The Flashlight Dec. 8-15m 2006
THE FLASHLIGHT, December 8-15, 2006
The Iraq Study Group Report
NY Times, CNN, PBS 12 – 8-10. Political discussion this week was focused on the Iraq Study Group Report. The attitude of the ISG was that if drastic measures are not adopted immediately, defeat is certain, and even if the measures were taken, they might fail. President Bush delayed his response until January, but the indications were that he was going to reject troop reduction and diplomatic outreach to Syria and Iran. [A contributing factor was probably that these two countries are behind the attempted seizure of power by Hizbollah going on in Lebanon.] PBS commentator said that if Bush increases military operations in Iraq and does not start withdrawal, the opposition to the War, already felt by two-thirds of the population want a timetable for withdrawal, will increase.
The ISG Report split both Republicans and Democrats. The far right Republicans denounced it, and, led by Senator McCain, demanded a “victory” plan involving increased US troop strength in Iraq. Other Republicans who will have to face the voters in 2008 were fearful of adopting such a strategy.
Democrats were split between moderates, who want aggressive oversight hearings on the way government money has been spent in Iraq, and liberals who want to cut off money for the war.
NYTines 12-10. Frank Rich said that the ISG Report did not plot a way forward but merely delayed recognition of our defeat.
Washington Post 12-10. A Pentagon review leaked to the Post said that a successful counter-insurgency campaign in Iraq would require several hundred thousand additional US troops, more Iraqi soldiers, and heavily armed police. The hundreds of thousands of US troops do not exist. Neither does public support for mobilizing them.
`Meanwhile, 100,000 Iraqis are leaving per month, creating the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.
The Post said that the ISG Report is “a pipedream of one last chance.”
NYT 12-13. The Times revealed that Vice President Cheney’s sudden trip to Saudia [Saudi Arabia] last month was at the demand of King Abdullah, who said that if American troops were withdrawn from Iraq “early” he would send troops and money to support the Sunni insurgent there. He feared that the majority Shia, backed by Iran, would slaughter the Sunnis otherwise. He reportedly “read the riot act” to Cheney.
The King is also worried about both Israel and Hizbollah, and thinks the area is a tinder box.
The Saud family has multiple billions of dollars invested in the US economy. The Bush and Cheney families also have big investments in Saudi oil.
The War Budget
NYTimes 12-14. The Congressional Democrats plan to take charge of spending on the Iraq War, now amounting to eight billion dollars a month. Henceforth war spending will be integrated into the regular federal budget, instead of appearing in a series of emergency budget bills. They expect support for this from some Republican Senators. The Democrats will be looking for waste, corruption and abuse in Iraq contracting.
NYTimes 12-14. Gen. Peter Schoomacher, Army Chief of Staff, says that Army needs to grow by 7,000 men a year to meet world demands. At the beginning of the Iraq War, spring 2003, the Army had fewer soldiers than in 1991, at the beginning of the Gulf War, and a $56 billion equipment shortage.
The Foley Case
The House Ethics Committee found the House leadership “negligent” in handling the case, yet did not recommend that anyone be reprimanded.[!] This finding will make no difference in the FBI investigation, which continues.
2008 Presidential Hopefuls
CNN 12-11. Democratic preferences: Hillary, 37%, Obama, 15%, Gore, 14%, Obama drew overflow crowds in New Hampshire.. He is expected to announce his candidacy in a few weeks.
NYTimes 12-13. Maureen Dodd on Hilary vs Obama: “Will Hillzilla crush Obambi? She concluded: Is Obama tough? Is Hilary genuine?
Senator Johnson Seriously ill
NYTimes 12-14. Democratic Senator Tim Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage and underwent an operation. He is returning to consciousness. If he should die or resign, the Republican governor of his state would be free to appoint a Republican as his replacement, giving Republicans back control of the Senate.
In the past, if a Senator was disabled but conscious, he did not resign, leaving the Senate situation unaffected.
Reception of Pres. Carter’s Book on Israel/Palestine
Guardian Unlimited 12-12. The British paper said that in the last thirty years there have been severe restraints in America on any free and balanced discussion of the facts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There have been no demands that Israel comply with international law or speeches in defence of human rights for the Palestinians.
NY Times 12-14. Carter’s book, Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid, attempts to change that. The book has sold 68,000 copies so far and is No. 7 on the NY Times Bestseller list. . Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, is being trailed by protestors at some book signings. The Washington Post ran a protest editorial, and the Jewish Anti-Defamation League is running ads against the book in the NY Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times.
The Iraq Study Group Report
NY Times, CNN, PBS 12 – 8-10. Political discussion this week was focused on the Iraq Study Group Report. The attitude of the ISG was that if drastic measures are not adopted immediately, defeat is certain, and even if the measures were taken, they might fail. President Bush delayed his response until January, but the indications were that he was going to reject troop reduction and diplomatic outreach to Syria and Iran. [A contributing factor was probably that these two countries are behind the attempted seizure of power by Hizbollah going on in Lebanon.] PBS commentator said that if Bush increases military operations in Iraq and does not start withdrawal, the opposition to the War, already felt by two-thirds of the population want a timetable for withdrawal, will increase.
The ISG Report split both Republicans and Democrats. The far right Republicans denounced it, and, led by Senator McCain, demanded a “victory” plan involving increased US troop strength in Iraq. Other Republicans who will have to face the voters in 2008 were fearful of adopting such a strategy.
Democrats were split between moderates, who want aggressive oversight hearings on the way government money has been spent in Iraq, and liberals who want to cut off money for the war.
NYTines 12-10. Frank Rich said that the ISG Report did not plot a way forward but merely delayed recognition of our defeat.
Washington Post 12-10. A Pentagon review leaked to the Post said that a successful counter-insurgency campaign in Iraq would require several hundred thousand additional US troops, more Iraqi soldiers, and heavily armed police. The hundreds of thousands of US troops do not exist. Neither does public support for mobilizing them.
`Meanwhile, 100,000 Iraqis are leaving per month, creating the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.
The Post said that the ISG Report is “a pipedream of one last chance.”
NYT 12-13. The Times revealed that Vice President Cheney’s sudden trip to Saudia [Saudi Arabia] last month was at the demand of King Abdullah, who said that if American troops were withdrawn from Iraq “early” he would send troops and money to support the Sunni insurgent there. He feared that the majority Shia, backed by Iran, would slaughter the Sunnis otherwise. He reportedly “read the riot act” to Cheney.
The King is also worried about both Israel and Hizbollah, and thinks the area is a tinder box.
The Saud family has multiple billions of dollars invested in the US economy. The Bush and Cheney families also have big investments in Saudi oil.
The War Budget
NYTimes 12-14. The Congressional Democrats plan to take charge of spending on the Iraq War, now amounting to eight billion dollars a month. Henceforth war spending will be integrated into the regular federal budget, instead of appearing in a series of emergency budget bills. They expect support for this from some Republican Senators. The Democrats will be looking for waste, corruption and abuse in Iraq contracting.
NYTimes 12-14. Gen. Peter Schoomacher, Army Chief of Staff, says that Army needs to grow by 7,000 men a year to meet world demands. At the beginning of the Iraq War, spring 2003, the Army had fewer soldiers than in 1991, at the beginning of the Gulf War, and a $56 billion equipment shortage.
The Foley Case
The House Ethics Committee found the House leadership “negligent” in handling the case, yet did not recommend that anyone be reprimanded.[!] This finding will make no difference in the FBI investigation, which continues.
2008 Presidential Hopefuls
CNN 12-11. Democratic preferences: Hillary, 37%, Obama, 15%, Gore, 14%, Obama drew overflow crowds in New Hampshire.. He is expected to announce his candidacy in a few weeks.
NYTimes 12-13. Maureen Dodd on Hilary vs Obama: “Will Hillzilla crush Obambi? She concluded: Is Obama tough? Is Hilary genuine?
Senator Johnson Seriously ill
NYTimes 12-14. Democratic Senator Tim Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage and underwent an operation. He is returning to consciousness. If he should die or resign, the Republican governor of his state would be free to appoint a Republican as his replacement, giving Republicans back control of the Senate.
In the past, if a Senator was disabled but conscious, he did not resign, leaving the Senate situation unaffected.
Reception of Pres. Carter’s Book on Israel/Palestine
Guardian Unlimited 12-12. The British paper said that in the last thirty years there have been severe restraints in America on any free and balanced discussion of the facts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There have been no demands that Israel comply with international law or speeches in defence of human rights for the Palestinians.
NY Times 12-14. Carter’s book, Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid, attempts to change that. The book has sold 68,000 copies so far and is No. 7 on the NY Times Bestseller list. . Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, is being trailed by protestors at some book signings. The Washington Post ran a protest editorial, and the Jewish Anti-Defamation League is running ads against the book in the NY Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times.
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 2:18 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home