What We’re Reading Now
Aug 04, 2011
IRAN
The march toward nuclear Iran
Ray Takeyh, Washington Post- August 3, 2011
The thinking has been that time is on our side and that Iran’s weak scientific foundation can be further derailed through such pressure. Contrary to such presumptions, however, Iran’s scientific infrastructure has grown in sophistication and capability in the past two decades.
Iran claims progress speeding nuclear program
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal- August 3, 2011
Moves by Iran to deploy more-advanced centrifuge machines for the production of nuclear fuel are raising new concerns that Tehran could significantly shorten the time it would need to produce nuclear bombs.
DEFENSE SPENDING
Pentagon sounds alarm on threat of budget cuts
Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times- August 3, 2011
The Pentagon pushed back aggressively on Wednesday against what senior officials warned was the prospect of $1 trillion in military budget cuts and thousands of layoffs, furloughs and reductions in military programs over the next decade.
Why defense spending should be cut
Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post- August 3, 2011
The scary aspect of the debt deal meant to force all of Washington to its senses is the threatened cut to defense spending.
What We’re Reading Now
Aug 03, 2011
PAKISTAN
Pakistan, Afghanistan, U.S. hold meeting on Afghan peace process
Muhammad Tahir, Xinhua- August 3, 2011
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Javid Ludin said Tuesday that Pakistan can offer help in engaging the Taliban leadership with a view to bringing them over to the peace process.
The political will for peace in Kashmir
Marie Lall, Al Jazeera- August 2, 2011
The main obstacle to peace between India and Pakistan is a passive acceptance of the status quo.
IRAN
Iran centrifuge news increases risk
Cliff Kupchan, Foreign Policy- August 2, 2011
News that Tehran is reportedly planning to deploy faster centrifuges at a hardened site and intends to triple production of highly enriched uranium increases somewhat the risk of Israeli strikes, if Iran can follow through.
Lee-Jones letter on troops in Iraq
Jul 25, 2011
Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) are asking their colleagues to sign a letter to the President urging all troops to leave by the end of the year.
They write, “Leaving troops and military contractors in Iraq beyond the deadline is not in our nation’s security interests, it is not in our nation’s strategic interests, and it is not in our nation’s economic interests.”
The full letter follows:
KEEP TO THE CURRENT DEADLINE
Bring all U.S. Troops and Military Contractors in Iraq Home by Dec. 31, 2011!
What is the matter with Leon Panetta?
Jul 12, 2011
Leon Panetta has long been known as a careful and experienced hand in Washington, D.C.
He has held many responsible posts, including CIA Director, White House Chief of Staff, Office of Management and Budget Director, respected Member of Congress.
So it is with some amazement and bafflement that one views several Panetta pronouncements since becoming Secretary of Defense less than two weeks ago
In his visit to Iraq this week, he echoed the claims of the George W. Bush Administration that the U.S. went to war in Iraq as part of the war against al-Qaeda – a claim long debunked by reputable observers.
He told U.S. troops there: “The reason you guys are here is because on 9/11 the United States got attacked.”
Official Discomfort with Afghanistan War?
Mar 01, 2011
While key Administration officials continue to vigorously support the war in Afghanistan, there appears to be a less-than-enthusiastic larger view about the war.
Take Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. In his recent speech at West Point, he pointed out:
“In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as General MacArthur so delicately put it.”
That does not sound like a high level official who thinks that the United States military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq were bang up good ideas. Gates is not advocating getting out; he just does not think getting in was smart.
This skepticism was amplified at a February 17, 2011 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. There, Admiral Michael Mullen (USN), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not make the situation in Afghanistan sound exactly rosy.
Continuing Resolution in the House: Echoes of Lord of the Flies
Feb 19, 2011
House consideration of the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution echoed the famous novel Lord of the Flies authored by William Golding. The book is about a group of British schoolboys stranded on a deserted island without adult supervision who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results.
Around 4:30 AM Saturday morning, the House concluded its marathon, free-wheeling four days of consideration of the Continuing Resolution. The bill passed on an almost party-line vote of 235 – 189, with all Democrats voting against and all but three Republicans voting for.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) gave almost free rein to his flock to offer any amendments on a bill funding the federal government. Republicans then used the measure to target as many New Deal, Great Society and Obama Administration policies as they could. The only reason they could not move against Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid is that these entitlement programs are not funded in the bill.
The major focus in the bill and amendments was on federal government programs in the health, environment, regulatory reform areas and more – with special crosshairs on defunding implementation of the health care reform bill adopted last year.
There was a long debate on an amendment eventually adopted to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The Environmental Protection Agency would be prohibited from regulating greenhouse gases. the Federal Communications Commission would be barred from initiating net neutrality regulations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) would be blocked from fighting gun trafficking to Mexico.
Feb. 18 update: Defense/Nuclear/Foreign Policy Amendments to Continuing Resolution in the House
Feb 18, 2011
Last evening, the House had an “early” night, finishing at 1:10 AM, two hours earlier than the previous evening. It resumes meeting at 9:00 AM today. First votes are not likely before 11:00 AM (perhaps some Members wanted to sleep in this morning?).
Much of the debate last evening was consumed by Republicans going after pet targets such as Planned Parenthood and Environmental Protection Agency efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
The House hopes to complete action today, but there are about 130 many amendments that could be offered. Under a unanimous consent agreement, each amendment can be debated for no more than 10 minutes – with a few exceptions.
Yesterday, amendments to cut funding for the United States Institute for Peace and the East-West Center were successful, while a Woolsey (D-CA) amendment to kill the V-22 and the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle went down in flames, 91 – 339 (see below).
In the frenzy of cutting, somewhat surprisingly, a Heller amendment to cut several multilateral assistance accounts by $211 million, including cutting International Organizations and Programs by $45 million, was defeated 190 – 241. Almost all Democrats plus 59 Republicans opposed the amendment.
Among amendments pending for votes today are three national security-related amendments offered yesterday: an Afghanistan war defunding amendment, a second one barring Pentagon sponsorship of NASCAR race cars and a third blocking aid to Chad.
Feb. 17 update - Defense/Nuclear/Foreign Policy Amendments to Continuing Resolution in the House
Feb 17, 2011
Defense/Nuclear/Foreign Policy Amendments
to Continuing Resolution in the House
The End of the Line
Today was scheduled to be the last day of House consideration of the Fiscal Year Continuing Resolution. Last evening, the House continued its frenetic action, considering the bill until 3:43 AM (no, while I am a congressional wonk, I am not a fanatic and turned in long before then) and resumes session at 9:00 AM today, with first votes as early as 9:45 AM.
However, the House is not expected to complete action by its self-imposed deadline of 3:00 PM today. Instead, it may go late into the evening, or even Friday.
Now that the House has completed reading of the bill, there are many amendments still to be offered “at the end of the bill.”
Debate was completed on 13 amendments for which recorded votes were demanded. These votes will probably be held this morning. Three amendments listed under “Amendments debated but not voted on” appear to be national security-related.
Feb. 16 update - Defense/Nuclear/Foreign Policy Amendments to Continuing Resolution in the House
Feb 16, 2011
The House voted down five national security-related amendments yesterday, four by recorded vote, and debated three more amendments that will be voted upon at some point today.
The House completed action at 1:13 AM (no, I was not watching) and resumes session at 10 AM today with debate on the Continuing Resolution to begin at Noon.
There are now a total of 583 amendments submitted. However, yesterday the debate on amendments proceeded to p.263 of the bill, meaning that the Pentagon and Department of Energy sections have been completed (amendments before that point are no longer eligible to be offered). A number of amendments were submitted yesterday that appear to be ineligible for consideration because they refer to pages of the bill already passed.
Defense/Nuclear/Foreign Policy Amendments to Continuing Resolution in the House
Feb 15, 2011
Something for spending and policy wonks: first list of national security amendments to Continuing Resolution on the House floor between February 15-17, 2011.
There are amendments on such diverse topics as defense, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, United Nations, Russia, missile defense, Yucca Mountain, weapons programs and military bands.
The list follows:
Offered By: Mr. Cravaack (cuts all funds for U.S. Institute for Peace)
AMENDMENT NO. 1: Page 321, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $42,676,000)''.
Page 359, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $42,676,000)''.
Offered By: Mr. Rooney (Cutting second F-35 engine amendment)
AMENDMENT NO. 2: Page 33, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $225,000,000)''.
Page 34, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $225,000,000)''.
Page 359, line 6, after the dollar amount
