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THE TARTAN Nov. 9, 2011

Possible link between Syria-Pakistan poses potential threat in Middle East

Gaddas reign in which he had worked furtively under the guidance of Khan to build nuclear weapons. Correspondence between Khan and Muhidin Issa, a Syrian government ofcial, had been obtained by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). There is no proof that the complex, located in the city of Al-Hasakah, was ever used for the production of nuclear weapons. However, the fact that Israeli airplanes demolished what was suspected to be a plutonium production reactor in 2007 in Syria seems to offer an improbable coincidence that the similarity in designs is completely unrelated. This, in turn, suggests that Syria may have been in pursuit of two different methods of creating an atomic bomb by using both uranium and plutonium. Provided to the Associated Press by one of the senior diplomats with information about IAEA investigations, details on the connection between Syria and Khan are considered a sensitive issue. The Syrian government has consistently denied allegations of obtaining nuclear weapons. However, they have thwarted investigations of the site bombed by Israeli warplanes. Attempts to visit the complex by the IAEA have been unsuccessful due to the lack of response from Syrian government ofcials. We remain concerned about whether Syria is meeting its obligations to the IAEA, said Spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland of the State Department.

JENNIFER WERNER
jwerner2@radford.edu
Investigators for the United Nations have now identied a complex in Syria that supports suspicions that government ofcials in Syria worked with the father of the Pakistani atomic bomb, A.Q. Khan, in an attempt to gain technological means of making nuclear arms, according to Fox News. There are similarities between the complex found in Northwest Syria and the design of a Uranium enrichment plant given to Libya during

guardian.com

A satelite image shows the complex in Al-Hasakah in northwest Syria that is believed to have been intended for the use of a uranium enrichment plant.

telegraph.com

Mahmoud Jabril confirmed on Oct. 31 that there were chemical weapons in Libya.

According to analyst Mark Hibbs of the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, it is pertinent that more is learned about the intentions for the buildings discovered. Syria has been in a Cold War with Israel for decades. Therefore, its reasonable that Syria might seek nuclear weapons to gain status, especially since Israel has an extensive nuclear arsenal. As investigations continue to be underway with Syrian-Pakistani ties, theres also a focus on nuclear weapons in Libya. On Monday,

Oct. 31, Mahmoud Jabril, Libyas acting prime minister, conrmed that chemical and nuclear weapons were found in Libya, and that foreign ofcials would be investigating the weapons. A U.N. resolution drafted by Russia called on authorities in Libya to destroy all of the chemical weapons, according to RIA Novosti. Tensions in the Middle East are nothing new but as the threat of nuclear weapons becomes more imminent and tensions continue to grow between Israel and Middle Eastern nations, the U.S. is faced with the threat of a nuclear war.

Cain takes lead in Republican bid for 2012 election

PETER MASON
pdmason@radford.edu
With the current economy, the unemployment rate in the United States is an issue, and its something that people want xed, as the 2012 election approaches. Thats the main thing, pretty much on everyones mind right now, said S.G.A. Legislative Vice President Justin Blankenship. You may or may not know the recession, were technically out of the recession, our G.D.P. is back up to where its supposed to be, its on the rise, but our job numbers are still going down, or staying static. So a big thing no matter who gets in, is going to be putting people back to work. Theres no question that current president, Barack Obama will be in the election, but on the Republican side, Herman Cain is currently leading the standing, with Mitt Romney following close behind. Cain however, is currently in trouble. Blankenship explained that there are rumors going around regarding a cover-up he was involved in. That may or may not be true, but its something that could be used against him as the time to choose the Republican candidate quickly approaches. No one really knows at the moment, said Blankenship, but a lot of things came out that he possibly tried to cover up some sexual harassment suits several years back. Mitt Romney is currently the Republican candidate in second place, and hes the only one who currently offers any danger to Cain, as far as winning the Republican bid is concerned. He was governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. He implanted in Massachusetts, exactly what Obama implanted for the country with universal health care, Blankenship said. So thats kind of coming back to bite him now, its kind of hard for him to get away from that because people want to associate that with Barack Obama. Blankenship also explains that he believes Obama will lose some of his support that he had back in the 2008 election. His base, of course, is always still going to be there, Blankenship said. We have a saying in politics that 40 percent are going to vote Democrat, and 40 percent are going to vote Republican no matter what. Its the 20 percent in the middle that youve got to convince, those true independent voters. Its going to be harder for him to convince those people now since the economys still not as good as its supposed to be. Blankenship explained that despite all of this, Obama isnt going to encounter too much of a danger on the Republican eld.

ABC News

Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain addressed the media in Scottsdale, AZ on Nov. 8, 2011.

There are a lot of extremes to the right people in that eld, Blankenship explained. Thats going to alienate a lot of independent voters. The 2012 presidential election is currently scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2012, and will be the 57th presidential election in the United States.

PORTERFIELD: Costume studio becomes the Ann Gardner Gray Costume Studio
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heart and spirit, which was said to come naturally to him. He was an engineer by profession, but he was a big supporter of his wifes musical artistry. Dr. Gray and his wife were part of the First Nighters club, said Lefko. Later, after his wife passed away, Dr. Gray started to donate many of his wifes clothes to the costume studio. Several pieces are very nice period pieces in our costume storage for use in productions. Gray made a generous donation to name the costume studio after his wife, Photo courtesy of Radford University the Ann Gardner Gray Costume Studio. A Dr. George Gray poses in front of the Ann lot of the money went to scholarships and Gardner Gray Costume Studio, which was into various students activities. dedicated to his wife. The activities can be if students need funding to help go to a conference to present some of their research, Lefko said. always been a studio theatre in some way or another, as Lefko We have a lot of described it, and it students who do They have combined was built in the 1970s. go, and they audiIts always been tion, they look at and added more financial more of an experigraduate schools, support for scholarships mental theatre that theyre competand for activities within the has been primarily ing with other department, so they really used for students destudents for their signing, students didesign competiwill directly benefit the recting and students tions so there are a students and the faculty. acting. Students doing variety of activities a completely student that students will -Professor Carl Lefko | Director of the production,Lefko do at conferences. School of Dance and Theatre said. Porterfield has

TYLER: Businesses to occupy space under apartments

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tors and location near the RU campus, not to mention the multiple spaces that will be rented to businesses. The layout will also allow most individual renters to have their own bathrooms. In addition, the complex will have surveillance cameras to provide safety for all renters. Although denite businesses are not set to rent out spaces yet, Price Williams expects companies to range from restaurants to convenient stores. With talk about a coffee shop, Brewin Around, making its way to the complex soon, it is hoped that even small starter businesses will be able to recognize the benets of renting a commercial space. Mullins said that although it may be costly for these young businesses, the hopes are that they can see the advantages and money they will gain in the long run. I think the apartments are very nice apartments to live in, but I wouldnt live there because of how loud it is going to be with tons of people coming and going constantly. I would more than likely shop or eat there, its a very convenient location for students that is within walking distance, said Senior Elizabeth Heinz. Price Williams has spoken to multiple businesses about renting out the spaces; it will just be up to them to move forward. Students are hoping that they do just that. The apartments are cool but seem kind of over the top for Radford, said Kellie Schlosser. I feel that the shops below will be convenient for the students living above, as well as the rest of the population of Radford, giving us more options of restaurants and shops. Of course I would go to eat and shop there. I love the idea of having shops under an apartment, said Brian Hokana, It makes me really want to live there. It makes the whole area look really classy. I can only see benets for living above a shop. Although the complex has taken place of older Radford housing, the area has become a healthier and safer place for renters to live compared to the older homes. The idea behind the layout of the complex is to relate to and benet renters and students, said Mullins. It offers a place walking distance from the campus, and an area where people can hang out and spend their free time. I think they will be a great addition to Radford. They will give us more options for food and will let us shop without having to go all the way to Christiansburg. I would use them for sure, said Charlie Morrison. The apartments range from 2-5 rooms and will be available this May. Applications for renting are going on now.

EMMA LUTZ | The Tartan

Tyler Place Phase II is now preparing for shops and restaurants to open.