Washington Whispers
Barenaked Band Courts Race Fans
You'd think racing fans would be more country than alt rock, but Barenaked Ladies becomes the first band to launch an album at a NASCAR race this Saturday, when it plays the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in Richmond, Va. "We've succeeded in getting soccer moms," says singer Steven Page, "so we're moving on to NASCAR dads." Which means BNL won't be playing its anti-Bush number, "Fun and Games": We just got re-elected/...Bill of Rights will be rejected." Says Page: "That would be playing with fire."
Russia on Iran: Truth or Bluff?
Judging by its public statements, Russia, which holds veto power at the U.N. Security Council, wants to stick with negotiations to deal with Iran's nuclear program. But behind the scenes, European and U.S. diplomats say Russia, and probably China, will go along with at least a first round of modest sanctions. Now that Iran has ignored last week's deadline to halt uranium enrichment, the question is what kind of sanctions will follow U.N. negotiations in September, not if they will. Why? Russia and China made a commitment to President Bush and European leaders supporting sanctions to secure backing for the incentives package offered to Iran in June. The Russians don't want to be seen in lock step with the West on promoting penalties. "We are used to this from the Russians," says a European official.
Duchess Backs U.S. Values
Whom did Rep. Kay Granger get to pen the intro to her new book, What's Right About America? Sarah Ferguson, aka the duchess of York. The two met while working to stop childhood obesity. "She came to my district and talked to 3,500 young women about making the right choices," Granger says. The women were "eating out of her hand."
Israel Reservists Call U.S. for Gear
Like the U.S. soldiers in Iraq who relied on friends and family back home to pay for gear, some Israeli reservists called up for extended ground operations in Lebanon have taken to calling American contacts to raise money for simple protective body armor. "There is still the notion of [Israeli military] invincibility," says David Rich, 32, a reserve paratrooper who helped raise $22,000 from Americans for 80 body armor vests. "So people are a little upset about the disorganization." Oklahoma City doctor Eli Reshef started Operation Body Armor, raising money to equip four units.
With Edward T. Pound, Thomas Omestad, Suzi Parker and Silla Brush
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