Iran Blocks U.N. Nuclear Inspectors: What We're Reading Now
Feb 03, 2012
IRAN
Iran Blocks U.N. Nuclear Inspectors
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal - February 3, 2012
Iran denied United Nations inspectors access to a suspected nuclear site, scientists and documents during a visit to Tehran this week, dimming already scant hopes for a breakthrough to end a standoff over Iran's nuclear work, said diplomats briefed on the International Atomic Energy Agency's mission.
Panetta believes Israel could strike Iran this spring
Barbara Starr, CNN (Blog) - February 2, 2012
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has come to the conclusion there is a growing likelihood Israel could attack Iran sometime this spring in an effort to destroy its suspected nuclear weapons program, according to a senior administration official.
Senate Panel Approves Potentially Toughest Penalty Yet Against Iran’s Wallet
Rick Gladstone, New York Times - February 2, 2012
The Senate Banking Committee unanimously approved a new regimen of anti-Iran sanctions on Thursday that would for the first time threaten to punish the global financial telecommunications network that nearly all banks rely on to conduct their daily business.
West making case to Israel: Don't attack Iran
Anne Gearan, Associated Press - February 2, 2012
Israel's major allies in the West are working hard to talk it out of a unilateral military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, arguing forcefully that an attack ultimately would strengthen, not weaken, the regime in Tehran.
Romney on Afghanistan: which Mitt(en) do we listen to? The left one or the right one?
Feb 02, 2012
Romney in June:
"It's time for us to bring our troops home as soon as we possibly can," Mitt Romney said during Monday's presidential debate. "Only the Afghanis can win Afghanistan's independence from the Taliban," he said.
[From: POLITICO Breaking News <breakingnews@politico.com>; Date: June 13, 2011 9:48:45 PM EDT; POLITICO Breaking News
=======
Romney in February:
Mitt Romney offered harsh criticism of a plan outlined by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to possibly withdraw U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan in 2013, calling the administration’s decision to announce its military plans to the world “misguided” and “naive.”
Israeli Army Chief Says Nation Needs to Build Up Military to Strike Iran: What We're Reading Now
Feb 02, 2012
IRAN
Israeli Army Chief Says Nation Needs to Build Up Military to Strike Iran
Jonathan Ferziger and David Lerman, Bloomberg - February 1, 2012
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz said his country must build up its military capabilities and be prepared to strike if economic sanctions fail to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
US Navy comes to rescue of Iranian fishing dhow
Associated Foreign Press - February 1, 2012
The US Navy has announced that it assisted an Iranian fishing vessel in distress in the Gulf, the fourth such incident this year in an area marked by tension between Washington and Tehran.
U.N. Nuclear Monitor Agency Announces Second Visit to Iran
Rick Gladstone, New York Times - February 1, 2012
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Wednesday that its inspectors, who had just completed a three-day visit to Iran, would return there in three weeks.
A Third Option for Iran
Richard Haass and Bernard Gwertzman, Council on Foreign Relations - February 1, 2012
Living with a nuclear-armed Iran or launching a preventive military attack both carry great costs and risks, making it essential to pursue a combination of enhanced sanctions and renewed diplomacy, says CFR President Richard N. Haass.
U.S. Shifts Policy On Nuclear Pacts: What We're Reading Now
Jan 25, 2012
IRAN
Sanctions Against Iran Grow Tighter, but What’s the Next Step?
Helene Cooper, New York Times - January 24, 2012
As the Obama administration and its European allies toughened economic sanctions against Iran on Monday — blocking its access to the world financial system and undermining its critical oil and gas industry — officials on both sides of the Atlantic acknowledge that their last-ditch effort has only a limited chance of persuading Tehran to abandon what the West fears is its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iran says sanctions to fail, repeats Hormuz threat
Mitra Amiri, Reuters - January 25, 2012
Iranian politicians said on Tuesday they expected the European Union to backtrack on its oil embargo and repeated a threat to close the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane if the West succeeds in preventing Tehran from exporting crude.
KOREAN PENINSULA
U.S. still taking cautious approach to North Korea aid
John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times - January 24, 2012
In mid-December, U.S. negotiators came the closest they'd come in two years to resuming humanitarian food aid for millions of undernourished North Koreans.
UNITED STATES
U.S. Shifts Policy on Nuclear Pacts
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal - January 25, 2012
The Obama administration, in advanced negotiations on nuclear-cooperation agreements with Jordan and Vietnam, has withdrawn a demand that these countries forgo their rights to produce nuclear fuel, senior U.S. officials said.
Anatomy of a Surprise Win: Senate Urges Accelerated Troops Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Dec 08, 2011
On November 30, 2011, Sen Jeff Merkley (D-OR) stood on the Senate floor to speak on behalf of an amendment he and other Senators had offered to require the President to develop a plan for an expedited withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
After his speech, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) bitingly criticized the amendment as “another accelerated plan [that] would obviously have the result of even greater risk to the men and women in the military.”
A few moments after railing against the provision, McCain called for a voice vote, and it was approved. It was a stunning and unexpected victory for critics of the war in Afghanistan.
Five months earlier, 27 Senators signed a letter circulated by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) urging President Obama to order a “sizable and sustained” withdrawal of troops.
The effort demonstrated that a significant bloc of Senators wanted to see the American military effort in Afghanistan wind down.
Last picture show: Senate finishes Defense Authorization
Dec 02, 2011
Yesterday, the Senate voted 93-7 to approve the bill. Senate and House conferees will meet this month in conference to reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill.
The seven “no” votes were cast by three Republicans, three Democrats and one independent: Coburn (R-OK), Paul (R-KY), Lee (R-UT), Harkin (D-IA), Merkley (D-OR), Wyden (D-OR) and Sanders (I-VT).
The bill contains $527 billion for the basic Pentagon budget, $117 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $18 billion for Department of Energy, for a total of about $662 billion. The total authorization is $27 billion less than the President’s request and $43 billion less than enacted in Fiscal Year 2011.
By unanimous consent, the Senate adopted a package of 11 “non-controversial” amendments. It also adopted other amendments by voice vote. The Senate rejected two amendments offered by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) to alter the controversial provisions on detainees in the bill, but later approved a compromise amendment offered by Sen. Feinstein by vote of 99-1 that would leave it to the Supreme Court to make the final decision on the constitutionality of holding American citizens in military custody. It is unclear if this compromise language will be enough to prevent the White House from vetoing the final version of the bill.
Senate votes for Merkley amendment on accelerated withdrawal from Afghanistan
Nov 30, 2011
Council for a Livable World Welcomes Senate Vote In Favor of An Accelerated Withdrawal of U.S.Troops from Afghanistan
Washington, D.C. .. Council for a Livable World applauded the Senate vote today in favor of the Merkley amendment asking the President to accelerate the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
The Senate approved the amendment by a voice vote in a surprising rebuke to those who want to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely – including Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
Clearly Senator McCain, who opposed the amendment, did not call for a roll call vote because he was not sure he could win.
John Isaacs, Executive Director of Council for a Livable World, said: “There is a rising tide in United States Senate and around the country to end U.S. combat in Afghanistan.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley offers successful out-of-Afghanistan amendment
Nov 29, 2011
The following Senators signed onto at least one version of the amendment as of Nov. 30
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
------------------------------
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (D-VT)
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
When Sen. Merkley offered the amendment on November 30, he moved new language, amendment No. 1257, as follows:
On page 484, strike line 22 through 24 and insert the following:
(c) TRANSITION PLAN.—The President shall devise a plan based on inputs from military commanders, NATO and Coalition allies, the diplomatic missions in the region, and appropriate members of the Cabinet, along with the consultation of Congress, for expediting the drawdown of United States combat troops in Afghanistan and accelerating the transfer of security authority to Afghan authorities.
(d) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—The President shall include the most current set of benchmarks established pursuant to subsection (b) and the plan pursuant to subsection (c) with each report on progress
Russia Prepares to ‘Destroy’ U.S. Shield, Medvedev Says: What We're Reading Now
Nov 23, 2011
IRAN
Half of US voters say bomb Iran if sanctions fail
AFP - November 23, 2011
Fifty percent of Americans believe military action should be taken to stop Iran's nuclear program if sanctions do not work, a national poll released on Wednesday said.
Obama Aide Says Iran’s Leaders Are Feeling the Strain of Sanctions
Mark Landler, NYT - November 22, 2011
A day after the United States imposed fresh sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, President Obama’s national security adviser argued Tuesday that the administration’s pressure campaign had left Iran’s leaders economically strained, diplomatically isolated and rent by internal divisions.
Defiant Iran eyes retaliation for sanctions
Marc Burleigh, AFP - November 23, 2011
A defiant Iran said on Wednesday that it will not back down despite newly announced Western sanctions over its atomic drive, as it took the first steps to hit back at the measures. "The Iranian nation will not back down an iota, and will not allow the slightest move to encroach on the nation's rights" in terms of its nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech aired on state television.
AFGHANISTAN
World Bank says Afghanistan will need billions of dollars in aid for years to come
AP (Washington Post) - November 23, 2011
Afghanistan could face economic collapse if international assistance is abruptly cut as foreign combat forces are withdrawn, the World Bank warned, stressing that the war-ravaged nation will need billions of dollars in aid for a decade or more.
Key Amendments in the Senate to the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization Bill
Nov 21, 2011
Note: Over 275 amendments have been submitted to the bill, only a very few of which were considered before the Senate recessed for the Thanksgiving holiday. When the Senate returns on November 28, it will resume consideration of the bill.
This list is divided into:
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
DEFENSE ISSUES
FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
OTHER AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENTS ALREADY CONSIDERED
Amendments pending or submitted
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Iran sanctions: Kirk (R-IL), Manchin (D-WV), Blunt (R-MO), Tester (D-MT) and others amendment No. 1084 to require the President to impose sanctions on foreign institutions that conduct transactions with Iran’s central bank. Menendez (D-NJ) amendment No. 1292 is similar.
Nuclear weapons triad: Sessions (R-AL) amendment No. 1183 to require the maintenance of all three legs of the nuclear weapons triad, those on land, at sea and in the air. Hoeven (R-ND) , Tester (D-MT), Blunt (R-MO, Enzi (R-WY) and Vitter (R-LA) have a similar amendment No. 1279 supporting the triad and endorsing all three legs of the triad.
