Al-Qaida leader criticizes Obama on Israeli offensive

January 7, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

CAIRO, Egypt — Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader lashed out at President-elect Barack Obama in a new audio message Tuesday, accusing him of not doing anything to stop Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to an intelligence monitoring center.

The recording purportedly by Ayman al-Zawahiri was al-Qaida’s first comments on the Gaza crisis since Israel launched its offensive against the Islamic militants of Hamas on Dec. 27.

In the comments, which were posted on a militant Web site and obtained by the SITE Monitoring Service, al-Zawahiri described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “crusade against Islam and Muslims” and called it “Obama’s gift to Israel” before he takes office later this month.

“This is Obama whom the American machine of lies tried to portray as the rescuer who will change the policy of America,” al-Zawahiri said, according to SITE. “He kills your brothers and sisters in Gaza mercilessly and without affection.”

Stooges guitarist dies

DETROIT — Ron Asheton, the guitarist for the Stooges whose raw sound helped inspire the first generation of punk musicians, has died. He was 60.

Asheton was found at his Ann Arbor home early Tuesday by police officers after they were called by an associate who had not heard from him in several days, said city police Sgt. Brad Hill.

There were no signs of foul play, and the death appeared to be of natural causes, Hill said.

Asheton was a founding member of the Stooges, the influential protopunk band formed in Ann Arbor in 1967, along with his brother, Scott.

Lead singer Iggy Pop called Asheton “my best friend” in a statement Tuesday, and the band expressed shock at his death.

Social Security unveils new online application

WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration, envisaging the near-future prospect of 10,000 baby boomers applying for benefits every day, has put together a new online service that will allow people to get their benefits without ever traveling to a Social Security field office.

The agency, in introducing the program Tuesday, said most people will be able to apply for their retirement or disability benefits in 15 minutes or less.

Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke, spokeswoman for the Retire Online campaign, acknowledged that her own computer skills “are wanting.” But her husband gave her a demonstration, “and I was able to do it with my limited skills. It was very user-friendly,” she said in an interview Monday.

The administration is betting that a great majority of baby boomers, the first to grow old in the computer age, will share that opinion.

Jeb Bush says he won’t seek Senate seat in 2010

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Gov. Jeb Bush announced Tuesday that he won’t run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to replace the retiring Mel Martinez, saying that it was not the right time to return to elected office.

“I can play a role in helping to reshape the Republican Party’s message and focus on 21st-century solutions to 21st-century problems,” Bush told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “Not running does not preclude me from being involved in these things, and I will be.”

Bush seriously considered a run after Martinez said last month he wouldn’t seek a second term. Bush spoke with senators, supporters and family, including his brother, President George W. Bush, and his father, former President George Bush.

Judge to decide whether to send Madoff to jail

NEW YORK — A judge is preparing to decide this week whether failed Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff should be jailed while he awaits trial.

Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis asked lawyers on both sides to submit arguments to help him decide whether Madoff should be imprisoned. Prosecutors were required to submit their arguments Tuesday but had not done so by the evening.

Madoff was arrested after the FBI said he confessed to running a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

Prosecutors say Madoff violated a court order by sending jewelry and watches worth more than $1 million to relatives and friends. A defense lawyer says Madoff did nothing wrong.

Associated Press