What a difference two years make.
This Thursday, on the second anniversary of Sept. 11, Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams will issue a proclamation declaring the day "Children's Peace Day."
While it hasn't received near the publicity of Britney Spears concert on the National Mall leading up to the Washington Redskins NFL season opener, the world's premier international children's celebration will take place on the Mall Tuesday through Thursday. The International ChildArt Festival is held every four years.
DIDN'T WORK
Estimated number of soccer balls the U.S. government sent to Iraq this summer to help "bring life back to normal": 60,000. - Harper's Index, September 2003
RUSSIAN LADIES
George Washington's hometown of Alexandria, Va., is currently hosting a delegation of eight Russian female leaders, introducing them to American female leaders and sharing ideas about how various cultures deal with public policy.
The program is also focusing on the American system of federalism from the perspectives of those in government roles, as well as those of citizens participating through nongovernmental organizations.
The Russian women will meet with Virginia state Sen. Patsy Ticer and Delegate Marian Van Landingham, Alexandria Deputy Mayor Redella Pepper, City Council member Joyce Woodson and Tamera Luzzatto, chief of staff to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.)
The visit is a part of the Open World program of the Center for Russian Leadership at the Library of Congress.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
We were debriefing Ray Wannall, former top intelligence chief of the FBI, when his conversation turned to last week's debate of Democratic presidential hopefuls: "I was reminded of that old saw on advice to new lawyers as they start their practice: If the law is on your side, stress the law; if the facts are on your side, stress the facts; if neither is on your side, pound the table and shout."
CLONED BUT CLOTHED
"Ever since that first meeting with Howard Dean some five years ago, I've been trying to think of what politician he most resembles," Stephen Moore, president of the Club for Growth and senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said in the latest Weekly Standard.
"The former governor of a small state, he is charismatic, good looking, wonkish, craving of the spotlight, and capable of telling a room full of people precisely what they want to hear. The obvious answer recently hit me: Dean is Bill Clinton, but without the skirt-chasing."
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