The James Logan Courier

By Kirsten Scharnberg
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

CHICAGO — The young combat veteran stared at the letter in disbelief when it arrived in his mailbox a few months ago.

The Marine Corps was recommending him for "other than honorable discharge." The letter alleged he had violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice by wearing part of his uniform during an anti-war rally. Furthermore, the letter accused him of being "disloyal," a word hard to swallow for a man who had risked his life to serve his nation.

"All this because I have publicly opposed the war in Iraq since I came back from it," said former Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, 22.

Madden is not alone.

By VOA News

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has formed a panel of inquiry to look at the failure of security forces to prevent the militant group Hamas from staging a violent revolt in Gaza.

A government statement Saturday says the commission will be headed by Zakariya al-Agha. He is a leader of Mr. Abbas' Fatah party in Gaza.

By Michael Doyle
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

WASHINGTON — The Constitution protects car passengers as well as drivers from illegal search and seizures, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.

In a case arising out of a late-night stop in California's Central Valley, the court agreed that passengers enjoy the same constitutional guarantees as drivers. When a car is stopped, both driver and passenger are in police hands and therefore can't be searched without due cause, the court ruled.

"A person is seized by the police and thus entitled to challenge the government's action under the Fourth Amendment when the officer by means of physical force or show of authority terminates or restrains his freedom of movement," Justice David Souter wrote.

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