"Syria is surprised and regrets the decision taken by el-Arabi to suspend the observer mission after having decided this week to extend it for a month."
Syrian government
This statement was issued through Syrian state media in response to the decision by the Arab League to suspend its observer mission.
Two years, Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. That's how long it takes most NBA teams to learn how to win on the road. And for every good squad that eventually becomes great by claiming victories...
A Pierce County Sheriff's deputy and Graham Firefighters work around the smoldering remains of a house near Fredrickson, Wash., Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, where, according to a sheriff's...
7984 S. 1300 East in Sandy. The move comes after the company recently acquired Karen Pullman’s Pro Shop and Bowling Center in December of last year. Plans for the new fun center include a...
Conservative party leader Sauli Niinistoe has won Finland's presidential election by a landslide and will become the country's first conservative president in 30 years.
Over 500 million Indians will need new homes in almost a decade, close to the needs of China, North America and Western Europe put together, as the government and urban local bodies focus more on...
Romney's Religion Could be Factor in US Presidential Race
In U.S. presidential politics, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has a narrow lead over Georgia businessman Herman Cain in the latest CNN-ORC public opinion poll. Most experts consider Romney the frontrunner for the Republican Party's presidential nomination next year. But in recent weeks, Romney has been on the defensive about his religion and the issue came into focus during the latest Republican candidates' debate in Las Vegas. Romney is a member of the Mormon Church, which generally follows Christian precepts, but adheres to its own founder and holy book separate from the Christian Bible.
The intersection of politics and religion in the 2012 race for the White House came into sharp focus because of comments from an evangelical Christian pastor, Robert Jeffress, who supports Texas Governor Rick Perry for president.
Jeffress opposes Mitt Romney because of his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church.
"In my estimation, Mormonism is a cult," said Jeffress. "And it would give credence to a cult to have a Mormon candidate."
Mormons generally follow Christian precepts, but adhere to their own church founder, Joseph Smith, and a holy book, the Book of Mormon, which is separate from the Christian Bible.
Jeffress says Mormons are moral people, but are not part of mainstream Christianity - a view many Mormons dispute.
The religious issue was raised during the Republican debate in Las Vegas this week, when Rick Perry was asked about Jeffress's comments.
"That individual expressed an opinion," said Perry. "I didn't agree with it, Mitt, and I said so. But the fact is Americans understand faith and what they have lost faith in is the current resident of the White House [President Barack Obama]."
Mitt Romney said that using any kind of religious test for political candidates is wrong.
"That idea that we should choose people based upon their religion for public office is what I find to be most troubling because the founders of this country went to great lengths, and even put it in the Constitution, that we would not choose people to represent us in government based upon their religion," noted Romney.
Public opinion surveys show that most Americans are tolerant of different religious views, unless they are seen as extreme.
That was backed up by a recent sampling of opinion in Los Angeles. However, Romney might be hurt by the reluctance of some Christian voters to support him, says Daniel Cox with the Public Religion Research Institute here in Washington.
"Evangelicals are a vital part of the Republican primary constituency," said Cox. "They are about one in four voters overall and they make up a significant portion of the Republican primary electorate, particularly in places like Iowa and South Carolina and Florida."
But Cox says there is a way for Romney to overcome some of those doubts.
"If Romney can convince voters, particularly Evangelical voters in the Republican primaries, that he shares their political values, there is a good chance that the religious values may not be as important," Cox explained.
If he wins the Republican nomination and defeats President Barack Obama next year, Romney would become the country's first Mormon president.
Utah Independent
Every minute of every day our news editors canvass the issues, and stories making the news to provide our readers with a broad and in-depth coverage of what's happening in the world.
Our first priority is the state. We specialise in Utah news. From Salt Lake City to West Valley City, we're on the lookout day and night to keep track of issues making the news. We also strive to keep abreast of national news.
Breaking stories out of the continental United States usually break first on the Utah Independent. Neighbouring states and key cities too often feature on our news pages.
We also provide a whole lot of other content you'd expect from any newspaper including international sports coverage and local Utah weather forecasts.
We also provide readers with an opportunity to engage in newsmaking by voting on major stories in the news, and following how other readers are viewing the issues. Our news polls are regularly updated, and attract thousands of voters over each week they're conducted.
Our business writers too work hard to keep you abreast of what's happening in the markets, not only in the U.S. but across the globe. We work around the clock to post stories from major financial centers like Tokyo, Paris, London, and of course New York, where we have extensive coverage of the major indices, particularly the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, S&P and Russell 2000.
