Santa Fe rates fifth in nation as tourist spot
SANTA FE (AP) - Santa Fe is keeping its favored spot in the hearts of tourists.
The capital city rated fifth among U.S. cities in the 2003 Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual readers' poll. Santa Fe also finished fifth in 2002 after tumbling from fourth to eighth in 2001.
"It's one of the most prestigious magazine awards we could get," said Darlene Griego, executive director of the Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She said she hopes the recognition "translates into more tourists."
Santa Fe finished behind San Francisco; New York; Charleston, S.C.; and Chicago. Rounding out the top 10 were New Orleans; Honolulu; Boston; Carmel, Calif.; and Savannah, Ga.
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Ferry captain fired after refusing cooperate
NEW YORK (AP) - The city Wednesday moved to fire the Staten Island Ferry captain involved in last week's fatal crash after he refused for a second day to meet with federal investigators.
Michael Gansas, who supervised the pilot operating the ferry when the crash occurred, had refused to meet with National Transportation Safety Board investigators on Tuesday, prompting federal officials to issue a subpoena. On Wednesday, Gansas' attorney, Stephen Sheinbaum, said his client remained too traumatized to speak with investigators and was under medical care.
Rumsfeld: War on terror a "long, hard slog"
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States faces "a long, hard slog" in the fight against al Qaeda, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a pointed memo raising questions about the future of the war on terrorism. Rumsfeld said the U.S.-led coalitions would win in Afghanistan and Iraq, but so far have had mixed results. He wrote that the United States "has made reasonable progress in capturing or killing the top 55 Iraqis" but has made "somewhat slower progress" tracking down top Taliban leaders who sheltered al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Sniper suspect chooses not to defend himself
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - After two days of occasional fumbling in the courtroom, sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad gave up trying to be his own lawyer Wednesday and put his fate back in the hands of his court-appointed attorneys. "Mr. Muhammad no longer believes it is in his best interest to represent himself," Circuit Judge LeRoy F. Millette Jr. told the jury in the murder case.
American forces face renewed attacks in Iraq
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi insurgents have stepped up attacks on U.S. troops in recent weeks, the commander of American forces said Wednesday, as ambush bombers struck again in this tense Sunni Muslim area west of Baghdad, in the northern city of Mosul and in the heart of the capital.
The U.S. commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, said some of the attacks may be carried out by people with links to al Qaeda, but he added "we don't have any confirmed al Qaeda operatives in custody at this point."
India proposals fail to address Kashmir region
NEW DELHI (AP) - India unveiled major proposals Wednesday to improve relations with Pakistan, expanding travel and reuniting families. Pakistan saw some positive elements but expressed disappointment the steps fail to include negotiations with Islamabad on Kashmir.
Although formal talks between the leaders of the two South Asian nations are still off, the proposals cover human concerns such as allowing athletes to compete in India-Pakistan cricket matches and letting fishermen go about their trade without fear of arrest.
The pronouncements by Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha were the most extensive efforts so far to heal the wounds from a December 2001 attack on India's parliament complex.
