Washington, D.C.: Web sites suggest ways to support the troops

Want to show your support for U.S. soldiers and their families as the war in Iraq continues? The Bush administration has compiled an Internet-based list to help you do so.

The resources and suggestions, collectively called “On the Homefront,” include information on how to send e-mail, electronic thank-you cards and care packages to deployed troops and how to contact charity groups that offer assistance to military families.

Through “Operation Dear Abby” (http://anyservicemember.navy.mil), e-mail can be sent to deployed troops of any service. “Defend America” (www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html) contains a thank-you card to troops. The U.S. military set up both services.

Through “Operation USA Care Package” (www.usocares.org/home.htm), donations are accepted for purchasing items requested by troops, such as sunscreen, disposable cameras, prepaid calling cards and toiletries.

Washington, D.C.: Turkey, Israel in line for billions in aid

Turkey is providing minimal help to the United States in the war against Iraq, and Israel is on the sidelines.

But if Congress goes along with President Bush’s request, Turkey will get $1 billion that it can use to acquire loans of $8 billion or more.

And Israel will get $1 billion in special military aid, and $9 billion more in guaranteed loans.

It’s all part of a plan to help countries effected by the war with Iraq. Israel, for instance, its economy in the doldrums, has had to take expensive precautions to guard against rocket attacks.

Overall, Bush is asking Congress for about $5 billion, including $35.8 million to build a new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, $187 million to the State Department itself, and $770 million to counter terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Colombia. Afghanistan, alone, would get $400 million.

Qatar: Al-Jazeera TV sets up Web site in English

Just as its in-your-face broadcasting has angered U.S. officials again, the Arab-language Al-Jazeera television network, based in Qatar, is unveiling an initiative to make its brand of news reporting more accessible to American viewers.

Al-Jazeera reports now can be viewed on computer screens around the world — in English.

The network that broadcast the footage of dead U.S. soldiers this week and has been criticized for airing unedited tapes of Osama bin Laden has been racing to complete its English-language Internet site to carry its coverage of the war in Iraq.

A preliminary Web site devoted to the war, english.aljazeera.net, appeared Monday, though technical glitches and possible hacker interference made it difficult to access through Tuesday.

Al-Jazeera plans to follow next month with a full-fledged Web site and sometime later with an English-language satellite TV channel.

New York City: Media groups outraged Arab reporters banned

Media watchdogs criticized the New York Stock Exchange’s decision to revoke the credentials of Arab TV network Al-Jazeera, calling it outrageous and shortsighted.

Al-Jazeera has blamed the decision on the satellite station’s coverage of the war in Iraq.

Exchange spokesman Ray Pellechia denied the station’s war coverage was the cause. Citing security reasons, he said the exchange had chosen to limit the number of broadcasters working at the lower Manhattan exchange since the war began, giving access only to networks that focus on “responsible business coverage.”