WASHINGTON

CONTROVERSIAL GENERAL TOUTED FOR SPECIAL OPS JOB

A Senate Republican wants an Army general who drew criticism for church speeches casting the war on terrorism in religious terms to lead the U.S. Special Operations command. In a letter to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, Senator Allen, a Republican of Virginia, recommended Lieutenant General William Boykin, the Pentagon’s deputy undersecretary for intelligence, for the open post.

“I am told, and I believe it to be true, that no Special Operations officer currently on active duty is more highly respected or admired by his superiors, peers or subordinates alike, than Jerry Boykin,” Mr. Allen wrote.

Senator Warner, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, does not agree with Mr. Allen’s suggestion.

“Senator Allen is entitled to his views. He did not consult with me on this matter, but this officer would not be among those whom I would recommend for this position,” Mr. Warner said.

– Associated Press

ABSTINENCE FOCUS IN BUSH AIDS PLAN CAUSES CONFUSION

The requirement that a large fraction of President Bush’s global AIDS plan go to promote abstinence and fidelity is causing confusion in many countries and in a few is eroding other prevention efforts, including ones to reduce mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Those are among the chief conclusions of an 87-page report by the Government Accountability Office that examined the most controversial aspect of the giant AIDS plan, which seeks to spend $15 billion over five years.

The survey of American-funded programs in 20 countries – 15 of them the focus of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) – found widespread support for the “ABC” strategy that encourages abstinence until marriage, being faithful thereafter, and using condoms in high-risk sexual encounters.

At the same time, the document paints a picture of worried program managers trying to juggle the demands of both their local populations and the U.S. Congress, seeking to craft comprehensive prevention messages while simultaneously keeping account books that strictly record spending on the abstinence effort.

– The Washington Post

SCIENCE AND MEDICINE

FEDERAL STUDY REJECTS RISKS OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER

A huge federal study in people – not rats – takes the fizz out of arguments that the diet soda sweetener aspartame might raise the risk of cancer.

No increased risk was seen even among people who gulped down many artificially sweetened drinks a day, said researchers who studied the diets of more than half a million older Americans.

A consumer group praised the study, done by reputable researchers independent of any funding or ties to industry groups.

“It goes a fair way toward allaying concerns about aspartame,” said Michael Jacobson, head of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which had urged the government to review the sweetener’s safety after a troubling rat study last year. Findings were reported yesterday at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

STORM SIRENS IGNORED BY SOME, TOO FAR AWAY FOR OTHERS

NEWBERN, Tenn. – Jackey Reynolds heard the tornado sirens and saw storm warnings on television, but he figured odds were good that the twisters would miss his home, so he didn’t take shelter.

“We’ve had a lot of storms before,” Mr. Reynolds said yesterday. “We’ve had a lot of sirens go off before and nothing came of it.”

But his family was nearly killed Sunday when swarms of violent thunderstorms and tornadoes devastated communities across eight states. The death toll in Tennessee rose to 24 yesterday with the discovery of the last unaccounted-for resident. Four others were killed in Missouri and southern Illinois.

Officials say some residents disregarded the warning sirens that go off frequently during spring thunderstorms. Other neighborhoods were too remote to hear the sirens. And in some cases, the tornadoes struck too quickly after the warnings for people to take cover.

– Associated Press