Hurricane Preparedness and Energy
George W. Bush
Throughout the past week, Americans anxiously watched weather conditions in the Gulf Coast region. The people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas were well prepared for Hurricane Gustav -- and the coordination between these States and the Federal government was strong. Now, we're focusing on the relief effort.

Iran, Russia To Complete Bushehr Nuclear Plant
Tehran and Moscow are expected to hold meetings this week to arrange the opening of the $800-million, 1,000 megawatt Bushehr nuclear reactor that Russia has helped build on Iran’s coast under a 1995 contract. The building project was supposed to be finished by the end of 2006 but was delayed several times over payment conflicts.

US Oil Companies Finding More Oil in Old Fields
The price of oil has dropped around 20 percent in recent weeks, but remains more than double what it was just a couple of years ago. The high price has given oil companies the incentive to revisit old fields long ago abandoned as unprofitable. New technology has made it possible to extract more oil from these old fields.

US Pronounces Iran’s Satellite Launch A "Failure"
According to a US military source, Iran’s test launch for sending a satellite into orbit on Sunday was "not as successful as the Tehran claimed it to be." London’s Al-Sharq Al-Awsat quoted the US official as explaining that the rocket detached from the satellite during the test-launch. He added that Iran's recent boasts of building improved anti-ship missiles, "do not indicate peaceful intentions on Tehran’s part."

Iranian Rocket Launch Triggers New Concerns
In a move that could further aggravate tensions between Iran and the West, Tehran said it has launched a rocket, the Safir-e Omid (Hope Envoy), capable of carrying a satellite into space. While showing footage of the launch, Iranian state television proclaimed that the rocket is capable of putting "a light satellite into low earth orbit," between 250 and 500 kilometers above the Earth.

Iran Test-Launches Rocket That Can Carry Satellite
According to US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe on Sunday, Washington is worried about Tehran’s declaration that it has successfully test launched a rocket that is able to carry a satellite into outer space. The launch is raising eyebrows concerning Iran’s motives, said Johndroe.

High Oil Prices Drive Search for New Fuels
With rising oil prices inflating the cost of almost everything, people are looking for other ways to power vehicles, and even for alternatives to vehicles. Ten or 20 years from now, the car you drive or the bus you ride may be powered by something other than gasoline.

Expensive Fuel Brings Change to Transportation Industry
As rising fuel costs drive up the cost of transportation, the transportation industry itself is being forced to change. America's biggest carmaker is closing factories where its largest vehicles are made, and expanding plants that build small cars. Airlines are raising fares, cutting services, merging with other airlines or going bankrupt. On the other hand, railways are in greater demand as an alternative.

It’s Time for the U.S. House to Vote on Meaningful Energy Reform
John Boehner
The next time you fill up at the gas station consider this: The U.S. House of Representatives has not been allowed to vote on meaningful energy reforms in more than a month. There have been several sham votes -- such as one recently to replace 70 million barrels of easily refined oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) with oil that is much more difficult to process -- but nothing that would help get out us out of this situation.

Expanding Domestic Oil Production
George W. Bush
This week, Members of Congress returned to Washington after their Fourth of July recess. While they were at home, they heard a clear message from their constituents: Americans are concerned about high gas prices. Everyone who commutes to work, grows food, books a plane ticket, or runs a small business feels the squeeze of rising energy prices. And Americans are increasingly frustrated with Congress's failure to take action.

Legendary Oil Man T Boone Pickens Promotes Wind Energy
He made his fortune in oil, but energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens has now embarked on a national public relations campaign to move the country away from oil and towards a renewable energy future. But many energy experts are skeptical about his proposals. In a video message broadcast on television and the Internet, T. Boone Pickens is warning the people of the United States about the looming energy crisis the country faces.

New Tools May Predict Earthquakes Hours Ahead Of Time
Scientists have registered signs of an impending earthquake 10 hours before it occurred along California's San Andreas Fault. Seismologists say the new, highly sensitive technology holds promise in giving those who live in particularly deadly earthquake zones enough time to evacuate. Like most massive earthquakes, experts say the one that hit China's Sichuan province in May, killing 69,000 people, gave residents no time to evacuate.

Personal Freedoms and the Internet
Ron Paul
The most basic principle to being a free American is the notion that we as individuals are responsible for our own lives and decisions. We do not have the right to rob our neighbors to make up for our mistakes, neither does our neighbor have any right to tell us how to live, so long as we aren’t infringing on their rights. Freedom to make bad decisions is inherent in the freedom to make good ones.