The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 9

WWWKANSASC1TYCOM FROM THE COVER THE KANSAS CITY STAR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18 2007 In raising money for lawmaker's re-election vice president Invokes threat of terrorism By STEVE KRASKE The Kansas City Star -c MARWAN NAAMANI I AFPGCTTY IMAGES In this February 2005 file photo Blackwater employees scanned central Baghdad from the air In 2003 the company was granted an exemption from prosecution under Iraqi law In somber tones Monday Vice President Dick Cheney ticked off a list of pre-Sept 11 terrorist attacks that drew only1 prild responses from die US government The 1983 bombing of Marine barracks in Beirut the 1993 World Ttade Cento: attack the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 the past terrorists concluded they could hit America with very little consequence and they could even change American policy" Cheney said in Kansas City GotoKansasCttyxom That is why the war with Iraq for a video report and Prime makes sense now the vice president said going to fight back because it's the right thing to low job-approval ratings gen-do and the outcome will have a erated about $275000 for direct impact on the security of Graves compared to the I i- aW 4 a tAn 1 In luncheon fundraiser for Kansas City Marriott Downtown nay praised Graves' knowledge FRED BLOCHER I THE KANSAS CITY STAR Rep Sam Graves (right) at the Vice President Dick Cher of farm policy About Blackwater Cheney also praised Michael Mukasey President for attorney general as a -public servanfwho is widely respected by Democrats mid Republicans' look forward to his stewardship" Cheney said $340 000 he brought in three As -he-hasr before-Cheaey- praised Graves for his integrity and common sente and as one of the few congressmen who understand farm policy hung from a bridge over the Euphrates Rlvar Prince his given at least $225000 to the Repub- Ikan Party and Its candidates The Congressional Research Service said that is 1 of May there wete 987 Blackwater security contractors In Iraq The tMPrtvate security-Company Association of Iraq told Congress In 2006 that there war! 48000 contractors from 181 companies providing security in Iraq 1 McClatchy Newspapers IRAQ: FROM Al Iraqi officials disputed whether that exemption remained in effect will work on punishing and stopping thework of the foreign security company that committed the criminal oper- ation in Al-NisOur Square" al- Malild told Iraqi state televi- sioa Abdel Karim Khalafi an Interior Ministry spokesman said Iraq also would seek to try the Blackwater employees "The Americans helped us build an authentic Iraqi security establishment and the' Iraqi government has stopped -the authorization of this Khalaf said "Vfe are waiting for the judicial warrant -for the In an e-mailed statement Blackwater' spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said the com- pany guards had acted Taw-folly and app ropriately in response to ahostile attaik" She said the Iraqi government had not taken any official action to revoke the license US officials provided few details of the shooting which took place as Blackwater guards were escorting uniden- tified State Department officials through central Baghdad Witnesses said the dead in- eluded the driver of one car and a mother and child whom he was transporting Police said the deaa included five Iraqi police officers tried to help At least nine cars were set on fire State Department spokes-' man 'Sean McCormack described the incident as a fire- mars the Wall in DC theUnited States" Cheney told -eieetionfight oext-year against Democrat Kay Barnes the for- mer Kansas City mayor 1 On that scone thevice presi- dent who has struggled with Vandalism Vietnam Veterans Memorial Is being cleaned of a substance that was splashed on It The Washington Port Washington 1 An unidentified substance that was found splashed on the Vietpam Veterans Memorial 1 earlier this month was the result of Vandal- jsm the US Park Police said Monday Sgt Robert Lachance a Park Folks spokesman said that a detective made foe conclusion but that officials would provide no more defails because the investigation wascontinuing Lachance said the case would involve a longterm investigation a terrible crime and we want to solve it" he said The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund which built the Wall offered a reward fin: information leading to an arrest and conviction in -the The- oily substance was first repprted to police the evening of Sept 7 National ParkSer-vice officials have said On Monday dark blotches remained along a stpne curb at the base of the Wall for much of its length ami at least 14 of its 140 inscribed panels marked with pieces of blue tape bore what appeared to be stains from something1 being splashed on them Park Service officials did not know what the substance was and at first said it was unclear UUIJlIu WYANDOTTE: Other casino plans likely Boerger indies would likely be ist side of the FROM Al indicated the casino i placed on foe the track complex year and could back more one project The city granted the speedway a 30-year tax abatement 1 Founded In 1996 by Erik' Prince a multimillionaire and former Navy Seal Blackwater began as a training faclljty tor police 1 and the military but began offering security services after the Sept 11 2001 terrorist attacks Its notoriety grew when tour of Its employees were Jellied In Iraqjn March- 2004 as they were driving through the city of Fallu-Jeh to oscorta food ship- ment Ths men's bodies were set on fire and dragged through the streets and two of the mutilated corpses were fight but three people who claimed to have witnessed the shooting said that only the' Blackwater guards were firing The witnesses said the shooting began after a convoy of four gray armored vehicles drove into Al-Nisour Square a major intersection in central Baghdad Iraqi police stopped traffic to let the convoy pass the witnesses said One can however drove up from behind the traffic to squeeze into spot at the front' As it did the security contractors opened fire the witnesses said The yqung driver was killed instantly but the shooting continued The witnesses said they believe a grenade was launched at the cat which burst into flames killing a young mother and a baby in the back seat Kansu Speedway president Jeff Boergsr management license' The speedway and Cordish become the first confirmed players in the coming competition to win rights to operate the one state-owned casino in Wyandotte County that is allowed under state law The nearby Woodlands pari-mutuel dog and horse racing track also will be permitted to operate at least 800 state-owned slot machines Woodlands officials have announced they will propose building a slot gambling facility adjacent to foe current horse racing clubhouse and track that would be expanded to include greyhound racing A temporary slot parlor is ex- pected to open early next year on the ground floor of the greyhound clubhouse that will operate until the new structure is built and open It would then bfe redeveloped for nongambling activities or razed Several national casino companies are expected to also seek a state casino license in Wyandotte County None has come forward so fax Unified Government officials are expected to disclose the first wave of applicants Monday The local government must make its endorsement de-' cisions before the end of the On the war in Iraq Cheney insisted that the president's1 strategy is working and that terrorists are betting that die US will soon grow tired of fighting a bet the terrorists are going to he said wiffeempietethisfliissien and we will To reach Steve Kraske call 816-234-4312 or send e-mail to skrasketestarcom whether it was the result of vandalism or some land of ac-ddent Spokesman Bill Line said Crews were working to remove the shuns and marks but were proceeding cautiously to avoid further damage He said the crews were try- -ing to avoid pushing any resid- ue intO cracks or grout in foe stone purposefully go-ing to take our he said lt could takea week or more to finish cleaning he said' but of- ficials remain confident they can remove all of the stains deplorable that someone would vandalize really a national shrine" said jan Scruggs founder and president of the Memorial Fund an outrage bm 1 MT Gaming Consoles Video Games a getting Jr- fl nVil STlOpijOCaLxXXTf KansasCitycom i -When Iraqi police approached to help the people in the burning car the contractors started shooting at them They also shot af a minivan and a 1 bus the witnesses said On Monday the charred white vehicle where the man mother and child were said to have died was pushed to the side of the road Police said 15 people were Wounded None of the dead and wounded was an armed insurgent policesaid believe some innocent life was lost Nobody wants to tee that- But I tell you who was responsible for that" McCormack said He sard that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called al-Maliki on Monday to' "express regret for the loss of innocent life" foan 'to spur development in the Vil-1 lage West district which ranks as foe state's top tourism attraction with shops resort hotels: dining theaters and a minor league baseball stadium A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of foe casino law approved by law- makers and signed by Gov Kathleen Sebelius earlier this year is before the Kansas Supreme (fourt which has not indicated whether it will hear the TV lawsuit was filed by Kansas Attorney General Paid Morrison at request in a bid to resolve legal issues early in the process Critics claim the law goes too for in Las Vegas-styie ca-i under the umbrella of the state-owned lottery approved by voters in tire Kansas Constitution The Prairie Band Potawa-tomi Nation which operates a casino on its reservation north of Tbpeka has sought to intervene in the case to protect its $122 million casino and hotel investment Two other Kansas tribes with reservation casinos the Kicka-poo and the Sac arid Fox are expected to jointly propose a casino and destination resort just west of The Legends International Speedway Corp operates 13 of the major motor sports tracks Cordish is a leading developer of urban revitalization projects including Power Plant Live in Baltimore Md To reach Rick Akii call 816-234-4785 or send e-mail to ralmllccstarcom northwest of the intersection of Interstates 70 and 435 The pro- ject would include other enter- tainment components linked to thetrack In an interview Monday Cor-dish principal Joe Weinberg promised the companies would propose "a world class devel-opment that will be a major attraction for foe state of Kansas to complement the speedway and all done for the area" Boerger said foe project would be careful to not pose a competitive threat to foe nearby Village Westand Legends shopping conqilexes "We don't want to with business neighbors across the street from the track Boerger said Boerger said ahalf-dozen casino companies have approached foe track in recent months seeking a partnership in a gambling and entertainment facility at the 1200-acre complex Kansas Speedway which is owned by Florida-based International Speedway Corp and Baltimore-based Cordish in May also announced a partnership to develop Daytona Live at the speedway Daytona International Speedway in' Daytona Beach Fla Thk $250 milium project will include a theater a hotel dining and entertainment options and a residential component The Unified Government has set a minimum investment level of $300 million for casino projects it will consider en-denring' Local government backing is a necessary step prior to selection by the state for a A MP3 PlayereJ nrwvsNwiM 'vrawF'i ansasCitycom tojnakosurQ you QuareloOkmd to ShopLocal helps you get the best deal on Whatever you're looking for --v: t- i i mVv 4 4 V-.