Clipmarks | masbury's 'foreign policy' clips

Gen Wesley Clark: McCain hasn't shown "sound judgment"

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:26:40 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Especially in foreign policy: "has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America"

Clip Source: www.motherjones.com

I have made comments in the past about John McCain's service and I want to reiterate them in order be crystal clear. As I have said before I honor John McCain's service as a prisoner of war and a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war.

John McCain is running his campaign on his experience

That experience shows courage and commitment to our country — but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions. And in this area his judgment has been flawed — he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America. But as an American and former military officer I will not back down if I believe someone doesn't have sound judgment when it comes to our nation's most critical issues.

Tags: mccain, clark, politics

N Korea dynamites plutonium enrichment facility

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:51:38 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: For years, USA refused talks. Then negotiations broke out, and look what happened. One wonders if Mr. Bush calls this "appeasement."

Clip Source: talkingpointsmemo.com

Kaboom!

Dynamiting a big part of the crown jewel of their plutonium enrichment program is a pretty convincing demonstration of the North Koreans' seriousness about getting out of the nuclear business.

Tags: foreign policy

US Govt to McCain: Campaign Mgr undermining national interests

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:38:02 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: NY Times: McCain warned by National Security Council about campaign manager Rick Davis' lobbying firm undermining US policy in Ukraine

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

McCain Lobbyist Scandal Continues: Government Warned Senator That Campaign Manager Was Undermining National Interests

The lobbying firm of McCain campaign manager Rick Davis acted in direct opposition to American foreign interests, which prompted a warning to McCain's Senate office from the United States government, according to a recent New York Times article.

Mr. McCain may have first become aware of Davis Manafort's activities in Ukraine as far back as 2005. At that time, a staff member at the National Security Council called Mr. McCain's Senate office to complain that Mr. Davis's lobbying firm was undercutting American foreign policy in Ukraine, said a person with direct knowledge of the phone call who spoke on condition of anonymity.

This isn't the only time when Davis' business interests have appeared counter to those of the United States: Davis' Ukranian contacts shared several business ties with Iran.

Tags: politics, mccain

Should US Presidents talk to enemies?

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 05:16:15 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: McCain and Obama disagree; see last paragraph for a specific instance from history

Clip Source: rawstory.com

"The reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous," Senator Obama said.

This has drawn criticism from Republican opponent John McCain, who has said Obama's willingness to speak with the leaders of Iran and other US foes shows his "inexperience and reckless judgment", Talking Points Memo reported.

Talking Points Memo also reported Obama's response to McCain's criticisms.

"Here's the truth: the Soviet Union had thousands of nuclear weapons, and Iran doesn't have a single one. But when the world was on the brink of nuclear holocaust, Kennedy talked to Khrushchev and he got those missiles out of Cuba. Why shouldn't we have the same courage and the confidence to talk to our enemies? That's what strong countries do, that's what strong presidents do, that's what I'll do when I'm president of the United States of America."

Tags: mccain, obama, foreign policy

Obama instructs DNC: No lobbyist money

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:12:43 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Fed govt lobbyist money banned from DNC fundraising; freedom from influence of Washington insiders sought

Clip Source: www.rawstory.com

DNC bans lobbyist money

DNC will no longer take lobbyist, PAC money consistent with Obama's position

In his first order of business as his party's presumed presidential nominee, Barack Obama is instructing the Democratic National Committee to adopt his policy against accepting donations from federal lobbyists or political action committees.

The change will make the party and the candidate have a consistent position. Obama often says banning the donations is one way to help keep him free of the influence of Washington insiders.

McCain's senior advisers are former lobbyists, including campaign manager Rick Davis, and McCain was stung last month by the disclosure that two advisers worked for a firm that had represented Myanmar's military junta, which has restricted foreign assistance for cyclone victims.

Tags: obama, elections

Germany's First Neo-Con Conference Pushes for War on Iran

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:42:48 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Likening Iran to Nazi Germany, they debate whether strikes on Iran should be nuclear or conventional

Clip Source: www.payvand.com

Germany's First Neo-Con Conference Pushes for War on Iran

"Bash these Islam-Nazis, put them in jail and kill them: That is anti-fascism!"

Anti-War Intellectuals as "Purchased Vassals" of the "Iranian Theocracy"?

Israel To Carry Out a Preventive Strike Against Iran

Following the so-called Begin Doctrine – named after a former Israeli Prime Minister and used as basis for the 1981 bombardment of the Iraqi nuclear plant »Osiraq« – his country would act preventively within one or two years from now: "I believe Israel will have to do it," Melman concluded. Not sharing Morris' suggestion of a nuclear attack on Iran, he stressed that conventional tools might be sufficient.

continued stressing that it was not the Iranian nuclear program that posed problem, but the very existence of the regime.

the "two fascisms" – Nazi-Germany and Iran – were the same and also equally dangerous

"bash these Islam-Nazis, put them in jail, and kill them" – a statement which was accompanied by large applause

Tags: iran, foreign policy

World cheers Obama as nominee

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:17:31 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "Difference in tone" from Bush years welcome

Clip Source: www.rawstory.com

In Kenya, home to Obama's family on his father's side, the Kenya Times newspaper devoted its front page to the story, under the headline "Obama makes history."

Mexico City, hairdresser Susan Mendoza's eyes lit up

"Bush was for the elite. Obama is of the people," she said.

many Germans "find (Obama's) mixture of Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy very attractive."

The Times of London

Obama's campaign "has rekindled America's faith in its prodigious powers of reinvention — and the world's admiration for America."

France's Le Monde said

demonstrated that American democracy is not doomed to being confiscated by a narrow political class, financed by lobbies and piloted by communication experts."

A Chinese scholar said that while he did not expect major changes in U.S. foreign policy, an Obama White House would have a very different tone from a Bush one.

Many Asians welcomed the selection of a candidate perceived as more aware of the world outside U.S. borders than Bush

Tags: obama, elections, politics

McCain co-chair lobbies against mortgage help, anti-terror bank regs

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:08:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "a profound contradiction at the heart of the Republican coalition... chest-beating, self-righteous moralists about foreign policy
[yet] a party whose agenda is run by global conglomerates that pursue dollar and profit with no regard for any kind of sense of morality. ... "

Clip Source: rawstory.com

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann revealed that the co-chair of Senator John McCain's presidential campaign,

Phil Gramm, had been lobbying for a Swiss bank this spring to head off relief for victims of the mortgage crisis

that the former Republican senator from Texas "made it easier for bin Laden. ... In the Senate he blocked legislation that would have enabled the Bush administration to force foreign banks into cooperating on anti-terror measures before and after 9/11."

"Gramm's bank is under investigation for alleged use of overseas tax havens to hide assets of the wealthy from US authorities,"

What this reveals is really a profound contradiction at the heart of the Republican coalition

It's home to the most sort of chest-beating, self-righteous moralists about foreign policy

At the same time, it's a party whose agenda is run by global conglomerates that pursue dollar and profit with no regard for any kind of sense of morality. ... It blows apart this entire moralistic rationale

available here

Tags: gramm, mccain, politics

Gen. Sanchez: Bush guilty of "Dereliction of Duty"

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:03:50 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "I watched helplessly as the Bush administration led America into a strategic blunder of historic proportions."

Clip Source: www.crooksandliars.com

Gen. Ricardo Sanchez: Bush Guilty of “Gross Incompetence and Dereliction of Duty”

Clip Source: www.crooksandliars.com

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I watched helplessly as the Bush administration led America into a strategic blunder of historic proportions. It became painfully obvious that the executive branch of our government did not trust its military. It relied instead on a neoconservative ideology developed by men and women with little, if any, military experience. Some senior military leaders did not challenge civilian decision makers at the appropriate times, and the courageous few who did take a stand were subsequently forced out of the service.

Tags: sanchez, foreign policy, iraq

Gen. McPeak drops hammer on McCain foreign policy

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:40:40 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Ön Iraq: "his idea that all we have to do is execute better and this will turn into a big victory for us is wrong"; on not talking to Cuba and Iran: "This whole idea that diplomacy is attending cocktail parties with your best friends, that's kind of dumb."

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Retired Air Force General Tony McPeak, a national security adviser to Barack Obama, dropped the hammer on Sen. John McCain today, telling the Washington Times, "It doesn't take very long to uncover national security issues that McCain is weak on...For McCain to think he has a monopoly on virtue in the national security issue is going to be shown a pretty flimsy idea very quickly."

McPeak added, "[McCain] supported the intervention to begin with. Then of course he attacked the execution and he was justified in doing so. But the idea that this was a good concept, poorly executed, won't stand the test of examination.

the concept itself was fatally flawed. So he was wrong there. And his idea that all we have to do is execute better and this will turn into a big victory for us is wrong

that the United States should not enter into talks with nations such as Cuba and Iran

"This whole idea that diplomacy is attending cocktail parties with your best friends, that's kind of dumb.

Tags: mcpeak, foreign policy, mccain, obama, politics

Israel announces new expansion into West Bank

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:10:03 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Despite US and UN pleas to stop

Clip Source: www.rawstory.com

Israel to build new homes in occupied West Bank

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel announced plans on Sunday to build hundreds of new homes in an area of the occupied West Bank the Israeli government considers part of Jerusalem, despite U.S. and Palestinian calls to halt settlement expansion.

The 2003 peace "road map," reaffirmed by Israeli and Palestinian leaders at a conference hosted by Bush in November, requires a halt to all settlement activity on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

Housing Minister Zeev Boim instructed his office to publish a tender to build an additional 763 housing units in Pisgat Zeev and 121 housing units at Har Homa, an area Palestinians refer to as Jabal Abu Ghneim.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Olmert's government "talks about peace while at the same time works on undermining the basis of peace by increasing settlement activity in Jerusalem and around it."

Tags: israel, palestine, foreign policy

Poll: Repubs prefer Dem policies (unless tipped off)

Sat, 31 May 2008 22:53:24 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Tell them they're Dem policies, and they march away. One more time, the Red/Blue divide rings hollow.

Clip Source: trueconservative.typepad.com

There's a pretty stunning new NPR poll out (PDF) (conducted by one Republican and one Democrat) showing that Pubs actually prefer Democratic policies by wide margins.

But what's amazing is how brainwashed Pubs are by party affiliation, compared to Dems. If their beliefs aren't validated by Herr Comrade Party Leader, they change their beliefs.

Here's the difference in support for each party's position when the respondents were told that it was their party's position. (Sorry for the table formatting...it's lined up in the editor...)

                     Pubs     Dems
Economy         +20%     -9%
Iraq                 +11         -4
Foreign Trade   +20       -18

Taxes +28 -9

Example: Only 38% of Republicans support Republican tax policies.

Tell them it's the "Republican" policy position? All of a sudden 66% support it. Whodathunkit.

even Republicans don't like Republican policies. They prefer Democrats' policies—except when they're told that the policies they approve of are Democratic policies.

Tags: republicans, democrats, politics, news

Cheney's Halliburton Stock Options Rise 3,000%

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:13:41 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Dick Cheney's fortune: your tax dollars at work. A perfect example of a very wealthy man who's found a way not to "make" money, but to forcibly redistribute wealth from poorer people to himself.

Clip Source: www.projectcensored.org

24. Cheney’s Halliburton Stock Rose Over 3000 Percent Last Year

in Top 25 Censored Stories for 2007

Vice President Dick Cheney’s stock options in Halliburton rose from $241,498 in 2004 to over $8 million in 2005, an increase of more than 3,000 percent, as Halliburton continues to rake in billions of dollars from no-bid/no-audit government contracts.

An analysis released by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) reveals that as Halliburton’s fortunes rise, so do the Vice President’s. Halliburton has already taken more than $10 billion from the Bush-Cheney administration for work in Iraq. They were also awarded many of the unaccountable post-Katrina government contracts, as off-shore subsidiaries of Halliburton quietly worked around U.S. sanctions to conduct very questionable business with Iran (See Story #2). “It is unseemly,” notes Lautenberg, “for the Vice President to continue to benefit from this company at the same time his administration funnels billions of dollars to it.”

Tags: cheney, iraq, foreign policy

Cheney was source for Iran's nuclear capabilities

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:07:35 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Halliburton under Cheney, illegally sold nuclear equipment, while Cheney argued for eliminating sanctions that made the secret sale illegal.

Clip Source: www.projectcensored.org

Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran

in Top 25 Censored Stories for 2007

According to journalist Jason Leopold, sources at former Cheney company Halliburton allege that, as recently as January of 2005, Halliburton sold key components for a nuclear reactor to an Iranian oil development company.

Halliburton has a long history of doing business in Iran, starting as early as 1995, while Vice President Cheney was chief executive of the company.

During a trip to the Middle East in March 1996, Vice President Dick Cheney told a group of mostly U.S. businessmen that Congress should ease sanctions in Iran and Libya to foster better relationships,

Cheney was the chief executive of Halliburton Corporation at the time

It was Cheney who directed Halliburton toward aggressive business dealings with Iran—in violation of U.S. law—in the mid-1990s, which continued through 2005 and is the reason Iran has the capability to enrich weapons-grade uranium.

Tags: iran, cheney, foreign policy

Jimmy Carter: Make peace with Iran

Wed, 28 May 2008 04:55:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Bush has not seriously tried; his policy a "serious mistake and terrible departure" from the actions of previous US presidents (not to engage with countries with which they differed.) "The president of the administration in Washington is the first one to have ever done this"

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jimmy Carter calls for US to make friends with Iran after 27 years

"What happens if, in three years time, Iran has a nuclear weapon," Mr Carter asked. "I'm not sure that is going to happen, but if it does, what do we do? They are rational people like all of us in this room. Do they want to commit suicide? I would guess not. So what we have to do is talk with them now and say to them we want to be their friends.

Twenty-five years ago we cut off trading with Iran. We've got to resume trading to show Iran we are friends."

Mr Carter also criticised President George Bush, saying it was a "serious mistake and terrible departure" from the actions of previous US presidents not to engage with countries with which they differed. "The president of the administration in Washington is the first one to have ever done this and I think we close off ourselves from any sort of rational accommodation of the views of other parties in order to reach out on major goals,"

Tags: carter, foreign policy, iran