When this story was posted in February 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

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What is Wrong at the US Embassy in Bolivia? Last summer Peace Corps Inspector General David Kotz cited the lack of cooperation from the US embassy in Bolivia in the search for missing Peace Corps Volunteer Walter Poirier III. Now a member of the US Embassy Staff in Bolivia is accused of asking Peace Corps Volunteers "to basically spy" on Cubans and Venezuelans in the country. Could US Ambassador Philip S.Goldberg please explain what is going on at the embassy that he has been running in La Paz since 2006?

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January 12, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Jack Vaughn, Peace Corps Legend 12 Jan Hill Puts Gentle Pressure on North Korea 11 Jan Sarah Chayes writes Bhutto's decision tarnishes her memory 10 Jan Tom Petri is a Republican who 'gets it' 10 Jan Robert Strauss writes: PCVs lack maturity and experience 9 Jan James Rupert writes: Musharraf May Use Election Delay 7 Jan Senate Increases Funding for Peace Corps 4 Jan Chris Dodd addresses supporters after Iowa Caucuses 3 Jan John Granville Shot Dead in Sudan 2 Jan Kathleen Stephens appointed ambassador to South Korea 19 Dec Obituary for St. Clair Bourne 18 Dec Dr. Robert Zeigler warns of global rice shortage 13 Dec PCV Blythe Ann O’Sullivan dies in Suriname accident 8 Dec David Kotz named new Inspector General at SEC 6 Dec Obama calls for doubling the size of the Peace Corps 5 Dec Obituary for Henry Hyde - Friend of the Peace Corps 29 Nov Robert M. Gates calls for “soft power” tools 27 Nov Kevin Quigley writes: To win the peace, Restore the corps 27 Nov Michael Adlerstein says UN renovation will be done right 27 Nov Peru Trade Pact is Victory for Toledo 24 Nov Crisis Corps is now Peace Corps Response 19 Nov Tony Hall works for Middle East peace 13 Nov

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Peace Corps Volunteers Remain Safe in Kenya The U.S. Peace Corps has evacuated 35 of its volunteers from western Kenya because of the violence that has rocked the country since the disputed December 27 presidential election. The Peace Corps has 144 volunteers based in Kenya, although the organization says 22 of them are currently out of the country. An agency statement says the remaining volunteers have been consolidated in a variety of locations. Latest News: Peace Corps says volunteers in Kenya remain safe.

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What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

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