McCain picks female running mate

S Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate.

At 44, she is three years younger than Barack Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term, but she is relatively unknown in US politics.

Mr McCain appeared with her on stage at a lively rally in Dayton, Ohio.

Analysts say Mrs Palin was chosen to rejuvenate the campaign of Mr McCain, who is celebrating his 72nd birthday.

The announcement ended weeks of speculation about his potential choice, in which Mrs Palin was mentioned only as a long shot.
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Some commentators are calling Mr McCain's running mate decision the strangest since Dan Quayle, George Bush Senior's young and untested pick in 1988.

The fact that she is a woman and a fresh face on the national scene is obviously a potential plus, bringing an excitement and newsworthiness to the Republican ticket, the BBC's Justin Webb reports.

But her less than two years in office would undercut one of the McCain campaign's central criticisms of his Democratic rival Barack Obama: that he is too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief.

The choice seems an audacious, perhaps slightly desperate, effort to bring youth and vigour to the Republican ticket, our North America editor adds.

Tribute to Hillary Clinton

Speaking to a large crowd, who sang Happy Birthday when he appeared, Mr McCain introduced Mrs Palin as someone who "understands working people".


SARAH PALIN
Sarah Palin (right) speaks to a shopper in Barrow, Alaska, 30 June 2008
Elected Alaska's youngest and first woman governor in 2006
Grew up in Wasilla, near Anchorage, and was voted Miss Wasilla in 1984
Studied journalism and political science at University of Idaho
Is mother of five, including a son with Down's syndrome
Her husband Todd is an oil production operator
Likes hunting and fishing

Profile: Sarah Palin
Day at-a-glance

"She's got the grit, the integrity and commitment to the common good which are exactly what we need in Washington today," he said.

"She's exactly who I need, who this country needs, to help me fight to turn the same old Washington politics on its head."

Thanking Mr McCain, Mrs Palin said she would be honoured to serve next to him. She introduced her husband of 20 years and four of her five children. A son who did not appear on stage is in the US Army and will be deployed to Iraq next month.

Speaking of her time in office in Alaska, she said she had "fought corruption" and sought to serve the people.

She paid tribute to other American women in politics, including Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama's defeated Democratic rival.

"It was rightly noted in Denver last week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all," she said.

Mrs Palin is the second female US vice-presidential candidate, with the first being Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984.

Analysts say Mrs Palin may have been chosen by the McCain campaign as a tactic to win over those Democratic women voters who were disappointed by the defeat of Mrs Clinton by Mr Obama.

Mr Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, congratulated Mrs Palin on her nomination and said she would add a "compelling new voice" to the general election campaign.

"Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics," their joint statement said.
John McCain and Sarah Palin side by side on his election website
Sarah Palin now appears side by side with Mr McCain on his website

A spokesman for the Obama campaign had earlier suggested Mr McCain's choice was irresponsible, referring to Mrs Palin's former role as mayor of the small Alaskan town of Wasilla.

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," said spokesman Bill Burton.

President George W Bush welcomed Mrs Palin's nomination, describing her as a "proven reformer".

"Governor Palin's success is due to her dedication to principle and her roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic and serves as a wonderful example of the spirit of America," he said.

Anti-abortion

Mrs Palin is seen as a strong conservative, fiscally and socially.

She also opposes abortion and her baby son has Down's Syndrome.

Abortion has been a key issue cited by Republican voters who feel Mr McCain is not conservative enough.

Mrs Palin's electoral chances may be harmed by the fact that she was placed under investigation in Alaska by state lawmakers at the end of July.

She sacked a public safety commissioner and the allegation is that she sacked him because he had not fired a state trooper who is Mrs Palin's former brother-in-law, and who is in a custody battle with her sister.

She says she has "nothing to hide" and is "cool" about the investigation.

unerals held for Madrid victims

The first funerals have been taking place for victims of Wednesday's plane crash in Madrid, which killed 153.

One of the first to be buried was 21-year-old Isaac Dominguez from Salamanca, who survived the crash but died later in hospital.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Amalia Filloy and her 14-year-old daughter, also named Amalia.

Investigators are now assessing whether a loss of power on take-off caused the crash of the Spanair MD-80 plane.

Amalia Filloy made headlines in Spain after a firefighter who was one of the first to arrive at the crash scene told reporters that she had begged him to save her 11-year-old daughter Maria first.

A funeral was also held in Spain's Canary Islands, the destination of the flight and home to about half of its passengers and crew, for a soldier named David Caballero.

Caballero was based in Madrid and was returning to the Canaries for a holiday with his family.

"I lost my 27-year-old son, I am devastated," his mother told Spanish television channel TVE.

"We expect that throughout the day two or three more coffins will arrive," the head of the islands' regional government, Paulino Rivero, told a news conference in Madrid after holding talks with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco, will preside over a memorial service for all of the victims of the crash on 1 September in the Almudena Cathedral, Madrid's mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon has announced.

Crash plane 'was almost swapped'

The airline involved in the Madrid plane crash had considered switching aircraft at the last minute, a Spanish government minister said.

Spanair flight JK 5022 was delayed for about an hour because of a problem with an air temperature gauge.

The aircraft crashed on 20 August, just after take-off, killing 154 people.

Magdalena Alvarez told a parliamentary panel that Spanair had "indicated to the airport the possibility of replacing the plane with another".

Ms Alvarez, the Spanish development minister, said Spanair "told the airport control centre that it had decided to continue with the plane... which is the one that crashed".

She was summoned before the Spanish Congress to testify on Spain's air safety procedures in the wake of the accident.

Spanair has not spoken publicly about having considered changing planes. A spokesman said the company could not discuss what had happened to the aircraft, because the accident was under judicial investigation.

However, it has previously insisted that the gauge problem had nothing to do with the crash.

The Spanish government has promised a full investigation into the crash, which is the country's worst air accident in 25 years.

Sources close to the investigation, quoted by the newspaper El Pais, say the plane may have lacked sufficient engine power during take-off.

Video footage showed the plane travelled much further along the runway than normal before getting airborne, the paper reported.

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Nigeria: Argentina Claim Gold in Beijing

Despite a brave performance from Nigeria, Argentina have claimed Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a 1-0 victory in the Birds' Nest on Saturday.

Played in blistering heat, the only goal of the game was scored on 57 minutes through Angel di Maria as the Argentines retained the Olympic title they won in Athens four years ago.

It was a match of few clear-cut chances, with the South Americans just shaving it on possession, and it was perhaps their greater experience with the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Juan Roman Riquelme that decided the game.

Di Maria netted his winner after being set free down the left by Messi and, with Nigerian goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin advancing to close him down, he chipped the ball into an empty net.

Nigeria tried to push forward in the closing stages, with Victor Anichebe twice going close, but Argentina held on for the win - and a repeat of that Athens Gold.

Meanwhile, a brace from striker Jo and a goal from Diego sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory for Brazil over Belgium in the Bronze medal match played in Shanghai on Friday.

Nigeria: As Power Play Costs Service Chiefs Their Jobs, No Threat to Government - Yar'Adua

RESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday explained that last week's shake up in the nation's military high command was a normal course of affairs and not because of any threat to government as being insinuated in some quarters.

The clarification came just as more details emerged which sources said fast-tracked the retirement of the Chief of the Defence Staff and two Service Chiefs with one of the Service Chiefs reportedly speaking arrogantly to the President on the issue of who was more qualified to become the CDS, hence the abrupt decision to retire them.

The president, who spoke through his special adviser on communications, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, said the changes had been on the cards for sometime but that it took this long because of his belief that things should be done properly at all times. Adeniyi, yesterday afternoon thanked them for their services to the nation. That was at least about two hours before their meeting with the Defence Minister, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

"In keeping with his abiding belief in due process, President Yar'Adua has directed that the Army Council as well as the Navy and Air Force Boards should meet early next week to ratify the promotions of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to their new ranks. "He will decorate them with the insignias of their new ranks thereafter."

Rivalry: Meanwhile, more details emerged at the weekend which sources said fast-tracked the retirement of Azazi and the Service Chiefs with one of the Service Chiefs reportedly speaking arrogantly to Yar'Adua on the issue of who was more qualified to become the CDS, hence the abrupt decision to retire them. Sunday Vanguard sources also disclosed that 18 senior officers of the rank of major general in the army and equivalent in the Navy and Airforce have received letters informing them that under the new dispensation, their services would come to an end.

Aside the disrespectful manner with which the former Chief was said to have spoken before the president, the issue of suspicion and disharmony (cold war) between the former CDS and the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. General Luka Yusuf, which reportedly started shortly after Yusuf assumed office as COAS and continued until they were retired, reportedly caused apprehension to government. The distrust between the two generals allegedly began when, on assumption of office, Yusuf carried out postings of officers in a manner that suggested that some of the officers posted by Azazi while he was the Army Chief had questionable background and, despite efforts to correct this situation, Yusuf put down his feet on what he wanted.

The action of Yusuf, of totally side-lining Azazi even though he (Azazi) was still in service and at a higher office of CDS, did not go down well with Azazi who believed that, as the number one military officer, he deserved some courtesy from his successor. The posting of the former Director of Military Intelligence, Major General Ovo Adekhegba, to Defence Headquarters, his subsequent retirement, and averment before an Abuja court in a sworn affidavit that when the former COAS invited him for a meeting in his office, the former CDS (Azazi) directed him not to answer the call is believed to be a pointer to the distrust.

Another part of the disagreement between the two generals came about when the Presidency allegedly directed Yusuf to investigate the regular occurrence of pipeline vandalization in the Niger Delta and proffer solutions on how to curb the menace. This allegedly did not go down well with Azazi because, apart from the fact that such a sensitive matter of security for pipeline vandalization fell within his purview as CDS, the fact that the investigation was kept as a secret from him meant that there was attempt at undermining him. This reportedly did not go down well with Azazi and he subsequently protested the action.

The minister of defence was said to have had to invite the two generals to his office before the issue was resolved with Yayale assuring the CDS that he had the authority of Mr. President to tell him that nobody was derogating his office or person, before nerves were calmed.

However, what was believed to have endeared the former COAS to senior military officers was the way he took the bull by the horn to not only unearth the sale of arms and ammunition from the Nigerian Army Arms Depot in Kaduna, but also the action to court martial those involved regardless of whose ox was gored. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the plan to retire the Service Chiefs had been on the drawing board for about four months now but the Presidency was bidding its time.

On why the Service Chief who allegedly spoke arrogantly to Mr. President behaved that way, it was gathered that it came about at a meeting where the issue of who should be the next CDS if the Service Chiefs were retired came up for discussion as a way of carrying everybody along. While Azazi allegedly said the position should go to the Airforce after they would have retired, Yusuf was said to have suggested that it should go to an Army officer following the trend under Obasanjo administration.

Military analysts may interpret the former COAS' suggestion as trying to pave the way for his appointment as CDS. Azazi was said to have convinced Mr. President that the position of the CDS was rotational and not the exclusive appointment for the army alone. He reportedly insisted that the office of the CDS is now the turn of the Airforce. This led them back to the records where it was discovered that the Airforce had held the slot once through Air Marshal Almin Daggash (rtd) and the Nigerian Navy through Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (rtd) before the decision was taken to give the appointment to Air Marshal Paul Dike.

ther reasons adduced by sources as responsible for the sacking of the Service Chiefs include involvement of soldiers in illegal bunkering and inability of the military high command to curtail it. The military authorities under them were also accused of non-payment of soldiers involved in peace keeping missions abroad their due entitlements while funds earmarked for the payment were oftentimes kept in fixed deposit accounts to yield interests for the officials concerned.

In a related development, a total of 18 major generals and equivalent in the Navy, Airforce and the Defence Headquarters, who are qualified for retirement following the appointment of the new Service Chiefs, have started packing . Their statement, said Yar'Adua personally met with the outgoing Service Chiefs and expressed his appreciation for their services before they eventually met with the defence minister, Ahmed Yayale.

The statement read: "In view of comments and speculations in the media concerning the recent changes in the command structure of the armed forces, the Presidency wishes to affirm that the changes were made in the normal course of affairs and were not a reaction to any particular occurrence.

"The changes announced on Wednesday were certainly not made in response to any perceived threat to government and the stability of the nation. Attempts to tie the changes to statements by some politicians should therefore be disregarded as mere mischief.

"The fact is that a change of guards in the armed forces had been on the cards for sometime since both the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Andrew Azazi and the former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye became due for retirement several months ago.

"The changes were not made earlier because of the president's insistence that things be done bags and baggages from the services headquarters preparatory to going home. According to investigations, 12 of the army generals are Course 14, 15 and 16 intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy and they include a serving major-general and chief of the armed forces of a West African country where Nigeria played a key role in restoring peace through ECOMOG.

Relevant Links West Africa Arms and Military Affairs Conflict, Peace and Security Nigeria

Others include a four-star general and the Force Commander of a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in a North African country, three major-generals and principal staff officers at Army Headquarters, two general officers commanding (GOCs) and four corps commanders in the army; from the Navy are two rear admirals while the Airforce has four air vice marshals.

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