Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy now holds a solid first place in both Iowa and New Hampshire, dethroning former favorites-to-win Kerrey and Bradley. Kennedy, who entered the race in February, has changed the entire shape of the Democratic race. Kennedy runs on a progressive platform, providing a contrast to the more conservative positions of President Gingrich. The one candidate who appears to have suffered the most from Senator Kennedy’s entry into the Democratic race is fellow Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Kerry, who had initially polled reasonably well in Iowa, and was second only to the similarly-named Bob Kerrey for a time in New Hampshire, now finds himself almost dead last in Iowa, with most of his supporters leaving in favor of Senator Kennedy. Kerry has promised to stay in the race for the time being, but as each day goes by, his numbers drop considerably. Current polls show Kerry with only 5% in Iowa, down from 20% the month before and in a statistical tie with Joe Lieberman. However, hope for the Kerry campaign exists in New Hampshire, where he polls in fourth place, slightly leading Paul Wellstone with 14%.
-C-Span, March 14th, 1999, 10:43 a.m. EST
The final wave of American troops have been deployed in the initial phases of Operation Ensuring Liberty. NATO officials have reported that the Taliban have been driven back from at least 21 strongholds since the commencement of operations on March 2nd, but there is no way to verify the claim at this time. The US continues air strikes against Kabul, with the Air Force claiming to be taking every precaution to avoid needless civilian casualties. Nevertheless, the Taliban makes claims that the US has hit plenty of non-military targets, and have wounded upwards of 300 civilians. US officials dismiss this as “enemy propaganda.” Anonymous sources from within Kabul, communicating through special means, have verified that the Taliban greatly exaggerate those wounded in the air raids on the city. NATO forces, in co-operation with NA freedom fighters, expect a quick victory now that the intervention forces have been fully deployed.
-Associated Press, March 16th, 1999, 2:42 p.m. EST
Polls show that 84% of Americans support the ongoing intervention in Afghanistan, and that 73% of Americans believe that Osama Bin Laden is hiding there.
-Gallup, March 16th, 1999, 3:11 p.m. EST
A delegation from the UK joined it’s American and Albanian counterparts today in signing a document known as the Rambouillet Accords. The accords call for NATO administration of the Kosovo province of Yugoslavia as an anonymous province. Also called for was the deployment of a peace-keeping task force consisting of 30,000 NATO troops to maintain order in Kosovo and protect its citizens from the terrorist group known as the Kosovo Liberation Army, which has been responsible for a great deal of mayhem in the region.
-BBC World Service, March 18th, 1999, 11:12 a.m. EST