

text: you

text: know

text: what

text: you

text: wanted

text: to

text: conduct

text: a

text: revolution

text: Sharifi

text: said

text: he

text: blacked

text: out

text: during

text: the

text: rape

text: and

text: woke

text: up

text: later

text: handcuffed

text: to

text: a

text: hospital

text: bed

text: A

text: day

text: later

text: he

text: said

text: his

text: captors

text: dumped

text: him

text: blindfolded

text: on

text: the

text: side

text: of

text: a

text: highway

text: I

text: was

text: raped

text: Raped

text: four

text: times

text: Twenty

text: one

text: year

text: old

text: Maryam

text: Sabri

text: spoke

text: to

text: CNN

text: by

text: telephone

text: from

text: a

text: Turkish

text: city

text: where

text: like

text: Sharifi

text: she

text: is

text: waiting

text: for

text: the

text: U.N.

text: High

text: Commission

text: for

text: Refugees

text: to

text: process

text: her

text: request

text: for

text: asylum

text: She

text: said

text: she

text: was

text: arrested

text: by

text: men

text: in

text: plainclothes

text: on

text: July

text: while

text: attending

text: a

text: ceremony

text: at

text: the

text: grave

text: of

text: Neda

text: Agha

text: Soltan

text: the

text: Iranian

text: woman

text: whose

text: death

text: was

text: captured

text: by

text: cell

text: phone

text: camera

text: after

text: she

text: was

text: shot

text: during

text: a

text: protest

text: in

text: the

text: streets

text: of

text: Tehran

text: When

text: I

text: asked

text: them

text: where

text: was

text: I

text: being

text: taken

text: to

text: why

text: have

text: you

text: arrested

text: me

text: who

text: are

text: you

text: their

text: response

text: was

text: a

text: constant

text: slap

text: on

text: my

text: face

text: Sabri

text: recounted

text: Sabri

text: said

text: she

text: was

text: interrogated

text: several

text: times

text: after

text: being

text: detained

text: The

text: sexual

text: assault

text: began

text: during

text: the

text: third

text: interrogation

text: she

text: said

text: He

text: said

text: OK

text: you

text: wanted

text: your

text: vote

text: back

text: Now

text: I

text: 'm

text: going

text: to

text: give

text: back

text: your

text: vote

text: It

text: was

text: then

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: raped

text: Raped

text: four

text: times

text: she

text: said

text: My

text: hands

text: were

text: tied

text: and

text: my

text: eyes

text: were

text: blindfolded

text: she

text: said

text: He

text: threw

text: me

text: on

text: the

text: ground

text: while

text: pressing

text: my

text: throat

text: with

text: one

text: hand

text: and

text: both

text: my

text: legs

text: were

text: under

text: the

text: weight

text: of

text: his

text: legs

text: so

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: move

text: at

text: all

text: Sabri

text: said

text: the

text: last

text: time

text: she

text: was

text: raped

text: her

text: assailant

text: took

text: off

text: her

text: blindfold

text: and

text: said

text: he

text: would

text: release

text: her

text: on

text: the

text: condition

text: that

text: once

text: out

text: of

text: prison

text: she

text: remain

text: in

text: contact

text: with

text: him

text: and

text: cooperate

text: with

text: him

text: Several

text: days

text: after

text: her

text: release

text: Sabri

text: said

text: the

text: alleged

text: rapist

text: described

text: as

text: a

text: man

text: in

text: his

text: late

text: with

text: light

text: eyes

text: and

text: several

text: days

text: worth

text: of

text: stubble

text: began

text: calling

text: her

text: on

text: her

text: cell

text: phone

text: and

text: threatening

text: her

text: She

text: fled

text: Iran

text: several

text: weeks

text: later

text: and

text: applied

text: for

text: refugee

text: status

text: in

text: Turkey

text: Rape

text: as

text: punishment

text: Human

text: rights

text: organizations

text: Amnesty

text: International

text: Human

text: Rights

text: Watch

text: and

text: the

text: International

text: Campaign

text: for

text: Human

text: Rights

text: in

text: Iran

text: have

text: expressed

text: alarm

text: about

text: the

text: reports

text: of

text: sexual

text: assault

text: in

text: prison

text: The

text: issue

text: is

text: are

text: the

text: authorities

text: using

text: rape

text: as

text: a

text: tool

text: to

text: pressure

text: people

text: to

text: punish

text: people

text: asked

text: Stork

text: the

text: Middle

text: East

text: deputy

text: director

text: for

text: Human

text: Rights

text: Watch

text: In

text: the

text: case

text: of

text: the

text: one

text: individual

text: Ibrahim

text: Sharifi

text: it

text: appears

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: punishment

text: Iran

text: 's

text: parliament

text: and

text: judiciary

text: launched

text: investigations

text: into

text: the

text: allegations

text: But

text: last

text: month

text: Iranian

text: security

text: forces

text: raided

text: the

text: offices

text: of

text: Karrubi

text: the

text: opposition

text: presidential

text: candidate

text: and

text: longtime

text: advocate

text: for

text: prisoners

text: rights

text: who

text: first

text: publicized

text: the

text: rape

text: allegations

text: The

text: offices

text: of

text: another

text: opposition

text: candidate

text: Mir

text: Hossein

text: Moussavi

text: were

text: also

text: raided

text: in

text: September

text: Iran

text: 's

text: powerful

text: conservative

text: parliamentary

text: speaker

text: Ali

text: Larijani

text: said

text: a

text: special

text: committee

text: of

text: Iran

text: 's

text: parliament

text: or

text: Majlis

text: conducted

text: a

text: precise

text: and

text: comprehensive

text: inquiry

text: into

text: the

text: treatment

text: at

text: Tehran

text: 's

text: Evin

text: and

text: Kahrizak

text: prisons

text: and

text: found

text: no

text: cases

text: of

text: rape

text: or

text: sexual

text: abuse

text: government

text: funded

text: Press

text: TV

text: reported

text: last

text: month

text: Larijani

text: accused

text: Karrubi

text: of

text: spreading

text: sheer

text: lies

text: However

text: not

text: everyone

text: was

text: persuaded

text: by

text: the

text: investigation

text: The

text: Iranian

text: authorities

text: appear

text: more

text: intent

text: on

text: finding

text: the

text: identities

text: of

text: those

text: who

text: claim

text: to

text: have

text: been

text: tortured

text: by

text: security

text: officials

text: than

text: in

text: carrying

text: out

text: an

text: impartial

text: investigation

text: said

text: Amnesty

text: International

text: Secretary

text: General

text: Irene

text: Khan

text: Sabri

text: and

text: Sharifi

text: are

text: members

text: of

text: a

text: growing

text: population

text: of

text: expatriate

text: Iranian

text: dissidents

text: in

text: Turkey

text: Both

text: face

text: an

text: uncertain

text: future

text: as

text: refugees

text: here

text: and

text: worry

text: about

text: the

text: safety

text: of

text: their

text: families

text: back

text: in

text: Tehran

text: Sabri

text: claims

text: her

text: father

text: was

text: arrested

text: after

text: she

text: first

text: went

text: public

text: with

text: her

text: rape

text: testimony

text: on

text: the

text: U.S.

text: government

text: funded

text: network

text: Voice

text: of

text: America

text: Sharifi

text: meanwhile

text: said

text: that

text: before

text: he

text: fled

text: Iran

text: government

text: investigators

text: accused

text: him

text: of

text: lying

text: about

text: his

text: prison

text: experience

text: for

text: money

text: charges

text: he

text: angrily

text: denies

text: I

text: broke

text: a

text: taboo

text: in

text: Iran

text: he

text: said

text: weeping

text: I

text: sat

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: the

text: camera

text: and

text: committed

text: social

text: suicide

text: so

text: this

text: incident

text: would

text: n't

text: happen

text: to

text: others

text: I

text: want

text: the

text: whole

text: world

text: to

text: know

text: that

text: Iran

text: 's

text: problems

text: are

text: not

text: only

text: limited

text: to

text: the

text: nuclear

text: issue

text: he

text: said

text: The

text: Iranian

text: regime

text: plays

text: games

text: with

text: other

text: countries

text: of

text: the

text: world

text: It

text: plays

text: the

text: same

text: games

text: with

text: its

text: own

text: nation

text: and

text: people

question: Who gave interviews to CNN?

answer: An Iranian man and a woman made

text: An Iranian man and a woman made

question: Who allege rapes?

answer: disputed presidential elections in June

text: disputed presidential elections in June

question: Who gave separate interviews to CNN?

answer: An Iranian man and a woman

text: An Iranian man and a woman

question: When were they arrested?

answer: June

text: June

question: When was the presidential election?

answer: June

text: June


text:
(CNN) -- On "Amanpour" this Thursday, Christiane Amanpour sits down for an exclusive live interview with the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe talks to CNN's Christiane Amanpour Thursday.

In Mugabe's first interview with a major Western network in years, Christiane will explore the historic power-sharing agreement with the unity government there, and get the president's thoughts on the highly-emotive issue of land redistribution.

As Mugabe prepares to take center stage at the United Nations on Friday, Christiane will take the opportunity to ask if the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe is really working, if international sanctions are responsible for his country's economic and political turmoil, and what kind of engagement he is looking for from the international community.

In this rare interview, Christiane will also address signs of optimism emerging in Zimbabwe; sky-rocketing inflation stabilizing, basic goods returning to store shelves, and a loosening of restrictive media laws.

"Amanpour" is CNN International's new live global interview program, which launched on September 21, 2009 as the centerpiece of its new evening line up.

Live interview airs 2100 CET Thursday 24 September.

text: CNN

text: On

text: Amanpour

text: this

text: Thursday

text: Christiane

text: Amanpour

text: sits

text: down

text: for

text: an

text: exclusive

text: live

text: interview

text: with

text: the

text: President

text: of

text: Zimbabwe

text: Robert

text: Mugabe

text: Zimbabwe

text: President

text: Robert

text: Mugabe

text: talks

text: to

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Christiane

text: Amanpour

text: Thursday

text: In

text: Mugabe

text: 's

text: first

text: interview

text: with

text: a

text: major

text: Western

text: network

text: in

text: years

text: Christiane

text: will

text: explore

text: the

text: historic

text: power

text: sharing

text: agreement

text: with

text: the

text: unity

text: government

text: there

text: and

text: get

text: the

text: president

text: 's

text: thoughts

text: on

text: the

text: highly

text: emotive

text: issue

text: of

text: land

text: redistribution

text: As

text: Mugabe

text: prepares

text: to

text: take

text: center

text: stage

text: at

text: the

text: United

text: Nations

text: on

text: Friday

text: Christiane

text: will

text: take

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: ask

text: if

text: the

text: power

text: sharing

text: agreement

text: in

text: Zimbabwe

text: is

text: really

text: working

text: if

text: international

text: sanctions

text: are

text: responsible

text: for

text: his

text: country

text: 's

text: economic

text: and

text: political

text: turmoil

text: and

text: what

text: kind

text: of

text: engagement

text: he

text: is

text: looking

text: for

text: from

text: the

text: international

text: community

text: In

text: this

text: rare

text: interview

text: Christiane

text: will

text: also

text: address

text: signs

text: of

text: optimism

text: emerging

text: in

text: Zimbabwe

text: sky

text: rocketing

text: inflation

text: stabilizing

text: basic

text: goods

text: returning

text: to

text: store

text: shelves

text: and

text: a

text: loosening

text: of

text: restrictive

text: media

text: laws

text: Amanpour

text: is

text: CNN

text: International

text: 's

text: new

text: live

text: global

text: interview

text: program

text: which

text: launched

text: on

text: September

text: as

text: the

text: centerpiece

text: of

text: its

text: new

text: evening

text: line

text: up

text: Live

text: interview

text: airs

text: CET

text: Thursday

text: September

question: When is "Amanpour" on?

answer: this Thursday,

text: this Thursday,

question: Who will Christiane Amanpour interview?

answer: President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.

text: President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.

question: what is she planning to do

answer: an exclusive live interview

text: an exclusive live interview

question: what will the interview be about

answer: historic power-sharing agreement

text: historic power-sharing agreement

question: What will be up for discussion?

answer: if the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe is really working, if international sanctions are responsible

text: if the power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe is really working, if international sanctions are responsible

question: Who is Amanpour interviewing?

answer: President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.

text: President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On his final full day in office, President Bush issued commutations for two former U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted in 2006 of shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant -- suspected of drug smuggling at the time -- and then covering it up.

An artist's sketch shows Ignacio Ramos, left, and Jose Compean.

The prison sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean will now end March 20.

Ramos had received an 11-year prison sentence; Compean had received a 12-year term. They began serving their sentences in January 2007.

The Office of the Pardon Attorney was still reviewing the clemency request when Bush made his decision, Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney said.

"The president has reviewed the circumstances of this case as a whole and the conditions of confinement and believes the sentences they received are too harsh and that they, and their families, have suffered enough for their crimes," a senior administration official said.

"Commuting their sentences does not diminish the seriousness of their crimes. Ramos and Compean are convicted felons who violated their oaths to uphold the law and have been severely punished," the official stated.

"This commutation gives them an opportunity to return to their families and communities, but both men will have to carry the burden of being convicted felons and the shame of violating their oaths for the rest of their lives."

The official noted that both Democratic and Republican members of Congress have supported a commutation, including President-elect Barack Obama's incoming White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, and Texas GOP Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn.

The head of the labor union representing Border Patrol agents told CNN Radio he was "grateful" that Bush commuted the sentences but questioned why the prison terms won't end until March 20.

"I would be quite curious to learn why they have to wait another two months for an unjust sentence," said Rich Pierce, president of the National Border Patrol Council.

He said the union's ultimate goal would be for the men to get their Border Patrol jobs back.

The shooting happened February 17, 2005, on the border southeast of El Paso, Texas.

During their trial, Ramos and Compean said the illegal immigrant, Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, had brandished a gun while actively resisting arrest. Aldrete-Davila, however, said he was unarmed and was attempting to surrender when Compean attempted to beat him with a shotgun.

Aldrete-Davila was shot while fleeing toward the Rio Grande.

Ramos and Compean were ultimately convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, lying about the incident and violating Aldrete-Davila's Fourth Amendment right against illegal search and seizure.

After receiving immunity to testify in the case against the two agents, Aldrete-Davila was arrested in 2007 on charges of bringing more than 750 pounds of marijuana into the United States.

The case quickly became a political flash point, with advocates of tighter border controls defending the agents and civil liberties groups saying that the agents had used illegal and excessive force against Aldrete-Davila.

Bush has granted 189 pardons and 11 commutations over his eight years in office, far fewer than Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan in their two-term administrations. During the final months of the Bush administration, speculation has swirled around the question of whether former vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby would be granted the presidential favor.

Libby was convicted in March of 2007 of four counts of lying and impeding a federal investigation into the leak of information that revealed that Valerie Plame was a covert CIA operative.

Among the more notable people who have applied for -- but not received -- some form of clemency are: former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham, R-California, who was convicted of receiving bribes; publishing executive Conrad Black, who was found guilty of fraud; former junk bold salesman Michael Milken, who pleaded guilty to securities fraud;  and former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers, convicted of accounting fraud.

The parents of John Walker Lindh, who was given a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to supporting terrorists in Afghanistan, held a news conference in December urging Bush to commute their son's sentence.

There is a long tradition of presidents issuing pardons and commutations during their final days in office. Clinton pardoned fugitive financier Marc Rich during his last hours in office, setting off a firestorm of controversy.

A commutation reduces a convict's prison term, but the conviction remains on the person's record. A pardon, however, wipes the slate clean by erasing the record of the conviction.

A president has the sole authority to grant clemency to whomever he chooses, although a Justice Department office usually reviews applications and makes recommendations after considering such standards as a person's degree of remorse and ability to lead a responsible and productive life after release.

Those applying for a pardon through the Justice Department are required to wait at least five years after their conviction or release from confinement.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: On

text: his

text: final

text: full

text: day

text: in

text: office

text: President

text: Bush

text: issued

text: commutations

text: for

text: two

text: former

text: U.S.

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: agents

text: convicted

text: in

text: of

text: shooting

text: and

text: wounding

text: an

text: unarmed

text: illegal

text: immigrant

text: suspected

text: of

text: drug

text: smuggling

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: and

text: then

text: covering

text: it

text: up

text: An

text: artist

text: 's

text: sketch

text: shows

text: Ignacio

text: Ramos

text: left

text: and

text: Jose

text: Compean

text: The

text: prison

text: sentences

text: of

text: Ignacio

text: Ramos

text: and

text: Jose

text: Compean

text: will

text: now

text: end

text: March

text: Ramos

text: had

text: received

text: an

text: prison

text: sentence

text: Compean

text: had

text: received

text: a

text: term

text: They

text: began

text: serving

text: their

text: sentences

text: in

text: January

text: The

text: Office

text: of

text: the

text: Pardon

text: Attorney

text: was

text: still

text: reviewing

text: the

text: clemency

text: request

text: when

text: Bush

text: made

text: his

text: decision

text: Justice

text: Department

text: spokeswoman

text: Laura

text: Sweeney

text: said

text: The

text: president

text: has

text: reviewed

text: the

text: circumstances

text: of

text: this

text: case

text: as

text: a

text: whole

text: and

text: the

text: conditions

text: of

text: confinement

text: and

text: believes

text: the

text: sentences

text: they

text: received

text: are

text: too

text: harsh

text: and

text: that

text: they

text: and

text: their

text: families

text: have

text: suffered

text: enough

text: for

text: their

text: crimes

text: a

text: senior

text: administration

text: official

text: said

text: Commuting

text: their

text: sentences

text: does

text: not

text: diminish

text: the

text: seriousness

text: of

text: their

text: crimes

text: Ramos

text: and

text: Compean

text: are

text: convicted

text: felons

text: who

text: violated

text: their

text: oaths

text: to

text: uphold

text: the

text: law

text: and

text: have

text: been

text: severely

text: punished

text: the

text: official

text: stated

text: This

text: commutation

text: gives

text: them

text: an

text: opportunity

text: to

text: return

text: to

text: their

text: families

text: and

text: communities

text: but

text: both

text: men

text: will

text: have

text: to

text: carry

text: the

text: burden

text: of

text: being

text: convicted

text: felons

text: and

text: the

text: shame

text: of

text: violating

text: their

text: oaths

text: for

text: the

text: rest

text: of

text: their

text: lives

text: The

text: official

text: noted

text: that

text: both

text: Democratic

text: and

text: Republican

text: members

text: of

text: Congress

text: have

text: supported

text: a

text: commutation

text: including

text: President

text: elect

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: 's

text: incoming

text: White

text: House

text: chief

text: of

text: staff

text: Rahm

text: Emanuel

text: and

text: Texas

text: GOP

text: Sens

text: Kay

text: Bailey

text: Hutchison

text: and

text: John

text: Cornyn

text: The

text: head

text: of

text: the

text: labor

text: union

text: representing

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: agents

text: told

text: CNN

text: Radio

text: he

text: was

text: grateful

text: that

text: Bush

text: commuted

text: the

text: sentences

text: but

text: questioned

text: why

text: the

text: prison

text: terms

text: wo

text: n't

text: end

text: until

text: March

text: I

text: would

text: be

text: quite

text: curious

text: to

text: learn

text: why

text: they

text: have

text: to

text: wait

text: another

text: two

text: months

text: for

text: an

text: unjust

text: sentence

text: said

text: Rich

text: Pierce

text: president

text: of

text: the

text: National

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: Council

text: He

text: said

text: the

text: union

text: 's

text: ultimate

text: goal

text: would

text: be

text: for

text: the

text: men

text: to

text: get

text: their

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: jobs

text: back

text: The

text: shooting

text: happened

text: February

text: on

text: the

text: border

text: southeast

text: of

text: El

text: Paso

text: Texas

text: During

text: their

text: trial

text: Ramos

text: and

text: Compean

text: said

text: the

text: illegal

text: immigrant

text: Osvaldo

text: Aldrete

text: Davila

text: had

text: brandished

text: a

text: gun

text: while

text: actively

text: resisting

text: arrest

text: Aldrete

text: Davila

text: however

text: said

text: he

text: was

text: unarmed

text: and

text: was

text: attempting

text: to

text: surrender

text: when

text: Compean

text: attempted

text: to

text: beat

text: him

text: with

text: a

text: shotgun

text: Aldrete

text: Davila

text: was

text: shot

text: while

text: fleeing

text: toward

text: the

text: Rio

text: Grande

text: Ramos

text: and

text: Compean

text: were

text: ultimately

text: convicted

text: of

text: assault

text: with

text: a

text: dangerous

text: weapon

text: lying

text: about

text: the

text: incident

text: and

text: violating

text: Aldrete

text: Davila

text: 's

text: Fourth

text: Amendment

text: right

text: against

text: illegal

text: search

text: and

text: seizure

text: After

text: receiving

text: immunity

text: to

text: testify

text: in

text: the

text: case

text: against

text: the

text: two

text: agents

text: Aldrete

text: Davila

text: was

text: arrested

text: in

text: on

text: charges

text: of

text: bringing

text: more

text: than

text: pounds

text: of

text: marijuana

text: into

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: The

text: case

text: quickly

text: became

text: a

text: political

text: flash

text: point

text: with

text: advocates

text: of

text: tighter

text: border

text: controls

text: defending

text: the

text: agents

text: and

text: civil

text: liberties

text: groups

text: saying

text: that

text: the

text: agents

text: had

text: used

text: illegal

text: and

text: excessive

text: force

text: against

text: Aldrete

text: Davila

text: Bush

text: has

text: granted

text: pardons

text: and

text: commutations

text: over

text: his

text: eight

text: years

text: in

text: office

text: far

text: fewer

text: than

text: Presidents

text: Bill

text: Clinton

text: and

text: Ronald

text: Reagan

text: in

text: their

text: two

text: term

text: administrations

text: During

text: the

text: final

text: months

text: of

text: the

text: Bush

text: administration

text: speculation

text: has

text: swirled

text: around

text: the

text: question

text: of

text: whether

text: former

text: vice

text: presidential

text: aide

text: Lewis

text: Scooter

text: Libby

text: would

text: be

text: granted

text: the

text: presidential

text: favor

text: Libby

text: was

text: convicted

text: in

text: March

text: of

text: of

text: four

text: counts

text: of

text: lying

text: and

text: impeding

text: a

text: federal

text: investigation

text: into

text: the

text: leak

text: of

text: information

text: that

text: revealed

text: that

text: Valerie

text: Plame

text: was

text: a

text: covert

text: CIA

text: operative

text: Among

text: the

text: more

text: notable

text: people

text: who

text: have

text: applied

text: for

text: but

text: not

text: received

text: some

text: form

text: of

text: clemency

text: are

text: former

text: Rep.

text: Randall

text: Duke

text: Cunningham

text: R

text: California

text: who

text: was

text: convicted

text: of

text: receiving

text: bribes

text: publishing

text: executive

text: Conrad

text: Black

text: who

text: was

text: found

text: guilty

text: of

text: fraud

text: former

text: junk

text: bold

text: salesman

text: Michael

text: Milken

text: who

text: pleaded

text: guilty

text: to

text: securities

text: fraud

text: and

text: former

text: WorldCom

text: CEO

text: Bernard

text: Ebbers

text: convicted

text: of

text: accounting

text: fraud

text: The

text: parents

text: of

text: John

text: Walker

text: Lindh

text: who

text: was

text: given

text: a

text: sentence

text: after

text: pleading

text: guilty

text: to

text: supporting

text: terrorists

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: held

text: a

text: news

text: conference

text: in

text: December

text: urging

text: Bush

text: to

text: commute

text: their

text: son

text: 's

text: sentence

text: There

text: is

text: a

text: long

text: tradition

text: of

text: presidents

text: issuing

text: pardons

text: and

text: commutations

text: during

text: their

text: final

text: days

text: in

text: office

text: Clinton

text: pardoned

text: fugitive

text: financier

text: Marc

text: Rich

text: during

text: his

text: last

text: hours

text: in

text: office

text: setting

text: off

text: a

text: firestorm

text: of

text: controversy

text: A

text: commutation

text: reduces

text: a

text: convict

text: 's

text: prison

text: term

text: but

text: the

text: conviction

text: remains

text: on

text: the

text: person

text: 's

text: record

text: A

text: pardon

text: however

text: wipes

text: the

text: slate

text: clean

text: by

text: erasing

text: the

text: record

text: of

text: the

text: conviction

text: A

text: president

text: has

text: the

text: sole

text: authority

text: to

text: grant

text: clemency

text: to

text: whomever

text: he

text: chooses

text: although

text: a

text: Justice

text: Department

text: office

text: usually

text: reviews

text: applications

text: and

text: makes

text: recommendations

text: after

text: considering

text: such

text: standards

text: as

text: a

text: person

text: 's

text: degree

text: of

text: remorse

text: and

text: ability

text: to

text: lead

text: a

text: responsible

text: and

text: productive

text: life

text: after

text: release

text: Those

text: applying

text: for

text: a

text: pardon

text: through

text: the

text: Justice

text: Department

text: are

text: required

text: to

text: wait

text: at

text: least

text: five

text: years

text: after

text: their

text: conviction

text: or

text: release

text: from

text: confinement

question: What did Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean do wrong?

answer: assault with a dangerous weapon,

text: assault with a dangerous weapon,

question: What were the pair convicted of?

answer: shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

text: shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

question: Who received commuted sentences?

answer: U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted in 2006 of shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

text: U.S. Border Patrol agents convicted in 2006 of shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

question: Who commuted these peoples' sentences?

answer: Bush

text: Bush

question: What organization did this men previously work for?

answer: U.S. Border Patrol

text: U.S. Border Patrol

question: What does the president believe?

answer: the sentences they received are too harsh and that they, and their families, have suffered enough for their crimes,"

text: the sentences they received are too harsh and that they, and their families, have suffered enough for their crimes,"

question: What was the pair convicted of?

answer: shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

text: shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

question: Bush commutes whose sentence?

answer: U.S. Border Patrol agents

text: U.S. Border Patrol agents

question: What were they convicted of?

answer: shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

text: shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant

question: What is their release date?

answer: March 20.

text: March 20.

question: Whose sentences did Bush commute?

answer: Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean

text: Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean