October 31, 2005
Syria
:The US, France, and England are threatening action (most likely economic sanctions) in the UN against Syria’s government, which a UN report last week accused of having a hand in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. The resolution would take effect if Syria does not give full cooperation to investigations and does not provide suspects in the killings. Negotiations are under way to make sure that China or Russia do not block the resolution with a veto.
(Filed under: Iraq, Middle East, UN, Europe, America, Global Issues)
Tropical Storms
:In the United States, Hurricane Wilma damaged both Florida coasts after quickly moving from Mexico this past week. The storms 125-mph winds killed at least six people and left millions without power. Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of President Bush, stated that aid problems were the faults of the state of Florida and not FEMA. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Alpha, the first time a season has needed a Greek letter as the name, made land fall in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. At least 26 people are dead on the island.
(Filed under: Natural Disasters, The Americas, America, Hurricanes, Dominican Republic, Haiti)
Federal Reserve Nomination
:President Bush nominated Ben S. Bernanke, 51, to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, when his term expires in January. Bernanke, a former Economics Professor, was named to the Federal Reserve board in 2002 by President Bush and recently was named chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers. Bernanke’s political views are not widely known (other than he is a registered Republican) but he is known as an economist that favors inflation targets.
(Filed under: Bush Administration, Economy, America)
U.S. Economy
:Despite Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. grew 3.8% during the third quarter. The economy would have expanded quicker according to Commerce Department figures but destroyed homes and workplace and disrupted shipping routes pushed inflation higher.
(Filed under: Economy, America)
Commentary – Libby Indictment
:Two years ago, at the beginning of the investigation into the leaking of a covert CIA operatives name to the press, the President of the United States vowed that he would look into the matter personally and that anyone that was involved in the leak would no longer work at the White House. He later weakened that threat to simply those that committed a crime. Libby’s resignation made the second claim truthful. The President, however, should keep his word and fire two of his leading partners in the administration – adviser Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney.
This investigation has highlighted and undressed the tactics of this administration. Bush’s team rarely has wanted to debate policy. They would rather go for the throat. During the 2000 primaries, after two surprising McCain victories, Rove associates ran a survey in South Carolina that suggested McCain had black children out of wedlock (the truth is that he had adopted the children). In 2004, those same associates created the “Swiftboat Veterans for Truthâ€? ads that were severely lacking in truth. And during the runup to war in Iraq, Wilson’s claim that Bush had lied during the State of the Union address, led this White House to attack Wilson’s wife.
It has become clear that this is the normal operation of this White House. They do not debate. They go for where you are weak and destroy you there. That this time, the White House was dealing with national security did not matter to them. That might serve you well on the campaign trail, it is no way to govern. Libby, unfortunately for him, will be the fall guy. The man that obstructed the investigation enough to keep Fitzgerald from having enough evidence to show that the administration intended to release classified information. But that does not mean the public has to buy it or this President. He knows the same truth that we all do, Rove and Cheney both intended to have this information leaked. Bush should hold to his first promise and send these men packing.
(Filed under: Bush Administration, Commentary, America)
Commentary – A New Supreme Court Choice
:Miers’ withdraw and today’s nomination of Alito was a perfect strategy to change the debate in Washington and bring the Republican base back together. It was clearly orchestrated to happen last week during the indictment scandal so that the White House could air all of its laundry at once. But that does not mean it should not have happened. As this report pointed out on the day of Miers’ nomination, she was not qualified. Clearly, in a legal sense, Alito is. That alone gives me reason to look forward to his time before the Senate. His political views will obviously cause one camp excitement and another concern but that should not matter. He should be confirmed if he is qualified. However, Senators should not forget that the most important qualification of any justice is impartiality and fairness to all. Alito’s past decisions and statements leave many questions to whether he has this. The confirmation hearings will be important for all Americans to learn if he possesses these essential attributes.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Commentary, Miers Nomination, Alito Nomination)
October 24, 2005
Plame Investigation
:With the grand jury expiring at week’s end, the White House is bracing for the conclusion to Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s findings. It is widely expected that at least one indictment will be issued this week and could be leveled at either (or both) the Vice President’s Chief of Staff I. Lewis Libby or White House adviser Karl Rove, who, according to leaked testimony, were not forthcoming and may have lied about meetings with reporters. Without fanfare, but important since most experts believe it is a sign that Fitzgerald will not simply pack his bags without an indictment, his office put up a web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/.
(Filed under: Bush Administration, Politics, America)
Hurricane Wilma
:Hurricane Wilma made land fall earlier today in Southwestern Florida. By the day’s end it had cleared the eastern coast. This is after the hurricane hit the Yucatan Coast of Mexico, where winds of more than 110 miles per hour created massive flooding. Most of the hardest hit areas in Mexico are still without supplies to help the residents or the ability to communicate the losses. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Alpha was the record 22nd storm of the season, making it the most active year on record in the Atlantic Ocean.
(Filed under: Natural Disasters, The Americas, America, Hurricanes)
Miers Nomination
:The Senate Judiciary Committee is likely to summon Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson, a leading conservative Christian, to explain the private assurances he claims to have received from the White House about Miers. This comes during a week when Senators largely claimed to need much more information about the nominee. Her answers to a standard questionnaire were sent back for further clarification, she backtracked on a statement about privacy that she had given the Judiciary Committee Chairman, and Senators are pushing for documents from her work in the White House. This final request is likely to be denied by the White House, claiming privileged information.
(Filed under: Supreme Court, Bush Administration, Politics, Miers Nomination, America)
Afghanistan
:A public relations disaster for the United States is coming from the first front on the war on terror. It was announced Wednesday that the Army is investigating criminal behavior amid allegations that American soldiers had burned the bodies of two dead Taliban fighters and used the smoking corpses to frighten the insurgents. Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the burnings and said that he was taken aback by the pictures he witnessed. The Muslim faith prhibits cremation and holds respect for human remains. Meanwhile, provisional results have been released a month after elections were held for Afghanistan’s Parliament and it appears that Islamic conservatives won large portions of the vote.
(Filed under: Asia, Afghanistan, America)
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