Energy reliability standards to pass
The August 14th blackout has prompted govenors from affected states to push congress to pass federal reliability standards. Congress would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the power to enforce such standards. As of now, no federeal establishment has the power to be responsible for the transmission grid.
In 1965 a large power outage allowed the North American Electricity Reliability to create grid standards but could not force companies to comply or penalize them for falling below the standards.
An estimated 50 million people were affected by the recent blackout and billions of dollars was lost in wages and productivity. Although the cause has not been officially determined, officials are focuing their attention on FirstEnergy Corp. System in Ohio.
Polish forces more prominent in Iraq
The Polish military now has almost 2,500 soldiers stationed in a 31,00 square mile area in Iraq, nearly as many as the United States. Poland's forces have contributed to the international force of an estimated 10,000 troops from 17 countries.
Polish officials are preparing the country for a long-term committment in Iraq, one that could last up to two years. President Aleksander Kwasniewski believes the Polish military mission is to stay in Iraq until decent institutions are created and the Iraqis are able to control their own government.
Despite the President's efforts, recent polls show the majority of citizens in Poland are opposed to the deployment of soldiers. Kwasniewski will not let his country back down as long as they are an ally of the United States.
