Sunday, 29 January 2012
Friday, 27 January 2012
Romney- The Republican speaks of Obama
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Thursday night that US President Barack Obama "threw Israel under the bus" by designating the pre-1967 borders as a starting point for peace talks, while Newt Gingrich reiterated his controversial remark that the Palestinians are an "invented" people.
Speaking at a CNN Republican debate in Florida ahead of Tuesday's primary, the two candidates skewered Obama for not being a strong enough ally to Israel.
Related:
• The Republicans
• GOP candidates criticize Obama on Israel, Iran
Romney said Obama had "disrespected" Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. When Obama spoke at the United Nations, Romney said, he raised the issue of settlement building, but said nothing about rockets being fired on Israel from Gaza.
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama touted his credentials on Israel, indicating his efforts to impose tough sanctions on Iran and saying, "Our ironclad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history."
Gingrich, who drew fire in December for calling the Palestinians an "invented" people, stood by his statements Thursday. Prior to the 1970s, he said, Palestinians simply considered themselves Syrian and Jordanian Arabs.
The candidates' statements came in response to a question from a Palestinian-American audience member (who specified that he was also a Republican: "We exist," he said).
Both Romney and Gingrich blamed the Palestinian leadership for lack of progress in peace negotiations with Israel.
"There's the belief that the Jewish people do not have a right to a state" Romney said of Palestinians, offering Hamas's presence in the Palestinian government, schoolbooks that advocate killing Jews and rejectionist political discourse by Fatah as examples.
Gingrich said his goal was for Palestinians to live in peace with Israel, and that "they can achieve it any morning they say Israel has a right to exist."
The former speaker of the House noted that 11 rockets were fired at Israel in November. "How many of you would be for a peace process and how many would say 'that looks like an act of war?'"
While Romney promised "I will stand with our friend Israel," if he were elected president, Gingrich promised to issue an executive order moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on his first day in office.
Speaking at a CNN Republican debate in Florida ahead of Tuesday's primary, the two candidates skewered Obama for not being a strong enough ally to Israel.
Related:
• The Republicans
• GOP candidates criticize Obama on Israel, Iran
Romney said Obama had "disrespected" Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. When Obama spoke at the United Nations, Romney said, he raised the issue of settlement building, but said nothing about rockets being fired on Israel from Gaza.
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama touted his credentials on Israel, indicating his efforts to impose tough sanctions on Iran and saying, "Our ironclad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history."
Gingrich, who drew fire in December for calling the Palestinians an "invented" people, stood by his statements Thursday. Prior to the 1970s, he said, Palestinians simply considered themselves Syrian and Jordanian Arabs.
The candidates' statements came in response to a question from a Palestinian-American audience member (who specified that he was also a Republican: "We exist," he said).
Both Romney and Gingrich blamed the Palestinian leadership for lack of progress in peace negotiations with Israel.
"There's the belief that the Jewish people do not have a right to a state" Romney said of Palestinians, offering Hamas's presence in the Palestinian government, schoolbooks that advocate killing Jews and rejectionist political discourse by Fatah as examples.
Gingrich said his goal was for Palestinians to live in peace with Israel, and that "they can achieve it any morning they say Israel has a right to exist."
The former speaker of the House noted that 11 rockets were fired at Israel in November. "How many of you would be for a peace process and how many would say 'that looks like an act of war?'"
While Romney promised "I will stand with our friend Israel," if he were elected president, Gingrich promised to issue an executive order moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on his first day in office.
The Obama , Brewer Barrier??? Resolved
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer says she meant no disrespect when she pointed a finger at President Obama during an intense discussion on an airport tarmac. But the Republican governor says the Democratic president showed disrespect for her by abruptly ending their conversation.
Obama, in an interview Thursday with ABC News, said it's "a classic example of things getting blown out of proportion."
The brief encounter — out of earshot of observers but captured on camera — was a highly visible demonstration of the verbal and legal skirmishing that has regularly occurred between Brewer and Obama's administration over illegal immigration and other issues.
Jan Brewer gets and earful from Obama in Ariz.
Brewer slams Obama for new border signs
Jan Brewer: Obama isn't doing his job
Airport arrivals for presidents normally involve mere pleasantries between those involved, but Brewer and Obama have a history. And part of that history is what apparently got things going, according to accounts provided by Brewer and the White House.
Brewer said that during their talk, she invited Obama to visit Arizona to hear about her administration's achievements and to visit the U.S.-Mexico border, which has been a point of friction between the two because of illegal immigration issue.
Obama then said Brewer's recently published book mischaracterized a 2010 White House meeting between them.
CBS News chief White House correspondent Norah O'Donnell reports it was the body language from their chat which got tongues in Washington wagging.
Brewer got right to the point - pointing her finger at the president on the airport tarmac during their exchange.
"I will say that a picture is what it is," Brewer added. "I must say, I was not hostile. I was trying to be very, very gracious. I respect the office of the president, and I would never be disrespectful in that manner."
However, O'Donnell says Brewer took a different tack during an appearance on Fox News' "On the Record" with Greta van Susteren, saying she couldn't understand why Obama was surprised by her book, and calling him "very thin-skinned."
Brewer said in an interview Thursday, at another Phoenix-area airport, that she talks a lot with her hands and that her pointing a finger at Obama during their conversation wasn't disrespectful.
She said she was grateful for the visit and intended to talk to him about the state's accomplishments. But she said she was "taken aback by his comments" when he said he wasn't happy with how her book described their White House meeting.
Immediately after the meeting, Brewer had said it was cordial, but her book said Obama lectured Brewer in the Oval Office and that she felt he was condescending toward her.
"It is what it is. I proceeded to say that to him, and he chose to walk away from me," she said Thursday.
Asked whether she regarded that as disrespectful, she replied: "Well, I would never have walked away from anybody having a conversation. And, of course, that is what it is. It is disrespectful for me."
Their relationship covers disagreements on "most of his policies," she said. "That doesn't mean we can't be cordial to one another."
The encounter was notable because it was rare case of an unscripted and tense moment between the president and a public official in view of reporters.
"I think it's always good publicity for a Republican if they're in an argument with me," Obama said in the ABC interview. "But this was really not a big deal. She wanted to give me a letter, asking for a meeting. And I said, `We'd be happy to meet."'
White House press secretary Jay Carney chided reporters Thursday, saying the encounter with Brewer was getting too much attention from the press corps. The media coverage was overshadowing Obama's message of the day on energy.
Carney was questioned about Brewer's statement that Obama cut her short by walking away.
"I really assume you guys have more important issues to cover than this," Carney said.
Brewer is among the Republican governors who oppose the federal health care overhaul, but the illegal immigration issue has been a particular sore point between Obama and Brewer.
The U.S. Justice Department has challenged Arizona's controversial 2010 immigration enforcement law in court, while the administration and Brewer are at odds over whether the federal government has done enough to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
On Thursday, Brewer drew support from callers to conservative-oriented talk shows, but the incident left others in the state shaking their heads.
The Arizona Republic, the state's largest newspaper, editorialized that the image of Brewer wagging a scolding finger at the visiting president "now pretty much defines this state's relationship with Washington, D.C., to the world."
Bruce Merrill, a longtime Arizona pollster and a professor emeritus at Arizona State University, said there are two sides to the encounter, so it's hard to fully analyze what happened and why.
But the incident follows past incidents in which Arizona for a time balked at declaring a state holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr., and Arizona State University refused to award Obama an honorary degree, Merrill noted.
"It reinforces the image of Arizona being kind of a cowboy state that doesn't show a lot of respect," he said of the airport encounter.
The two mayors who stood next to Brewer during the airport encounter were not available for interviews Thursday, their offices said.
"He doesn't want to get involved," said Melissa Randazzo, spokeswoman for Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, a Republican.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton's office said his schedule had no time for an interview. Stanton is a Democrat.
Obama, in an interview Thursday with ABC News, said it's "a classic example of things getting blown out of proportion."
The brief encounter — out of earshot of observers but captured on camera — was a highly visible demonstration of the verbal and legal skirmishing that has regularly occurred between Brewer and Obama's administration over illegal immigration and other issues.
Jan Brewer gets and earful from Obama in Ariz.
Brewer slams Obama for new border signs
Jan Brewer: Obama isn't doing his job
Airport arrivals for presidents normally involve mere pleasantries between those involved, but Brewer and Obama have a history. And part of that history is what apparently got things going, according to accounts provided by Brewer and the White House.
Brewer said that during their talk, she invited Obama to visit Arizona to hear about her administration's achievements and to visit the U.S.-Mexico border, which has been a point of friction between the two because of illegal immigration issue.
Obama then said Brewer's recently published book mischaracterized a 2010 White House meeting between them.
CBS News chief White House correspondent Norah O'Donnell reports it was the body language from their chat which got tongues in Washington wagging.
Brewer got right to the point - pointing her finger at the president on the airport tarmac during their exchange.
"I will say that a picture is what it is," Brewer added. "I must say, I was not hostile. I was trying to be very, very gracious. I respect the office of the president, and I would never be disrespectful in that manner."
However, O'Donnell says Brewer took a different tack during an appearance on Fox News' "On the Record" with Greta van Susteren, saying she couldn't understand why Obama was surprised by her book, and calling him "very thin-skinned."
Brewer said in an interview Thursday, at another Phoenix-area airport, that she talks a lot with her hands and that her pointing a finger at Obama during their conversation wasn't disrespectful.
She said she was grateful for the visit and intended to talk to him about the state's accomplishments. But she said she was "taken aback by his comments" when he said he wasn't happy with how her book described their White House meeting.
Immediately after the meeting, Brewer had said it was cordial, but her book said Obama lectured Brewer in the Oval Office and that she felt he was condescending toward her.
"It is what it is. I proceeded to say that to him, and he chose to walk away from me," she said Thursday.
Asked whether she regarded that as disrespectful, she replied: "Well, I would never have walked away from anybody having a conversation. And, of course, that is what it is. It is disrespectful for me."
Their relationship covers disagreements on "most of his policies," she said. "That doesn't mean we can't be cordial to one another."
The encounter was notable because it was rare case of an unscripted and tense moment between the president and a public official in view of reporters.
"I think it's always good publicity for a Republican if they're in an argument with me," Obama said in the ABC interview. "But this was really not a big deal. She wanted to give me a letter, asking for a meeting. And I said, `We'd be happy to meet."'
White House press secretary Jay Carney chided reporters Thursday, saying the encounter with Brewer was getting too much attention from the press corps. The media coverage was overshadowing Obama's message of the day on energy.
Carney was questioned about Brewer's statement that Obama cut her short by walking away.
"I really assume you guys have more important issues to cover than this," Carney said.
Brewer is among the Republican governors who oppose the federal health care overhaul, but the illegal immigration issue has been a particular sore point between Obama and Brewer.
The U.S. Justice Department has challenged Arizona's controversial 2010 immigration enforcement law in court, while the administration and Brewer are at odds over whether the federal government has done enough to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
On Thursday, Brewer drew support from callers to conservative-oriented talk shows, but the incident left others in the state shaking their heads.
The Arizona Republic, the state's largest newspaper, editorialized that the image of Brewer wagging a scolding finger at the visiting president "now pretty much defines this state's relationship with Washington, D.C., to the world."
Bruce Merrill, a longtime Arizona pollster and a professor emeritus at Arizona State University, said there are two sides to the encounter, so it's hard to fully analyze what happened and why.
But the incident follows past incidents in which Arizona for a time balked at declaring a state holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr., and Arizona State University refused to award Obama an honorary degree, Merrill noted.
"It reinforces the image of Arizona being kind of a cowboy state that doesn't show a lot of respect," he said of the airport encounter.
The two mayors who stood next to Brewer during the airport encounter were not available for interviews Thursday, their offices said.
"He doesn't want to get involved," said Melissa Randazzo, spokeswoman for Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, a Republican.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton's office said his schedule had no time for an interview. Stanton is a Democrat.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Indian Millitary Adds Value to Existing Warfare Euipments on the eve of 63rd Republic Day
An impressive display of armour and unmanned aerial vehicles recently added to India's military prowess was on full display at the 63rd Republic Day parade on Thursday that also showcased the country's rich heritage.
The early morning chill did not deter people along the 8-km-parade route as they gathered on both sides of the majestic Rajpath, the country's ceremonial boulevard facing the Raisina Hills, and cheered the contingents as they went past portraying the diverse culture of the country.
The well-turned out and synchronised military and police formations led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi) Lt Gen VK Pillai marched proudly to the lilting tunes of bands through the Rajpath where President Pratibha Patil, who is the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, took salute.
The impressive march-past was watched by Chief Guest Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister AK Antony, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Marshal of Air Force Arjan Singh and top political and military brass.
Also spotted at Rajpath was UPA Chief Sonia Gandhi.
The highlight of this year's parade will be the 3,000 kms range Agni-IV missile. The Intermediate Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile mounted on a road mobile launcher is being paraded by the Defence Research & Development Organisation.
The state-of-the-art missile was successfully flight tested last November. The DRDO has also put on display for the first time the 150 kms range Prahaar tactical battlefield support missile and the Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army includes the T-72 tank, Carrier Mortar Tracked, SMERCH Multiple Launch Rocket System, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket System, Full Width Mine Plough, NBC Water Purification Systems and Jammer Station VHF/UHF.
The Army's Mechanized Columns will conclude with a flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv of the Army Aviation Corps.
The Indian Air Force will not make static display of any aircraft but its latest acquisition, the C-130-J Super Hercules tactical aircaft, makes its debut at the Republic Day Parade, with three of the six aircraft acquired from the US participating in the flypast.
The Indian Navy's tableau also glosses over its newly acquired capabilities, instead focusing on its longstanding, reliable capabilities.
The parade is commanded by Lt General Vijay Kumar Pillai, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area is the parade Second-in-Command.
The marching contingents of Army included the horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, Parachute Regiment, Bengal Engineer Group & Centre, Brigade of the Guards, Kumaon Regiment, Assam Regiment, Mahar Regiment, Gorkha Rifles Regiment and the Corps of Military Police.
The marching contingents of Navy comprising 144 men were led by Lt Commander Manikandan K and the Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat - the first woman ever to lead an IAF contingent at the Parade.
The marching contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces included contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.
The Camel-mounted band of the BSF and the Ex-Servicemen marching contingent will be another major attraction.
Tableaux from 23 states and Central Ministries and Departments will present the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country.
They will also showcase country's progress in different fields.
Nineteen of the 24 children selected for the National Bravery Award – 2009 will also participate in the parade. Five children have got the award posthumously.
The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular flypast by the IAF, with the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft participating in the Parade for the first time. The flypast will be led by a Vic formation of three Mi-35 helicopters, followed by the three Super Hercules again in a Vic formation.
Trailing them will be one IL-78, flanked by two AN-32 and two Dornier, in a Big Boy formation. Next in line will be the fighters, - five Jaguars followed by five MiG-29 will fly in Arrowhead formation.
The breathtaking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI would fly over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais the Su-30MKI aircraft will split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky. The flypast will conclude with another Sukhoi Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais.
The ceremony will culminate with the National Anthem and release of balloons.
President Pratibha Patil addressed the nation on the eve of Republic Day and even made a veiled reference to the Lokpal Debate that raged on during the Winter Session of Parliament.
Security has been tightened across the national capital. A ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place.
Over 25,000 police personnel, including those from paramilitary forces and sharpshooters from the NSG, have been deployed.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the NSG were also on the job at various places while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a close watch along the route.
"There was special emphasis on anti-sabotage checks, access control measures and intelligence coordination. The entire route of the parade was covered by special security and anti-terror arrangements. Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, were also taken to check intrusion of air space," a senior police official said. Besides the air defence measures, helicopters of the Indian Air Force hovered around Rajpath and all along the route of the parade.
As the city witnessed a terror strike only four months ago, the security establishment left no stones unturned to ensure an incident-free celebrations.
No vehicles were allowed to ply on the Rajpath from 6 pm on Wednesday while vehicular movement was restricted on Tilak Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg upto Red Fort from 4 am.
The early morning chill did not deter people along the 8-km-parade route as they gathered on both sides of the majestic Rajpath, the country's ceremonial boulevard facing the Raisina Hills, and cheered the contingents as they went past portraying the diverse culture of the country.
The well-turned out and synchronised military and police formations led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi) Lt Gen VK Pillai marched proudly to the lilting tunes of bands through the Rajpath where President Pratibha Patil, who is the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, took salute.
The impressive march-past was watched by Chief Guest Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister AK Antony, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Marshal of Air Force Arjan Singh and top political and military brass.
Also spotted at Rajpath was UPA Chief Sonia Gandhi.
The highlight of this year's parade will be the 3,000 kms range Agni-IV missile. The Intermediate Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile mounted on a road mobile launcher is being paraded by the Defence Research & Development Organisation.
The state-of-the-art missile was successfully flight tested last November. The DRDO has also put on display for the first time the 150 kms range Prahaar tactical battlefield support missile and the Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army includes the T-72 tank, Carrier Mortar Tracked, SMERCH Multiple Launch Rocket System, Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket System, Full Width Mine Plough, NBC Water Purification Systems and Jammer Station VHF/UHF.
The Army's Mechanized Columns will conclude with a flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv of the Army Aviation Corps.
The Indian Air Force will not make static display of any aircraft but its latest acquisition, the C-130-J Super Hercules tactical aircaft, makes its debut at the Republic Day Parade, with three of the six aircraft acquired from the US participating in the flypast.
The Indian Navy's tableau also glosses over its newly acquired capabilities, instead focusing on its longstanding, reliable capabilities.
The parade is commanded by Lt General Vijay Kumar Pillai, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area is the parade Second-in-Command.
The marching contingents of Army included the horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, Parachute Regiment, Bengal Engineer Group & Centre, Brigade of the Guards, Kumaon Regiment, Assam Regiment, Mahar Regiment, Gorkha Rifles Regiment and the Corps of Military Police.
The marching contingents of Navy comprising 144 men were led by Lt Commander Manikandan K and the Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat - the first woman ever to lead an IAF contingent at the Parade.
The marching contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces included contingents from the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.
The Camel-mounted band of the BSF and the Ex-Servicemen marching contingent will be another major attraction.
Tableaux from 23 states and Central Ministries and Departments will present the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country.
They will also showcase country's progress in different fields.
Nineteen of the 24 children selected for the National Bravery Award – 2009 will also participate in the parade. Five children have got the award posthumously.
The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular flypast by the IAF, with the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft participating in the Parade for the first time. The flypast will be led by a Vic formation of three Mi-35 helicopters, followed by the three Super Hercules again in a Vic formation.
Trailing them will be one IL-78, flanked by two AN-32 and two Dornier, in a Big Boy formation. Next in line will be the fighters, - five Jaguars followed by five MiG-29 will fly in Arrowhead formation.
The breathtaking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI would fly over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais the Su-30MKI aircraft will split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky. The flypast will conclude with another Sukhoi Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais.
The ceremony will culminate with the National Anthem and release of balloons.
President Pratibha Patil addressed the nation on the eve of Republic Day and even made a veiled reference to the Lokpal Debate that raged on during the Winter Session of Parliament.
Security has been tightened across the national capital. A ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place.
Over 25,000 police personnel, including those from paramilitary forces and sharpshooters from the NSG, have been deployed.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the NSG were also on the job at various places while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a close watch along the route.
"There was special emphasis on anti-sabotage checks, access control measures and intelligence coordination. The entire route of the parade was covered by special security and anti-terror arrangements. Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, were also taken to check intrusion of air space," a senior police official said. Besides the air defence measures, helicopters of the Indian Air Force hovered around Rajpath and all along the route of the parade.
As the city witnessed a terror strike only four months ago, the security establishment left no stones unturned to ensure an incident-free celebrations.
No vehicles were allowed to ply on the Rajpath from 6 pm on Wednesday while vehicular movement was restricted on Tilak Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg upto Red Fort from 4 am.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
2013 Budget Proposal by Obama
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama will deliver his 2013 budget proposal on Feb. 13, the White House said on Monday, laying out his spending priorities as he gears up for an election-year campaign that will be dominated by taxes and how to control the US deficit.
Congress is free to ignore Democrat Obama's suggestions, and Republicans, who control the U.S. House of Representatives, are likely to declare it dead on arrival
President Obam
a delivered remarks on modernizing the government for the 21st Century. Keeping a promise he made to come up with a smart reorganization of the government in his last State of the Union speech.
Obama’s Agency Reorganization Finds Skeptics in Congress.
The new proposal helps shield Obama from attacks of being a big government liberal and, if Republicans do not support him, opens up another avenue to paint them as unwilling to cooperate. "Fighting for the middle class is going to be a thematic that runs through all of this year, through State of the Union, through the budget, through everything we do," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said. "Given the President’s record of growing government, we’re interested to learn whether this proposal represents actual relief for American businesses or just the appearance of it," Boehner press secretary Brendan Buck said.
“Today, I am calling on Congress to reinstate the authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the Executive Branch. Congress first granted this authority to presidents in the midst of the Great Depression, so that they could swiftly reorganize the Executive Branch to meet the changing needs of the American people. For the next 52 years, presidents were able to streamline or consolidate the Executive Branch by submitting a proposal to Congress that was guaranteed a simple up or down vote. But in 1984, while Ronald Reagan was President, Congress stopped granting that authority.”
“Today, I’m outlining changes we could make if Congress gives the green light to allow us to modernize and streamline. Right now, there are six departments and agencies focused primarily on business and trade in the federal government – from the Commerce Department to the Small Business Administration to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Six. In this case, six isn’t better than one. It’s redundant and inefficient. With the authority I am requesting today, we could consolidate them all into one department with one website, one phone number and one mission – helping American businesses succeed.”
“With or without Congress, I’m going to keep at it. I’m hopeful it’s with Congress because this is an area where we can receive bipartisan support, because making our government more responsive, strategic and leaner should not be a partisan issue.”
Congress is free to ignore Democrat Obama's suggestions, and Republicans, who control the U.S. House of Representatives, are likely to declare it dead on arrival
President Obam
a delivered remarks on modernizing the government for the 21st Century. Keeping a promise he made to come up with a smart reorganization of the government in his last State of the Union speech.
Obama’s Agency Reorganization Finds Skeptics in Congress.
The new proposal helps shield Obama from attacks of being a big government liberal and, if Republicans do not support him, opens up another avenue to paint them as unwilling to cooperate. "Fighting for the middle class is going to be a thematic that runs through all of this year, through State of the Union, through the budget, through everything we do," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said. "Given the President’s record of growing government, we’re interested to learn whether this proposal represents actual relief for American businesses or just the appearance of it," Boehner press secretary Brendan Buck said.
“Today, I am calling on Congress to reinstate the authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the Executive Branch. Congress first granted this authority to presidents in the midst of the Great Depression, so that they could swiftly reorganize the Executive Branch to meet the changing needs of the American people. For the next 52 years, presidents were able to streamline or consolidate the Executive Branch by submitting a proposal to Congress that was guaranteed a simple up or down vote. But in 1984, while Ronald Reagan was President, Congress stopped granting that authority.”
“Today, I’m outlining changes we could make if Congress gives the green light to allow us to modernize and streamline. Right now, there are six departments and agencies focused primarily on business and trade in the federal government – from the Commerce Department to the Small Business Administration to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Six. In this case, six isn’t better than one. It’s redundant and inefficient. With the authority I am requesting today, we could consolidate them all into one department with one website, one phone number and one mission – helping American businesses succeed.”
“With or without Congress, I’m going to keep at it. I’m hopeful it’s with Congress because this is an area where we can receive bipartisan support, because making our government more responsive, strategic and leaner should not be a partisan issue.”
Obamas-Proposal
President Obam
a delivered remarks on modernizing the government for the 21st Century. Keeping a promise he made to come up with a smart reorganization of the government in his last State of the Union speech.
Obama’s Agency Reorganization Finds Skeptics in Congress.
The new proposal helps shield Obama from attacks of being a big government liberal and, if Republicans do not support him, opens up another avenue to paint them as unwilling to cooperate. "Fighting for the middle class is going to be a thematic that runs through all of this year, through State of the Union, through the budget, through everything we do," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said. "Given the President’s record of growing government, we’re interested to learn whether this proposal represents actual relief for American businesses or just the appearance of it," Boehner press secretary Brendan Buck said.
“Today, I am calling on Congress to reinstate the authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the Executive Branch. Congress first granted this authority to presidents in the midst of the Great Depression, so that they could swiftly reorganize the Executive Branch to meet the changing needs of the American people. For the next 52 years, presidents were able to streamline or consolidate the Executive Branch by submitting a proposal to Congress that was guaranteed a simple up or down vote. But in 1984, while Ronald Reagan was President, Congress stopped granting that authority.”
“Today, I’m outlining changes we could make if Congress gives the green light to allow us to modernize and streamline. Right now, there are six departments and agencies focused primarily on business and trade in the federal government – from the Commerce Department to the Small Business Administration to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Six. In this case, six isn’t better than one. It’s redundant and inefficient. With the authority I am requesting today, we could consolidate them all into one department with one website, one phone number and one mission – helping American businesses succeed.”
“With or without Congress, I’m going to keep at it. I’m hopeful it’s with Congress because this is an area where we can receive bipartisan support, because making our government more responsive, strategic and leaner should not be a partisan issue.”
a delivered remarks on modernizing the government for the 21st Century. Keeping a promise he made to come up with a smart reorganization of the government in his last State of the Union speech.
Obama’s Agency Reorganization Finds Skeptics in Congress.
The new proposal helps shield Obama from attacks of being a big government liberal and, if Republicans do not support him, opens up another avenue to paint them as unwilling to cooperate. "Fighting for the middle class is going to be a thematic that runs through all of this year, through State of the Union, through the budget, through everything we do," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said. "Given the President’s record of growing government, we’re interested to learn whether this proposal represents actual relief for American businesses or just the appearance of it," Boehner press secretary Brendan Buck said.
“Today, I am calling on Congress to reinstate the authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the Executive Branch. Congress first granted this authority to presidents in the midst of the Great Depression, so that they could swiftly reorganize the Executive Branch to meet the changing needs of the American people. For the next 52 years, presidents were able to streamline or consolidate the Executive Branch by submitting a proposal to Congress that was guaranteed a simple up or down vote. But in 1984, while Ronald Reagan was President, Congress stopped granting that authority.”
“Today, I’m outlining changes we could make if Congress gives the green light to allow us to modernize and streamline. Right now, there are six departments and agencies focused primarily on business and trade in the federal government – from the Commerce Department to the Small Business Administration to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Six. In this case, six isn’t better than one. It’s redundant and inefficient. With the authority I am requesting today, we could consolidate them all into one department with one website, one phone number and one mission – helping American businesses succeed.”
“With or without Congress, I’m going to keep at it. I’m hopeful it’s with Congress because this is an area where we can receive bipartisan support, because making our government more responsive, strategic and leaner should not be a partisan issue.”
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
U.S. considers closing embassy in Syria
U.S. considers closing embassy in Syria itors in Syria face many challenges Cracks showi
Monng in Syrian regime
Bloodshed continues in Syria
The U.S. Embassy in Damascus has only a handful of people working with Ambassador Robert Ford. Most of the staff were evacuated earlier in the year, and the diplomatic team was further reduced last week.
In October, the United States pulled Ford after he was attacked by what a U.S. official described as an "armed mob" in Damascus. About 100 pro-government protesters tried to storm a meeting, not in the embassy, between Ford and opposition leader Hassan Abdul Azim, trapping Ford and others for more than an hour. Later, his convoy was attacked.
Ford, who has been outspoken against the Syrian government's use of violence against protesters, is seen by Syrian government supporters as an activist more than a diplomat. He returned to Syria in December.
Heightened concerns about security come in the wake of last month's deadly car bombings at the offices of two Syrian security branches in Damascus.
Authorities in Syria have restricted traffic around government facilities and added barriers -- steps a senior State Department official said the United States and countries with similar concerns asked the government to implement.
"They have taken our concerns seriously and are engaged," the official said. "They have taken some steps, but at this point they are not sufficient to address what we see is a very real threat against the embassy buildings."
Amid the diplomatic wrangling, Syria smoldered Friday as anti-government demonstrators poured into the streets and the Arab League mulled an extension of its monitoring mission.
Protesters focused their attention on political prisoners and demanded the release of detainees. At least 14 people were killed, including six in Idlib, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition activist group.
For more than 10 months, Syria has been in the throes of an anti-government public uprising and a brutal security crackdown against protesters. The United Nations last month estimated well over 5,000 deaths since mid-March. Opposition groups estimate more than 6,000 people have died.
Monng in Syrian regime
Bloodshed continues in Syria
The U.S. Embassy in Damascus has only a handful of people working with Ambassador Robert Ford. Most of the staff were evacuated earlier in the year, and the diplomatic team was further reduced last week.
In October, the United States pulled Ford after he was attacked by what a U.S. official described as an "armed mob" in Damascus. About 100 pro-government protesters tried to storm a meeting, not in the embassy, between Ford and opposition leader Hassan Abdul Azim, trapping Ford and others for more than an hour. Later, his convoy was attacked.
Ford, who has been outspoken against the Syrian government's use of violence against protesters, is seen by Syrian government supporters as an activist more than a diplomat. He returned to Syria in December.
Heightened concerns about security come in the wake of last month's deadly car bombings at the offices of two Syrian security branches in Damascus.
Authorities in Syria have restricted traffic around government facilities and added barriers -- steps a senior State Department official said the United States and countries with similar concerns asked the government to implement.
"They have taken our concerns seriously and are engaged," the official said. "They have taken some steps, but at this point they are not sufficient to address what we see is a very real threat against the embassy buildings."
Amid the diplomatic wrangling, Syria smoldered Friday as anti-government demonstrators poured into the streets and the Arab League mulled an extension of its monitoring mission.
Protesters focused their attention on political prisoners and demanded the release of detainees. At least 14 people were killed, including six in Idlib, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition activist group.
For more than 10 months, Syria has been in the throes of an anti-government public uprising and a brutal security crackdown against protesters. The United Nations last month estimated well over 5,000 deaths since mid-March. Opposition groups estimate more than 6,000 people have died.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
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Interesting Facts around the World.
Something that is new and fun to know.
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