Osama Bin Laden Killed by U.S. Soldiers

By Justin Worsley,

Almost 10 years after one of the most devastating attacks on America, the man behind the attack has finally been caught.

On Sunday night, U.S. President Barrack Obama announced that the U.S. soldiers have killed Osama bin Laden in a mansion in Pakistan.

Bin Laden, who was the leader of an Afghanistan-based terrorist organization, Al Qaeda, organized an attack on the U.S. on September 11, 2001 and has since openly declared war on America.

Bin Laden, 54, hid around the Middle East for nearly 10 years, sending the U.S. videos and voice recordings over the years in order to end rumors that he had died.

The Joint Special Operations Command abducted bin Laden's corpse and brought it to the U.S. DNA samples from bin Laden's corpse was matched with his deceased sister to determine that it was him.

Prior to the 9/11 attacks, bin Laden was already an enemy to America. Bin Laden played a major role in the 1998 bombing of two U.S Embassies in Africa as well as the Oct. 200 attack of the U.S.S. Cole on a port in Yemen.

Bin laden is the son of a Saudi billionaire who was killed in a 1967 place crash which was piloted by an American who misjudged the landing. In the early 1980's, bin Laden began terrorist activities and inherited his family's wealth.

Operation on the mansion began last week and no civilians or Americans were harmed in the firefight.

Health Care Package Already Faces Speed-Bump

By Justin Worsley

The Health Care Reform Bill, which was passed last Sunday, has now approached it's first major obstacle, coverage for children.

The new law would give insurance companies the ability to deny coverage to children who have a pre-existing medical problem. The situation is a double-edged sword, however, because if a child is accepted for coverage or is already covered, an insurance company can not fix their policies to prevent coverage. This protection policy will come into effect later this year.

On Tuesday, it was announced by President Barrack Obama's administration that Health and Human Services Secretary Katleen Sebilus will issue new regulations in order to prevent any loopholes for coverage for children. The Obama administration has continuously claimed the law is interpreted that children can not be denied coverage.

"Parents who are worried about getting coverage for their children with pre-existing conditions now are assured that insurance companies have to give them coverage-this year," Obama said last Saturday to the House of Democrats.

The problem lies in insurance policies purchased for families, which is commonly purchased by the self-employed.

Under law, parent of children who are turned down by an insurer have a fallback plan, giving parents the ability to seek insurance through high-risk insurance pools.

The Health Care Reform Bill will fully kick in in 2014, where insurers will no longer be able to deny insurance coverage for the ill and the government will begin to give tax credits to new insurance markets.

Obama To Donate Nobel Prize Winnings

By Justin Worsley

President Barack Obama has decided to donate the $1.4 million awarded to him in November when he won the Nobel Peace Prize to aid, among others, students, veterans' families and survivors of the earthquake in Haiti. The donation, he hopes, will draw attention to other organizations and contribute as well.

While complete terms of financial distribution were not disclosed, it has been reported that $750,000 will be donated to six different organizations who help under-privileged students go to college, and Fisher's House, an organization that provides housing for families with members in Veteran Administration hospitals, will receive $250,000. The rest of the $400,000 will be contributed to a variety of other groups.

Obama, who was surprised to discover he won the Nobel Peace, had planned to donate the money from the beginning.

"These organizations do extraordinary work in the United States and abroad helping students, veterans and countless others in need. I'm proud to support their work," Obama said in a statement.

'Under God' To Remain In Pledge Of Allegiance

By Justin Worsley

After eight years of deliberating, San Francisco-based 9th circuit court ruled that the use of the phrases "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" on United States currency do not violate the First Amendment, which includes the separation of church and state.

The case was first brought forward by atheist Michael Newdow of Sacramento, who stated that the usage of God violates his religious beliefs and is unconstitutional. Newdow constructed a lawsuit after discovering his daughter's school recited the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.

In 2002, the 9th circuit court ruled in favor of Newdow. Former President George W. Bush called the ruling "ridiculous," as the lawsuit went to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2004, where Newdow was shot down due to him not having custody of his daughter.

Newdow returned in 2005, however, after creating another lawsuit under the names of several parents who share his views.

In 1954, the words "under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance by federal law, a law augmented during a paranoid McCarthy-era America. The usage of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance was an attempt to separate the United States from "godless communists."

Newdow told the Associated Press after the hearing that he will appeal the ruling, going as far as the Supreme Court if necessary.

"The whole argument is that 'under God' wasn't placed in the pledge for religious purposes is bogus," Newdow said. "I hope people recognize this is not against God or people who believe in God. It is about the government treating people equally on the basis of their lawful religious views."

The ruling was one of the most controversial of last decade, and could very well spill into this season, however it is very unlikely after yesterday's ruling.