The Wall fell 20 years ago today. This morning, flowers decorated a portion that has been perserved. (John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images)
By Mark Memmott
Good morning.
Today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the historic occasion is being marked in that city with speeches, a symbolic walk across the old border between what was East and West Germany, and the toppling of giant foam dominoes "painted with messages of freedom," as the BBC writes.
From Berlin, NPR's Eric Westervelt reports that for one German man, the fall of the wall was something of a collision between freedom and fatherhood:
NPR.org's Kevin Whitelaw writes this morning that while the fall of the wall is now viewed as a joyous event, at the time it also sparked much anxiety.
The widely read political blog Powerline has posted a video clip of then-president Ronald Reagan's famous 1987 "tear down this wall" speech in Berlin. And Powerline's post has an entry from Peter Robinson, who wrote the Reagan address.
Other stories making headlines this morning include:
-- The Washington Post -- "Authorities Scrutinize Links Between Ford Hood Suspect, Imam Said To Back Al-Qaida": "Federal investigators are examining possible links between Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal M. Hasan and an American-born imam who U.S. authorities say has become a supporter and leading promoter of al-Qaida since leaving a Northern Virginia mosque, officials said."
Related story on Morning Edition -- Investigators Say If Hasan Had "Jihadist Connections" They Would Have Found Them By Now; Connection To Imam May Be Just A Coincidence. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston reports:
Related story by the Dallas Morning News -- "Pursuing Death Penalty In Fort Hood Shooting May Be Difficult: "If history is any judge, the Army will find it difficult to impose the death penalty on the accused killer in the bloodiest mass shooting on a U.S. military base in history. Military experts say Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is almost certain to face capital charges before an Army court-martial. But they warn that death penalty cases are so rare in the military, and so prone to big mistakes, that death sentences rarely stick."
Related story on Morning Edition -- At Fort Hood And In Killeen, Friends And Family Cope. NPR's Jeff Brady reports:
-- The Philadelphia Inquirer -- Transit Strike Ends: "The strike by SEPTA workers that had paralyzed much of the region since last week ended this morning with a signing of an agreement by SEPTA officials and leaders of Transport Workers Union Local 234. Buses, subways and trolleys, idled since 3 a.m. Tuesday, should be running in time for this morning's rush."
Related report from WHYY's Dave Heller in Philadelphia -- Both Sides Are Now Presenting "A United Front"; 900,000 Riders Breathe Sighs Of Relief:
-- National Hurricane Center -- "Ida Continues To Weaken As It Moves Across The Gulf Of Mexico: "A hurricane warning remains in effect for the northern Gulf Coast from Pascagoula, Miss., eastward to Indian Pass, Fla. ... Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion." Ida is now a "category one" hurricane.
From a related story by Reuters -- Ida Left More Than 120 People Dead In El Salvador: "Hurricane Ida headed toward oil and gas facilities in the central Gulf of Mexico on Monday on a path to the U.S. Gulf Coast after killing 124 people in El Salvador following floods and mudslides."
-- Politico -- "Republicans Take Aim At Vulnerable Democrats In Health War: "Within minutes of Saturday's historic House vote on health care reform, Republicans pronounced the political death of Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-Va.), pointing to the vulnerable freshman congressman's vote in favor of the bill. And in the aftermath of the politically charged vote, Perriello wasn't the only Democratic congressman whose fortunes were being reassessed. The GOP, which voted nearly in lock step against the measure, began crowing about the demise of various other vulnerable members and seized on the moment as a milestone in the path back to a House majority."
categories: Morning Roundup
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