Obama's Drone Program: Author of new book interviewed

The following interview of Dan Klaidman done by Jake Tapper of ABC News:

Obama Publicly States Support for Gay Marriage

While he claimed his views were "evolving" for the last several years, the president who has done much to support LGBT rights, has never gone further on the issue than saying he supported "civil unions".  But yesterday, he made public his support:

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And historian Doris Kearns Goodwin thinks history will smile on Obama for his public statements

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Chinese Dissident Wants Out of China

A confusing story with a lot of twists and turns took another one yesterday.  Chen Guangcheng had been imprisoned by the Chinese government for investigating and publishing information critical of the government's family planning policy, including information about forced abortions.  (Below the jump-break is a background video Chen and other issues the Chinese are facing.)

He escaped from jail a week ago and took refuge in the U.S. Embassy.  It seemed like there was an agreement for him to stay in China without the government harassing him, but he claims that is not possible.

From last night's NBC Evening News:

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Statistics on Poverty that are a national & international embarassment

BBC News - More US households short of food

BBC News - Number of Americans living in poverty 'increases by 4m'

BBC News - Hunger index shows one billion without enough food

The Release of Aung San Suu Kyi - and the story behind it

She is simply one of the great heroes of freedom, democracy, and human rights in the world today. She has won the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership for non-violent change in Burma/Myanmar even though she has been imprisoned for most of the last two decades.

First, the latest on what the newly freed democracy leader has communicated to her followers:
Suu Kyi tells supporters to work with her for change - CNN.com

Some background on her story:

Suu Kyi: Symbol of hope

updated Sat November 13, 2010

She is small but only in physical stature. Aung San Suu Kyi is the very embodiment of Myanmar's long struggle for democracy.

Another background story from the BBC: BBC News - Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi

An interactive time-line of the troubled nation and the military dictatorship that has ruled the country with an iron fist:
Myanmar's recent history

updated Mon November 8, 2010

Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962.

Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Chinese Dissident Liu Xiaobo

A very good choice this year - good job Nobel committee - and let us all stand in solidarity with Liu Xiaobo.


Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Chinese Dissident Liu Xiaobo - NYTimes.com

From CBS News:

Neda Agha-Soltan Becomes a Symbol of Iran Protests Through Video - NYTimes.com

The video of her death has shocked and appalled people around the world.

Neda Agha-Soltan Becomes a Symbol of Iran Protests Through Video - NYTimes.com

Commentary from Roger Cohen in the NY Times:

Martyrdom is a powerful force in the world of Shia Islam. Mourning on the third and seventh and 40th days after a death form a galvanizing cycle. Hers is already another name for the anger smoldering here, whose expression, in my experience, has been bravest and most vivid among women.

WA State's top prisons doctor quit over execution policy | Seattle Times Newspaper

Regarding the debate over the death penalty in WA State

Local News | State's top prisons doctor quit over execution policy | Seattle Times Newspaper