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(CNN Student News) -- March 12, 2008
Quick Guide
Top News - Check out some of today's top stories, including a political scandal in New York.
We're #1! - Learn the Mississippi primary results, and examine the use of political rhetoric.
Boom Times - Discover where some of the United Arab Emirates' oil profits are being invested.
Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Carl Azuz. Whether you're watching us on Headline News, online or on iTunes, we're glad you're spending some of your day with us here at CNN Student News.
AZUZ: We're going to get things started with a look at some of the biggest stories making headlines today. A political scandal, an outer space voyage and presidential primaries: All of them have details coming at you right now.
First up, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is at the center of a huge controversy, which could end with him leaving office. Federal prosecutors say Spitzer has been linked to a prostitution ring. He apologized publicly on Monday, and according to aides, he's making plans for a possible resignation. The New York assembly's minority leader says that he'll file articles of impeachment against Spitzer if the governor doesn't step down in the next day.
Endeavour is up and on its way. It took off from Kennedy Space Center early yesterday morning, heading to the international space station. The seven astronauts on board are taking part in what's expected to be the longest shuttle trip ever to the ISS: 16 days from launch to land. So, what did they bring along? A Japanese science module and a Canadian robot. Both are being installed on the orbiting station during the trip.
And a new study reveals some surprising statistics about young people's health. You'll want to pay attention to this. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease. That translates to about 3 million girls nationwide! The research focused on 14- to 19-year-olds, who were tested for four different types of infections. Following the release of the findings, a CDC official said that "screening, vaccination, and other prevention strategies" should be high priorities.
And Mississippi takes its turn in the political spotlight. The state held its presidential primaries yesterday. For the Republicans, John McCain has already secured the nomination. But on the Democratic side, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are running neck-and-neck. So every contest counts, and this is the last one until late April. And as the results came in, Obama came out on top. CNN also declared him the winner of the Texas caucuses, held earlier this month.
Word to the Wise
JOHN LORINC, CNN STUDENT NEWS: A Word to the Wise...
rhetoric (noun) the skill of using language effectively
source: www.dictionary.com
AZUZ: We're talking about the word in a political sense. In an election year, you might hear about rhetoric from the candidates, especially about the country that they're hoping to lead. This isn't anything new. As Jill Dougherty tells us, U.S. politicians have been talking about America for a long time, and their opinions always seem to be very positive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN REPORTER: Why do U.S. presidential candidates talk this way?
JOHN MCCAIN, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're the world's leader.
HILLARY CLINTON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Together we will seize this moment, lift this nation and heal and lead this world.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The United States of America is and always will be the last, best hope of Earth.
DOUGHERTY: "The last, best hope of Earth?" Other American politicians have used that phrase. It was coined by Abraham Lincoln back in 1862. It's part of a long tradition of U.S. political rhetoric that depicts the United States as unique in world history. As Ronald Reagan put it in 1989, a "shining city upon a hill."
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness toward home.
DOUGHERTY: That "city upon a hill" comes from Puritan leader John Winthrop who used it more than three centuries ago. The current resident of the White House has put the United States' version of democracy at the center of his foreign policy. Here's what President Bush said in his second inaugural address:
GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: So, it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.
DOUGHERTY: But in today's world, this "American exceptionalism," as it's called, this idea of America's uniqueness, often is understood abroad as a declaration of American superiority: the United States acting unilaterally, rejecting any attempt to question its good intentions. Here, at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, Americans we spoke with agree their country is unique, but they say they're not out to convince the rest of the world that American values are right for everyone.
RACHEL ARMY, TEACHER: I have a lot of pride in our government, but, at the same time, it is ours and I don't think that it is right to force it on other people.
JERMANE BONILLA: I am not sure if it is the same model that everyone needs to be using, but certainly the United States is a special country.
DOUGHERTY: That's exactly what a book analyzing the roots of anti-Americanism around the globe shows. The authors, president of the Pew Research Center Andrew Kohut and journalist Bruce Stokes, analyzed a series of international surveys, plus more than 100,000 interviews in 60 countries.
"Americans' pride in their country is not evangelistic," they say. "The American people, as opposed to some of their leaders, seek no converts to their ideology." It's true, the authors say, Americans are more likely to express their pride and patriotism, especially compared with western Europeans. They say their findings show Americans are far more likely to say "we think the American way is great. We assume you want to be like us, but if you don't, that's really not our concern." Jill Dougherty, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Is this Legit?
LORINC: Is This Legit? The United Arab Emirates is currently made up of 15 Middle Eastern countries. False! The UAE is actually one country whose capital is Abu Dhabi. It was formed when six states got together in 1971.
AZUZ: And the United Arab Emirates is actually one of the richest countries in the world, and a huge reason for that is oil. If you've been watching our show the past few days, you know that crude prices are shooting sky high right now, which means consumers are paying more and the countries producing it are earning more. Wilf Dinnick looks at where some of those profits are going.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILF DINNICK, CNN REPORTER: Boom times have never been like this. Here in Abu Dhabi, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, revenues are spilling over.
MANOUCHEHR TAKIN, SENIOR PETROLEUM ANALYST, CENTRE FOR GLOBAL ENERGY STUDIES: Countries like the UAE, they have a small population. They donšt have enough room nearly to absorb. Qatar and so on. So, obviously for them outside investment is the best.
DINNICK: At $100 a barrel, it is estimated Gulf countries have close to $200 billion a year to invest. And they are investing. Abu Dhabi owns almost 5% of Americašs largest bank and a chunk of Americašs largest homebuilders, the Toll Brothers. Neighboring Dubai is vying for twenty percent of the Nasdaq exchange. And no signs oil prices are coming down. One reason for all this is the falling U.S. dollar. Oil, that's traded in U.S. dollars, is now attractive to more foreign investors. That's because they can buy more of it with their stronger currencies. That's creating more demand and pushing up prices. But many of these Gulf investment funds keep a very low profile, rarely talking to the media. The U.S. Congress is starting to ask questions.
ROBERT MCKINNON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, EQUITY RESEARCH, AL MAL CAPITAL: A lot of people get very concerned whether this is just a profit-making investment or if there is a political agenda behind it. So, rather than say the wrong thing, they would rather just keep a low profile.
DINNICK: But that may be hard, with the Gulf countries looking to spend hundreds of billion of dollars, and record oil prices that could keep climbing. Wilf Dinnick, CNN, Dubai.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Promo
AZUZ: We told you earlier about Endeavour's early-morning launch. But do you know the names of the other ships in the space shuttle program? The three components that make up a shuttle, or how much it weighs when it blasts off? You can find the answers, and learn about some mission milestones, in our One-Sheet at CNNStudentNews.com!
Before We Go
AZUZ: Before we go, a story that gives customer service a whole new meaning. Every day for the last three years, Annamarie has stopped by this Starbucks and gotten her coffee from Sandie. But one memorable morning, the drink came with something extra: a kidney! You see, Annamarie has been on the transplant list, and she once mentioned it to the barista. Sandie decided to get tested, and it turns out that she's a match! So, the next time the two saw each other, Sandie offered to donate a kidney to her regular customer.
Goodbye
AZUZ: The surgery was yesterday, and doctors say both women are doing just fine. That's the last drop in today's cup. We hope to see you again tomorrow. I'm Carl Azuz. E-mail to a friend 
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