An Insight investigation has revealed that far from being an isolated incident this was the first in a series of missed opportunities right up to Clinton's last year in office. One of these involved a Gulf state; another would have relied on the assistance of Saudi Arabia.

A former figure in American counterterrorist intelligence claims, however, that there was "clear and convincing" proof of Bin Laden's conspiracy against America. In May, 1996, American diplomats were informed in a Sudanese government fax that Bin Laden was about to be expelled - giving Washington another chance to seize him. The decision not to do so went to the very top of the White House, according to former administration sources.

Australia Fires Hit Koala Habitat; By GEOFF SPENCER, Associated Press Writer; Jan 4, 2001

Wildfires have ravaged the koala's habitat and likely killed or injured thousands, wildlife experts said Friday, as authorities arrested two more teen-age arson suspects.

It could take up to 15 years to rebuild some population groups of the koala, Australia's national icon, the National Parks and Wildlife Service said. There are already fewer than 100,000 of the animals in Australia, the Australian Koala Foundation said.

Friday's arrests of a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl brought the number of people detained on suspicion of starting fires that have burned for nearly two weeks in New South Wales to 23, including 15 juveniles. One of the suspects is 9 years old.

Firefighters and weather forecasters predicted that the blazes, which have destroyed homes and crops and forced thousands of people to evacuate, could still be burning next week.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Friday sent a message of sympathy and support to the people of New South Wales whose lives have been affected by the Australian bush fires. About 100 blazes were burning around Sydney and throughout New South Wales, generating massive smoke clouds have soared high into the sky and reached New Zealand, 1,400 miles east across the Tasman Sea. The fire fronts cover more than 1,200 miles.

Another wildfire has isolated the coastal town of Bendalong, about 120 miles south of Sydney, where hundreds of people have camped out on a beach where they are safe from burning vegetation.

A fast-moving fire front 37 miles long was burning in the rugged and heavily forested Blue Mountains, about 50 miles west of Sydney. Dozens of residents were leaving the tiny town of Bowen Mountain. Residents also were being asked to evacuate parts of the Hawkesbury district on Sydney's northern outskirts.

The maximum penalty for adult offenders is 14 years in prison.

Friday's arrests of a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl brought the number of people detained on suspicion of starting fires that have burned for nearly two weeks in New South Wales to 23, including 15 juveniles. One of the suspects is 9 years old.

``Any youngster nabbed lighting a fire will not get off with a warning from a judge,'' said state Premier Bob Carr.

He said arsonists who are not sent to juvenile institutions would be required to meet burn victims and people who have suffered because of the fires.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that 14 firefighters were saved when a helicopter dumped thousands of gallons of water on an advancing wall of flames in the Blue Mountains on Thursday

8 New Year's Resolutions for the President; by Howard Fineman; MSNBCnews.com; Jan 1, 2002

As everybody now knows, George W. Bush is a master delegator, handing off tasks he doesn't have the time or the inclination to do on his own. As 2002 begins, he needs a list of New Year's resolutions, but probably hasn't drawn one up himself. So I'm volunteering right here to do it for him.

Apologize to your mom - It wasn't prudent, as your dad would put it, to make fun of her lack of cooking skills.

Talk to you dad about Carlyle -- It's OK for the likes of former Secretary of State Jim Baker to give speeches for Carlyle in places such as London. It won't do for the former president, whose son now is the world's war leader.

Bring Baseball to DC -- You are not beloved in the capital. The denizens of Washington are merely pacified, temporarily, by your high approval ratings. But there's one sure way to win their permanent allegiance: Use your contacts in Major League Baseball to force Bud Selig to move a team to D.C. That won't get you a spot on Mount Rushmore, but it might get you a spot in Cooperstown.

Being America's Fattest City Isn't Good For One's Image; ABCnews.com; Jan 4, 2002; by Dean Reynolds

The February issue of Men's Fitness magazine has named Houston, Texas "America's Fattest City" for the second year running (or not running). Among "fat cities," Houston ranks No. 1, followed by Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Dallas.

But the magazine says Houston deserves it. "This is an important problem that needs to be addressed," says Men's Fitness nutrition editor Mike Carlson.

The magazine lumps together a number of factors to reach its conclusion: television viewing habits, available parks, water quality, climate commuting times, fast food and others.

You may question the methodology, but few doubt that Houston - and many other big cities - need a good workout.

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Grant's Eye on the World is an original commentary by Grant Freerks. Copyright ©2001 Grant Freerks.



You can contact Grant at:Th e_Eye_Knows@yahoo.com