Lost Lake Tribune August 16th

Lost Lake Tribune August 16 Early Edition Special Back to School Edition. Russia and Georgia Working out Possible Truce. -The nations of Georgia and Russia are working on a possible truce and laying down of arms in their current war over the disputed regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The nation of Georgia signed the multinational agreement on Friday and it is set to be delivered to Moscow soon. Russia broke the conditions of a French-based agreement on Tuesday by attacking several undisputed cities in Georgia including the second largest city of Gori. But President Bush and Secretary of State Rice have been outspoken for the "territorial integrity" of the nation of Georgia. Bush and Rice have spoken out against the actions of Russia. "Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century," Bush said. "Only Russia can decide whether it will now put itself back on the path of responsible nations or continue to pursue a policy that promises only confrontation and isolation." Bush continued on Friday. The President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili has repetedly asked for help from the United States stating on Wednesday and Friday that Russia is trying to send a message to the west and that the KGB is essentially in power in the largest nation in the world. According to Yahoo.com, "Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's press office had no information Friday night on whether he had signed the cease-fire agreement. Russia's foreign minister assured Rice later that his country would implement the deal "faithfully," a U.S. official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Rice's conversation was private, said Russia was likely to sign the deal Saturday." McCain Speaks in York, PA. -Republican senator and presidential candidate, John McCain spoke in York, PA on Tuesday. He spoke on the conflict in Georgia and his energy plans among other subjects. McCain was side by side with former PA governor, Tom Ridge and Connecticut senator, Joe Lieberman. Lieberman spoke first and McCain finished the event with several comments. "We're having tough times at home and abroad," McCain said. "And a leader must understand the hopes and dreams and aspirations of the American people." He said to the crowd of 4,000. McCain also spoke on his plan to open and operate 45 new nuclear plants and stated that Senator Obama's plan for energy relies on alternative energy too much. During a question and answer session the Arizona senator stated that he is in favor of charter schools, increased veterans health care, and the plan to appoint constitutional Supreme Court justices, if necessary. First 2008 debate to be held in a church. -Pastor Rick Warren of the 20,000 member Saddleback Church in southern California is hosting the first general election presidential debate of the 2008 campaign. Major party candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama will be interviewed by the author of "The Purpose Driven Life" for about and hour on Saturday, August 16. Warren plans to ask about the role of the presidency in government, leadership, the candidates' world view and America's role internationally. He wants to know how the candidates handles the unexpected. Warren does not plan to endorse either candidate. It's life in prison without parole for Randy Swaney. -Randy Swaney will spend the rest of his life in prison without a chance for parole in the death of a state park worker in 2001. The 37-year-old man was sentenced Friday morning in Luverne after being convicted of all seven murder charges in the death of Carrie Nelson at Blue Mounds State Park. Swaney addressed her family during the sentencing hearing and again proclaimed his innocence. He told them a murderer was still on the loose. Nelson's father, Stan Nelson, testified he will be haunted for the rest of his life by thoughts of his daughter's final terror-filled minutes. The jury deliberated for six hours before returning its verdict before dawn Friday. Swaney was sentenced in Luverne only a few hours later. Authorities believe Nelson was beaten to death with a decorative rock during a robbery in the park office where she worked. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Craig Returns from Brazil. -David Craig returned from the "Arizona" of Brazil after a several week trip to Fortaleza and Natal. Both cities are over a thousand kilometers from the Amazon River and are part of Brazil's desert. David said that the trip included at least seventy professions of faith. David learned more Portugese sign language and worked closely with missionary, John Peterson. David worked in both camps and churches while in South America's largest nation. On Wednesday, August 7th, David arrived back in the States and returned to Iowa the next day. Fugate set to return from New York. -Rachel Fugate, a senior at Pillsbury College in Owatonna, MN; is set to return to the midwest on Saturday. She has been serving in several churches in New York City while there for six weeks. She served both in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island. She saw an Independence day celebration at West Point and attended two sporting events while in the largest United States metropolis. She served both in VBS capacities and in street evangelism plans. Rachel will be starting her final year at Pillsbury on Wedneday, August 20th. Fugate works hard but has yet to see check. -Benjamin Fugate of Plymouth, MN has been working hard for Hannon security over the past two weeks but has yet to see a check. He is slated to receve payment on the 22nd. Until then he plans to eat lunchmeat sandwiches and drink Cherry Coca-Colas. He will be taking exams at Central Seminary on the 19th and 20th. He will also try to participate in orientation at the seminary on the 21st and 22nd of August. Fugate is not sure what classes he will be taking yet. Fugate took a hard and complicated test to try to be a Certified Protection Officer on Friday. He does not expect to pass the test and hopes that he will not have to pay too much to take it again. Letters to the Editor: This weeks letters to the editor are as follows: That was a mighty fine editorial. Thank you very much for the thoughts. I didn't realize that Lindsey Graham was not in favor of drilling now. He has just lost my vote. Thanks for the news keep up the good work and keep the news coming. David Craig. Ankeny, Iowa. Well thought out editorial on 8/10. Did you get that from Jason Lewis? Thanks for your boldness in standing for the right side. Aaron Fugate. Neillsville, Wisconsin. If you want to send your opinion for or AGAINST the Editor then email or write your 300 words or less piece to the address provided below. The Lost Lake Tribune reserves the right to edit or not use any comments submitted. Editorial. -What should we do about the situation in Georgia? The Isolationists say that we should not get involved in any world conflicts except those that threaten our national security. The internationalists say that we should defend freedom lovers everywhere and try to get every nation to be democratic if possible. If you look at the late 1970's into the 1980's you will see a large amount of attacks on American interests in Central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Hezbollah bombed several American buildings and Americans inside them in Lebanon. Libya bombed planes and assassinated American diplomats. Iranians took Americans hostage. But President Reagan stayed neutral in most of these attacks except for the Libyan assassinations and Iranian hostage crisis. Reagan ran on a campaign of strong American military in 1980 and in the same week as his inauguration, the Iranians released the hostages. Reagan did not militarily respond to anything that occurred in Lebanon. But the 40th President attacked Libya on multiple occasions. Even this set of decisions was met with mixed remarks. I believe that the same amount of involvement needs to be used today. I believe that it is not in the best interest for the US to implement the draft unless Russia does take out Georgia totally and attacks other Central Asian nations like Azerbijian and Armenia or possibly, Ukraine. But I do believe that careful bombing of capitol buildings in Moscow is necessary if evil Russia continues their attack past Saturday. Georgia's territorial integrity must be honored and if it is not, that is cause enough to attack Russia on an aerial basis. Russia has overstepped its bounds and is showing its strong and evil desire to conquer back all the former Soviet republics and the third most powerful nation must do something about it. Georgia is not able to fully defend itself against a nation of 140 million with thousands of tanks and millions of prepared soldiers. But this begs the question WHY? Why should the United States attack evil Russia when it is not attacking a direct interest of the United States? Why should we attack the sovereign nation of Iraq? Why should we attack Afghanistan and change the government on a dime? Why should we do anything that is outside of our nation's interests? Does our constitution allow us to be the world's police? I may not have all the answers, but I will always defend the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq even if the liberals and conservatives do not. I believe that NATIONAL INTEGRITY is paramount and that no nation should be attacked by any other nation to the point of "wiping it off the map" and taking its land and resources for profit. No nation is better than any other and no nation should be fully "wiped off the map" for any reason. If that possibility is imminent then the US, Brazil, the British empire, France, Germany, and any other civilized responsible nation should make every effort to stop the invasion. This is the opinion of editor, Benjamin Fugate