Top Stories - September 26, 2006

U.S. intelligence report: U.S. failure in Iraq would inspire terrorists elsewhere

WASHINGTON - A declassified government intelligence report says the war in Iraq has become a “cause celebre” for Islamic extremists, breeding deep resentment of the U.S. that is likely to get worse before it gets better.
In the bleak report, released yesterday on President Bush’s orders, the nation’s most veteran analysts conclude that despite serious damage to the leadership of al-Qaeda, the threat from Islamic extremists has spread both in numbers and in geographic reach.
“If this trend continues, threats to U.S. interests at home and abroad will become more diverse, leading to increasing attacks worldwide,” the document says. “We assess that the Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives; perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere.”

Forum to address no-peanuts policy
Wakefield schools are starting off the new year with a new set of policies, including an allergy policy that bans peanuts and peanut-based products on school premises.
According to a Massachusetts Department of Education report, 6 to 8 percent of school-age children are affected by food allergies.
"We’re simply trying to protect the safety of all of the children," said Wakefield School Committee member Cheryl Ford at the committee’s Sept. 12 meeting. Ford put together a "frequently asked questions" list that addresses concerns about the allergy policy.
Ford and School Committee member Bill Chetwynd are working on tying the school’s allergy policy into an overall wellness plan.
"We have a great opportunity to be in the forefront of this whole movement," Ford said. "When you have students with airborne allergies, you have to be proactive."

McGrail is new light commissioner

Former Wakefield selectman and State Senator Stephen J. McGrail is the new member of the Municipal Gas and Light Commission. The Board of Selectmen and the Light Commissioners met in joint session last night to appoint a new Commissioner to fill the unexpired term of Eugene J. Sullivan Jr. Sullivan recently resigned to accept the position of MGLD Financial Assistant, succeeding William Connelly, who retired.
McGrail received seven votes during last night’s joint meeting, more than any of the other five local individuals who also sought to fill the vacant position.
McGrail will hold the office until next April, at which time he may run for election.

Cardinal laughing all the way to the blog

He has spiced his entries with ‘‘lol,’’ Internet slang for ‘‘laughing out loud,’’ posted snapshots of himself pointing at a roadside pizza stand and checking his cellphone for voice mail, and written about the warm soda he downed in an Italian restaurant.
Launching his new blog on a trip to Rome, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley sounds at times more like a college student on his first trip to Europe than a prince of the Church. Jokey and informal, the archbishop of Boston is trying his best to reach out to a generation of Catholics hooked on e-mail, instant messaging, and MySpace.
Catholics and blog specialists are taking notice, offering praise for a blog they say is surprisingly readable.
Looking and sounding like any tourist on a budget, O’Malley’s blog shows him wandering about Rome, marveling at marble statuary, browsing through kiosks, posing for photos with friends, and giving shout-outs to his family members. Since he launched the website last week, he has received 9,000 visitors, 65,585 page views, and scores of comments.

(Sources: Boston Herald, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Observer, Boston Globe)