Inauguration team can’t please all wealthy donors

Inauguration team can’t please all wealthy donors

WASHINGTON — From the announcement of Barack Obama’s candidacy to the management of his presidential transition, his organization — including the biggest fund-raising operation in U.S. political history — has rolled forward with seemingly flawless precision.

But for the team trying to pull in more than $40 million to pay for the festivities at next month’s inauguration, the process has had some uncharacteristically bumpy moments. Officials expect to meet their budget and underwrite a colossal celebration that they say will be open to more people than ever.

Still, with less than a month to go, organizers have told some supporters that they might not get all the goodies they had expected in exchange for big-bucks donations. And they’ve scrambled to think up new ways to deal with the insatiable appetite of wealthy supporters not just to attend but to buy themselves VIP status.

An estimated 3 million to 5 million people are expected to squeeze in around the Capitol and onto the National Mall for the Jan. 20 swearing-in.

Photos, texting likely to jam wireless networks

WASHINGTON — When President-elect Barack Obama takes stage in a few weeks to deliver his inauguration address, no doubt many of the estimated 2 million people expected to gather on the Mall will simultaneously hold their cellphones aloft to snap and send photos, call friends and family, and send text messages such as, “omg, yes we did!”

But please don’t, wireless network operators say.

For months, the carriers have been preparing for a predicted explosion of cellphone traffic during inauguration weekend as millions of visitors are expected to gather in the Washington area for festivities. Wireless operators say they plan to boost capacity at cell sites on the mall, along the Beltway and underground on Metro so that more calls can be placed at the same time. By the time Jan. 20 arrives, they will have spent millions of dollars to add staff for the event, rolled in extra cell towers on truck beds and expanded bandwidth on wired parts of their networks.

Israel warns Hamas

JERUSALEM — Israeli political and military leaders issued dire warnings Thursday to Hamas that it soon would move against the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip unless renewed rocket and mortar fire against southern Israeli towns is halted. A surge in airborne attacks from Gaza has followed the termination of a six-month truce and is fueling speculation that Israel might try to topple Hamas.

“We will not accept this situation,” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday. “Whoever harms the citizens and soldiers of Israel will pay a heavy price.”

Viagra against Taliban

WASHINGTON — The Afghan chieftain looked older than his 60-odd years, and his bearded face bore the creases of a man burdened with duties as tribal patriarch and husband to four younger women. His visitor, a CIA officer, saw an opportunity, and reached in his bag for a small gift.

Four blue pills. Viagra.

“Take one of these. You’ll love it,” the officer said. Compliments of Uncle Sam.

The enticement worked. The officer, who described the encounter, returned four days later to an enthusiastic reception. The grinning chief offered up a bonanza of information about Taliban movements and supply routes — followed by a request for more pills.

For U.S. intelligence officials, this is how some crucial battles in Afghanistan are fought and won.

Combined dispatches