President Speaking to Nation Tonight about Afghanistan War December 1, 2009 2:28 PM
In a speech scheduled for 8pm tonight, President Obama will outline his plans for the war in Afghanistan, including sending an additional 30,000 tropps to the conflict. The New York Times is reporting that "In bringing the total American force to nearly 100,000 troops by the end of May, the administration will move far faster than it had originally planned. Until recently, discussions focused on a deployment that would take a year, but Mr. Obama concluded that the situation required "more, sooner," as one official said, explaining some of the central conclusions Mr. Obama reached at the end of a nearly three-month review of American war strategy." According to the Washington Times, "A senior administration official tells the AP that President Barack Obama will tell the American people Tuesday night that U.S. troops will start leaving Afghanistan 'well before' the end of his first term."
Share you thoughts on the President's plan and the War in our Forums.
-- Association of Young Americans
Foreign policy, Military, Terrorism | Comments (0)
Taliban in Afghanistan November 20, 2008 4:23 PM
The Taliban is growing in strength, particularly in southern Afghanistan where it has set up some institutions of government. "Senior American military officials said the Taliban run roughly two dozen law courts in southern Afghanistan, one of the armed Islamist group's main strongholds. Drawing on a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law, the courts work to resolve conflicts over property, grazing rights and inheritances, the officials said. The Taliban have also appointed unofficial governors and mayors to exercise day-to-day control over remote areas, amounting to a parallel government independent of Kabul, according to the U.S. officials," reports the Wall Street Journal. "The Taliban shadow governments now handle everything from land disputes to divorces, the officers said. In the south, Taliban militants are extorting money -- which they describe as a tax -- from truckers and other merchants who ferry products across provincial boundaries, according to U.S. officials."
Share your ideas in the Forums on the war in Afghanistan and your thoughts on what U.S. policy should be in the next few years.
-- Association of Young Americans
Foreign policy, Terrorism | Comments (0)
Oil Tanker Hijacked November 18, 2008 8:20 AM
It sounds like a plot line for a new James Bond movie - Pirates hijack a Saudi Arabian oil tanker at sea. AOL News reports that a "brand-new MV Sirius Star, with a crew of 25, was seized far off the coast of Kenya on Saturday and the bandits were taking the ship to a Somali port known as a hub of pirate activity." Piracy orginating from Somalia have been a growing problem. "A NATO flotilla of seven ships destroyers from the U.S. and Italy, frigates from Germany, Greece, Turkey and Britain and a Russian missile frigate are already fighting piracy around Somalia. NATO, however, says its priority is escorting World Food Program ships that deliver basic rations for 3 million hungry Somalis," reports Yahoo News.
Share news that you find of interest in our Forums.
-- Association of Young Americans
Energy, Foreign policy, Terrorism | Comments (0)
Pakistan Coalition Gov't Breaks August 25, 2008 12:55 PM
Following the resignation of President Musharrah last week, come reports today that the breakup of the coalition government. "The breakdown of the fragile 5-month-old civilian government clears the way for the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to tighten its hold on the government; the West hopes it will make good on pledges to combat terrorism. Nawaz Sharif, another former premier, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the coalition because it failed to restore judges fired by Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement for the ousted president," reports Yahoo News. This latest development comes amid continued internal violence. Learn more in the Yahoo article above and on the BBC. Share your questions and concerns in the Association of Young Americans Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Fighting continues as EU tries to broker Ceasefire August 11, 2008 8:34 AM
Russia and Georgia continue fighting, while a delegation of European Union officials have been attempting to negotiate a cease-fire. The BBC reports that "Georgia said dozens of Russian bombers attacked targets inside its territory, including around Tbilisi and Gori. Russia said Georgian attacks on the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali killed three of its troops. Georgia's president backed a draft EU ceasefire proposal for a ceasefire, but Moscow reportedly rejected the plan." Russian Prime Minister (and former President) Putin criticized "the United States for airlifting Georgian troops from Iraq. Putin said Monday that the U.S. move will hamper efforts to solve Russia's conflict with Georgia over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. The U.S. military has begun flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq after Georgia recalled them," reported Yahoo News.
What do you think of the situation between Russia and Georgia? Do you think the US was right to return the Georgian troops who had been recalled from Iraq? Share your views in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Fighting between Russia and Georgia August 8, 2008 9:03 AM
Fighting has broken out between Russia and the former Soviet state of Georgia. "Georgian troops launched a major military offensive Friday to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, prompting a furious response from Russia which vowed retaliation and sent a column of tanks into the region," reported Yahoo News in an Associated Press piece. The article notes that "Georgia, which borders the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia, was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the breakup of the Soviet Union."
The BBC reports that "Georgia is reported to have said any involvement of Russian forces in the conflict will result in a state of war between the two countries. Russia says it is sending reinforcements to support peacekeepers. Reports from Georgia claim Russian jets have attacked an airport near Tbilisi. Nato, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to hostilities."
Share your thoughts and concerns in the Forums.
-- Association of Young Americans
French role in Rwandan Genocide? August 5, 2008 1:09 PM
A Commission in Rwanda released a report that claims French officials and troops were involved in the genocide which occurred in 1994. The BBC reports that "the commission spent nearly two years investigating France's alleged role in the genocide. It heard testimonies from genocide survivors, researchers, writers and reporters. The 500-page document was presented to Rwanda's government last November, but was not made public until now. Rwanda has repeatedly accused France of arming and training the Hutu militias that perpetrated the genocide, and of dragging its feet in co-operating with the investigations that followed. France has maintained that its forces helped protect civilians during a UN-sanctioned mission in Rwanda at the time."
Share your thoughts on this and any other foreign policy concerns in our Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
New Intellegence Rules July 31, 2008 8:57 AM
In a new executive order, disclosed today, President Bush revised and reordered some of the relationships between the various intellegence agencies. The New York Times reports that "The new order gives the national intelligence director, a position created in 2005, new authority over any intelligence information collected that pertains to more than one agency -- an attempt to force greater information exchange among agencies traditionally reluctant to share their most prized intelligence. The order directs the attorney general to develop guidelines to allow agencies access to information held by other agencies. That could potentially include the sharing of sensitive information about Americans."
The revised order is not yet on the White House website, but you can check back on the section of website with executive orders.
Share your thoughts and questions about intellegence gathering, privacy and security in our Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Foreign policy, Privacy, Terrorism
Al Qaeda's Growth in Pakistan June 30, 2008 12:35 PM
Almost 7 years since the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and western Pennsylvania, Osama Bin Laden remains at large and Al Qaeda has apparently reconstituted itself in Pakistan. A detailed article on the front page of today's New York Times states the following:
- Just as it had on the day before 9/11, Al Qaeda now has a band of terrorist camps from which to plan and train for attacks against Western targets, including the United States. Officials say the new camps are smaller than the ones the group used prior to 2001. However, despite dozens of American missile strikes in Pakistan since 2002, one retired C.I.A. officer estimated that the makeshift training compounds now have as many as 2,000 local and foreign militants, up from several hundred three years ago.
- Current and former military and intelligence officials said that the war in Iraq consistently diverted resources and high-level attention from the tribal areas. When American military and intelligence officials requested additional Predator drones to survey the tribal areas, they were told no drones were available because they had been sent to Iraq.
- Even critics of the White House agree that there was no foolproof solution to gaining control of the tribal areas. But by most accounts the administration failed to develop a comprehensive plan to address the militant problem there, and never resolved the disagreements between warring agencies that undermined efforts to fashion any coherent strategy.
The full article is available here, on the NYTimes website, and is worth reading for those concerned about the threat Al Qaeda poses to the US. Are you concerned that a terrorist group will launch another attack on the U.S.? What do you think we should be doing as a nation to prevent such an attack? Share your thoughts and concerns in the Terrorism Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Foreign policy, Middle East, Terrorism
President Bush in Middle East May 19, 2008 8:44 AM
Yeterday President Bush copncluded a 5 day trip through the Middle East with a speech at the World Economic Forum. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the following exerpts from the speech
- "Too often in the Middle East, politics has consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail, [...] America is deeply concerned about the plight of political prisoners in this region, as well as democratic activists who are intimidated or repressed, newspapers and civil-society organizations that are shut down, and dissidents whose voices are stifled."
- "I call on all nations in this region to release their prisoners of conscience, open up their political debate, and trust their people to chart their future."
The President also called for the creation of a Palestinian state. What do you think about the stability of the Middle East and what role do you think the U.S. can play in helping the peace process. Share your thoughts in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Army 'out of balance' February 26, 2008 2:12 PM
In testimony today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General George Casey discussed the need for reduced combat tours. "'The cumulative effects of the last six-plus years at war have left our Army out of balance, consumed by the current fight and unable to do the things we know we need to do to properly sustain our all-volunteer force and restore our flexibility for an uncertain future,' said Gen. George Casey, chief of staff of the Army," reports the USA Today, "Casey told the [...] Committee that cutting the time soldiers spend in combat is an integral part of reducing the stress on the force. He said he anticipates the service can cut combat tours from 15 months to 12 months this year, so long as the president reduces the number of active-duty Army brigades in Iraq and Afghanistan to 15 units by July as planned."
This report comes following security gains credited in part to the "surge" of US troops and some progress by the Iraqi government on important legislation (see post of 2/13/08 - Iraq Passes 3 Important Laws). How does Gen. Casey's testimony and the recent progress by the Iraqi government impact you view of the situation in IRaq and America's continued military presence there? Share your thoughts in the Iraq Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Foreign policy, Iraq, Military
Pakistan Election Results February 19, 2008 9:24 AM
After being postponed following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, elections were held in Pakistan with parties opposed to President Pervez Musharraf winning. "Pakistan's ruling party conceded defeat Tuesday after opposition parties routed allies of President Pervez Musharraf in parliamentary elections that could threaten the rule of America's close ally in the war on terror," reported Yahoo News. "With the support of smaller groups and independent candidates, the opposition could gain the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to impeach Musharraf, who has angered many Pakistanis by allying the country with Washington in 2001 to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. Musharraf has promised to work with whatever government emerges from the election. But the former general is hugely unpopular among the public and opposition parties that have been catapulted into power are likely to find little reason to work with him particularly since he no longer controls the powerful army."
Share your thoughts on Pakistan and the War on Terror in our Forums. And don't forget to complete the National Issues Survey as to what issues are most important to you.
-- Association of Young Americans
Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto Killed December 27, 2007 2:30 PM
After a political rally today (Thursday) Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. "Bhutto, 54, was being driven from the rally in her bulletproof vehicle when she asked that the rooftop hatch be opened so she could bid supporters farewell, according to several aides, including one who was sitting next to her. As she leaned her head through the hatch, between three and five gunshots rang out, aides said. Bhutto sank back into her seat, just as a large bomb detonated to the left of her vehicle. Those inside the car said her face was badly bloodied. It was not clear whether she'd been hit by bullets or shrapnel from the bombing. She lost consciousness, aides said, and never regained it. The explosion, apparently by a suicide bomber, killed at least 20 people outside the car, and injured many others. Police were investigating whether the bomber was also the gunman. One possibility was that the assailant fired the shots and then, after being tackled by security officials, detonated the bomb," reported the Washington Post. "Bhutto was running for Parliament, and her Pakistan Peoples Party was expected to win enough seats for her to become prime minister. She was the most popular candidate running, and had fared well in recent polls. Before the rally, Bhutto had met with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Appearing before reporters late in the day, a shaken Karzai called Bhutto a brave woman who 'sacrificed her life for the sake of Pakistan and for the sake of this region.'"
Additional articles and updates on the assassination are available from the BBC, Washington Times and the New York Times. Share your thoughts and concerns about Pakistan in our Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Unrest in Pakistan November 6, 2007 2:06 PM
Pakistan remains under a state of emergency, as delcared by its president, General Pervez Musharraf. President Musharraf "ousted independent-minded judges, put a stranglehold on the media and granted sweeping powers to authorities to crush dissent. Thousands of people have been rounded up and thrown in jail since then. President Bush and other Western allies have pressured Musharraf to resign as army chief and hold crucial parliamentary elections in January as originally planned, but so far no new date has been set," reports the Boston Globe. "Though anger is mounting, there does not appear to be a groundswell of popular resistance in the nation of 160 million, which has been under military rule for much of its 60-year history. With many people apathetic about politics, rallies so far have been limited largely to opposition activists, rights workers and lawyers angered by the attacks on the judiciary."
Pakistan is bordered by Afghanistan on one side and India on the other. It is generally believed that Osama Bin Ladin is somewhere in the mountainous regions along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. The country has been considered an ally in the 'war on terror' by President Bush. Share your thought on the situation in Pakistan in our Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Russian Military Rising August 19, 2007 4:50 PM
With the focus of the US largely on the Middle East and Al Qaeda, Russia has been investing in it's military infrastructure. "President Vladimir Putin caused consternation on Friday by announcing the resumption of regular, long-range nuclear bomber patrols, but there is more to come. Russia is planning to double combat-aircraft production by 2025, with more nuclear missiles, aircraft carriers and tanks at the top of its shopping list. The message to the West is clear: The days of dismissing Russia as a spent force are over. Bolstered by the cash from sales of oil and gas and President Putin's steely determination to re-establish the country on the world stage, the Russian military machine is back in business." reports the Washington Times. Much closer geographically to the Middle East and Afghanistan, a growing Russian military coupled with a reassertion of its sphere of influence could put the US and Russia back at odds with each other. Share your thoughts on this possibility in our Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) August 16, 2007 3:45 PM
The SCO, formed five years ago, is an organization comprised of Russia, China and several other Asian countries. "In his speech Thursday to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinjad attacked US plans to deploy missile intercepting technology to Eastern Europe, saying the US plan could threaten much of Asia's security," reports the Christian Science Monitor. The SCO's website notes, "The main goals of the SCO are strengthening mutual confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture as well as education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region, to move towards the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order." Do you think the SCO is positioning itself as a counter balence to NATO? What implications does the partnering of Russia and China, have for the US? Share your thoughts in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Resurgent Taliban July 24, 2007 1:32 PM
There is increasing evidence that the Taliban has regrouped and is growing more able to launch attacks into Afghanistan. "The kidnapping of 23 South Korean aid workers last week on one of Afghanistan's major highways is the latest evidence that the Taliban is extending its reach closer to the capital, Kabul. The insurgency, which has blossomed in provinces bordering Pakistan - where the Taliban is widely believed to receive support - is spreading inland," reports the Christian Science Monitor. The recent activity "suggests that the Taliban have consolidated enough power in border provinces to strike farther north, with an eye toward ringing Kabul from the south. Few analysts say that Kabul itself is in danger of direct attack, and none say it is in any danger of falling. But the situation echoes what happened to the Soviets two decades ago, when they maintained control of the cities and little else." What steps do you think the US and the international forces in Afghanistan should take in response to the apparent resurgence of the Taliban? Share your ideas and concerns in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Middle East Discussion June 28, 2007 10:25 AM
The NY Times today continues the discussion of the Hamas-Fatah divide in the Middle East. As the two political factions fight (with words and bullets), Arab nations such as Egypt and Jordan as well as countries such as the US and UK have strongly backed President Abbas and his Fatah leadership. Israel has released tax receipts in order to allow Abbas to better provide for his people while the Arab countries have sought to mediate between the warring factions in order to stop the bloodshed. The question is, what role should the US take in choosing sides in this battle? SHould the use continue to only talk to Abbas or should we open discussions with the elected Hamas leadership (even though they remain on the State Deptartment's terrorist watch list)? When does the US have the right to ignore a political group choosen by the people in a free and fair election? Discuss your views in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Politics vs. Progress - Which is more important? June 25, 2007 10:14 AM
Underlying the immigration reform debate is the question of motivation for those opposing the "Grand Bargain" bill. Are those Senators opposed staking out a position based on principal or on a political pragmatism motivated by their base? When is it acceptable for our leaders to vote in a manner that ensures them re-election vs voting according to their own beliefs (if the 2 are opposed). This is not to say that either side of the immigration debate has it correct, only that we now routinely question the reason our elected representatives vote and the motivation behind it. As the U.S. News & World Report said about Republican efforts, "the debate is alienating Hispanic voters." Discuss Immigration reform and the role public opinion should play in politics in Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Foreign policy, Gov't Reform, Immigration
Financial Pressures on Iran and N. Korea June 18, 2007 9:31 AM
The US has been using financial tools of diplomacy in pressuring Iran and North Korea. The President has been "using a little-known provision of the USA Patriot Act to punish foreign banks that handle North Korean and Iranian funds. The provision, which allows the Treasury Department to designate a bank a "primary money-laundering concern," has become one of the administration's greatest tools, officials say, for pressuring," Iran and N. Korea, reports the Boston Globe. "The US government has struggled for decades to find ways to target the finances of rogue regimes and extend the reach of US sanctions. In 1996, under [President] Clinton, Congress passed the Iran Libya Sanctions Act, which sought to fine foreign companies that invested significantly in Iran's oil infrastructure. But the law outraged US allies who felt Washington had no right to force foreign companies to follow a US sanction. As a result, no company has ever been fined." What is your impression as to how the President has handled Iran and North Korea in the last year? What do you think needs to be done in the years ahead. Share your thoughts in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Cold War Sounding Rhetoric April 26, 2007 9:39 AM
Russian President Putin had strong language for the proposed U.S./NATO missile defense system and its extension into former Warsaw Pact nations. "The Russian president accused Nato countries of failing to respect the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), which limits military deployments across the continent," reports the BBC. "If there was no progress at upcoming talks between Nato and Russia, Russia would 'look at the possibility of ceasing our commitments under the CFE treaty,' [Putin] said. The US wants to station 10 interceptor missiles in Poland, with radar operations in the Czech Republic - which Russia strongly opposes. 'The Russians have thousands of warheads. The idea that you can somehow stop the Russian strategic nuclear deterrent with a few interceptors just doesn't make sense,' said the US secretary of state in Oslo, ahead of a Nato-Russia meeting." What do you think of the idea of a missile defense sheild in the US and Europe? Share you thoughts on this, and U.S./Russian relations in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Dissent in Russia April 16, 2007 2:51 PM
Former Chess-champion Gary Kasparov, has been leading a group called 'Other Russia' opposed to President Putin. "Kasparov's coalition, called The Other Russia, is a collection of liberals, leftists, neocommunists, and moderate nationalists who agree only that civil liberties are being snuffed out under Mr. Putin's increasingly authoritarian rule and that dramatic public action is needed to awaken society to the danger. Critics say that their tactic of holding rallies that have been banned by authorities invites trouble," reports the Christian Science Monitor. "An estimated 9,000 police and Interior troops descended on Pushkin Square Saturday, where only a few hundred The Other Russia supporters turned out for the 'Dissenters' March.' [...] Across the square, and unhindered by the phalanxes of riot police, about 1,000 members of the pro-Kremlin 'Young Guard' youth movement were holding a rally in support of Putin. According to the Moscow Times, the Young Guard filed its application a minute before Other Russia with the express intent of preventing the Dissenters' March. It received a permit for 15,000 people to gather at the square at the same time." What are your thoughts about Russia's evolution under President Putin? Share your thoughts in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Russian Military Complex February 12, 2007 1:53 PM
While last week Russian President Putin strongly criiticized the U.S. for "nourishing an arms race" by developing missle defense, Russia under Putin has invested significantly in arms development. "Russian defense budgets have been soaring since Putin came to power, buoyed by a rising tide of petroleum income, and are set to jump by 23 percent in 2007 to a post-Soviet high of $32.4 billion. Moscow does arms business with over 70 countries, including China, Iran, and Venezuela, and in 2006 exported $6 billion worth of arms," reports the Christian Science Monitor. "In January, Moscow announced it had completed deliveries of 29 sophisticated Tor-M1 mobile antiaircraft batteries to Iran, and Mr. Ivanov hinted that Russia might also supply S-300 long-range air defense weapons. Experts believe that the Tor-M1, which can track 48 targets simultaneously, could seriously complicate any potential air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities." Share your thoughts on this and other foreign policy topics in our Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Reducing "stop-loss" January 29, 2007 12:43 PM
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has asked the branches of the military for plans on how they could reduce the use of the practice know as 'stop-loss'. Describing the practice, Yahoo News notes "the military over the past several years has held tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines on the job and in war zones beyond their retirement dates or enlistment length." Secretary Gates "looking for ways to decrease the hardship for troops and their families, recruit more people for a larger military and reassess how the active duty and reserves are used." Share your thoughts on the US military size and preparedness in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Darfur Crisis Worsens December 11, 2006 12:28 PM
Over the last 3 years over 2 million people have been displaced and 200,000 killed in Western Sudan. "The crisis in Darfur has exploded in recent weeks, and now threatens to drag fragile neighboring countries into a regional war," reports the Christian Science Monitor. "In the past month alone, nearly 60,000 Darfurians have been forced from their homes to escape massacre at the hands of Arab militias known as the janjaweed. Aid workers, UN personnel, and independent observers say the janjaweed are backed by Sudan's government, but Khartoum has repeatedly denied this charge." What can the US or UN do in such circumstances? Share your thoughts in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans
Nuclear Deals with India and Pakistan November 21, 2006 12:13 PM
In recent days both the U.S. and China reportedly have pursued trade/information arrangements with India and Pakistan related to nuclear technology. "The keystone of President Bush's longstanding efforts to expand ties with India is a deal to share civilian nuclear technology, which the Senate passed Friday. What has come as more of a surprise is a report that China is preparing to give similar help to Pakistan," reports the Christian Science Monitor. While this may not seem overly critical since both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons already, there are important implications for nuclear proliferation. "Though both nuclear deals are confined to civilian nuclear technology, both India and Pakistan have distanced themselves from the international nuclear regime in order to build their nuclear-weapons programs. That means they have not agreed to the same rules for nonproliferation." How should the U.S. address the sometimes conflicting interests of non-prolifieration of nuclear weapons and engagement with regional or world powers that have or are pursuing nuclear weapons? Share your thoughts in the Open Forum.
-- Association of Young Americans