TresSugar

Obama In Talks to Keep on Bush's Defense Secretary Gates

CitizenSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:30:00 -0800

Not everyone in the Bush Administration will be out on their behinds on Jan. 20. Barack Obama is considering keeping on Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates, a former CIA head, has received widespread praise for his work as defense secretary since replacing Donald Rumsfeld.

Since he has led the Pentagon since 2006, Gates could be the person best situated to coordinate Obama's plan to withdraw from Iraq and increase troops in Afghanistan. Even so, keeping a Republican who has been leading Bush's war policy may take the team of rivals idea a bit too far.

Is Obama responsible and wise to keep on Gates in order to make the transition of power and situation in the Middle East run smoothly, or does a new direction require a new person in such an important cabinet position?

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Front Page: Obama Heads to Russia With Love

TresSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:42 -0700

President Obama arrived in Moscow today with hopes of reaching a deal to cut stockpiles of nuclear weapons. - New York Times
After her surprise resignation as Alaska's governor on Friday, Sarah Palin continued to twitter against rumors this weekend. - Sarah Palin's Twitter
Riots in China's western province have left 140 dead and at least 828 people injured. - AP
Robert McNamara, the former US defense secretary and architect of the Vietnam War, has died. - Washington Post
After 1.6 million people registered for the chance to go to Michael Jackson's Staples Center memorial tomorrow, 8,550 fans have been chosen at random to attend. - LA Times

It's Official! Hillary Clinton To Be Secretary of State

CitizenSugar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:15:00 -0800

After "much will she or won't she?" speculation, Hillary Clinton has accepted the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama. After the news broke a couple weeks back, 75 percent of you said they thought Clinton should take the position because she and Obama would make a great team.

Secretary of state is the highest-ranking cabinet secretary and head of the Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. President-elect Obama will appear tomorrow with Hillary Clinton and current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will remain head of the Pentagon under Obama, at a press conference in Chicago at 10:40 a.m. (EST).

Do you think Hillary will make a capable secretary of state?

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Front Page: Death Toll Rises After Italian Earthquake

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:15:58 -0700

Italy's prime minister announced that 207 people have been confirmed dead and 15 are still missing, after a 6.3 earthquake hit the city of L'Aquila yesterday. About 100,000 have been left homeless. - Wall Street Journal
The University of North Carolina defeated Michigan State last night to win the national college basketball title. - ESPN
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced sweeping reforms at the Pentagon yesterday, including weapons cuts and the replacement of private contractors with full-time civil servants. - Washington Post
Texas billionaire "Sir" Allen Stanford gave a tearful and sometimes aggressive interview to ABC News, during which he discussed his impending federal fraud charges and flying coach. - ABC News
The jail term for the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush has been cut from three years to only one after his appeal. - BBC News

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Political Grammys: Yes We Can Have a Secretary of the Arts!

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:30:36 -0800

Last night while I was watching the Grammys, my ears perked up when the president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Neil Portnow began addressing a certain two-time Grammy winner directly - President Barack Obama.

Potnow wasted little time getting to his point: He wants the president to create a new cabinet position, namely secretary of the arts. On stage he persuaded:

And to our new president, we have a request: Our finest national treasure is our culture and the arts. It's also one of our most embraced and economically significant exports all around the world.

So it's time that we acknowledge that fact with the creation of a cabinet position of secretary of the arts to promote and develop this vital contribution to society everywhere.

Recognizing art and artists with a cabinet-level position would surely send a strong signal that America is serious about fostering a meaningful and vibrant culture, just as it's serious about defense or agriculture. Then again, you could argue that the government should only sponsor projects that benefit the public in concrete ways, and that the art business should thrive independently. What do you think?

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New Name For the War on Terror - Can You Guess It?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:30:13 -0700

What to call a war on terror? Not that! Never mind its semantic impossibility (a war on a feeling?), the Bush administration retired it long ago for the far-reaching, but no less inaccurate, "global war on terror."

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dangled the "Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism" out there, but GSAVE never caught on as he so hoped it would.

Toward the twilight of Bush's presidency, he tested the "long war," but that hasn't gone far either. So the always-eloquent Obama administration has tried its pen at renaming it. Is it any better?

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Obama Introduces National Security Team Starring Hillary!

LibertySugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:30:57 -0800

This morning President-elect Obama rolled out his national security team, proving that you don't have to be an Obama loyalist to get a plumb role in his administration. Hillary Clinton appeared as the next US secretary of state, delivering a moving acceptance speech.

Joining Hillary was Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Robert M. Gates, the current defense secretary, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano who will be secretary of Homeland Security, Gen. James L. Jones, the former NATO commander who will be a national security adviser, Eric Holder who will serve as attorney general, and Susan Rice, the next UN ambassador.

While Obama made it obvious that he wasn't going to outline his entire plan to keep the nation secure, the press conference did have some insightful moments. They include:

Obama on what made him tap Hillary: "She possesses an extraordinary intelligence and toughness, and a remarkable work ethic. . . . She is an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence, who knows many of the world's leaders, who will command respect in every capital, and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world."
On how he reconciled with former rival Hillary: "I extended her the offer and she accepted. I know that’s not as juicy a story as you were hoping for, but that’s all you’re going to get.”
On his role as leader of the team of rivals: "I will be setting policy as president. The buck will stop with me.”
After thanking her fellow New Yorkers, Hillary said: "Mr. President-elect, I am proud to join you on what will be a difficult and exciting adventure in this new century."

View 5 Photos ›

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Front Page: Rice Signs Missile Deal, Taliban Assaults US Base, Sudan's President Denies Genocide

CitizenSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:57:25 -0700

Rice Signs Missile Deal:
Against strong opposition from Russia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed an agreement with Poland to locate a missile defense base on Polish territory. The Kremlin called the act "hostile" though US officials say the defense system is aimed at threats from countries like Iran and will not target Russia. Rice says, “Missile defense, of course, is aimed at no one. It is in our defense that we do this.”

Taliban Assaults US Base:
Taliban insurgents, in the most serious attack in six years, perpetrated a coordinated assault on one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan. At least 10 suicide bombers and another 100 insurgents killed 10 elite French paratroopers. It was the single deadliest loss for foreign troops since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001.

Sudan's President Denies Genocide:
Sudan's president denied that his regime is responsible for carrying out genocide in the Darfur region. The Hague indicted Omar al-Bashir last month on genocide charges, but he says the numbers are exaggerated, "genocide like the International Criminal Court claims is nonexistent." The prosecution said the militia directed by al-Bashir's government killed 300,000 ethnic Africans and displaced 2.5 million.

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Pentagon Denied Gay Rep's Request to Travel with Partner

LibertySugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:00:53 -0700

The Pentagon initially denied Representative Tammy Baldwin's request to bring her domestic partner with her on a fact-finding trip to Europe over the Easter recess. As usual, the delegation traveled on a military flight. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi petitioned Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, before the trip was approved.

At the center of the story is the definition of "spouse." According to the House guidelines, members of Congress can travel with spouses so long as there is room, and protocol requires it. The same goes for an adult child; however, Congress must be reimbursed for the second guest. Baldwin and her partner have exchanged vows, but her home state of Wisconsin does not recognize same-sex marriage.

Apparently Secretary Gates told Speaker Pelosi that it was up to her to make an exception. To see what happened, read more.

Once Gates received a formal request for an exception, he approved the flight. Pelosi insisted that she was simply following the precedent set by her predecessor Dennis Hassert. But, Hassert's former aides said he was unaware that Baldwin's domestic partner flew with her, until the trips already were underway.

While we can all argue about tax money being used to transport guests, it does seem unfair to make a gay congresswoman jump through extra hoops, involving the Speaker of the House and the Secretary of Defense, for a routine trip. Perhaps spouses shouldn't be allowed on these vacations, uh, I mean fact-finding trips. But since they are, should unrecognized spouses be allowed, too?

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Should Charges Be Brought Against US Officials For Torture?

LibertySugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:01:38 -0800

This week the New York Times editorial board published a piece calling for criminal charges against former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, his legal counsel, and perhaps other top officials, for the abuse and torture that occurred at American military prisons.

Citing a bipartisan report coming from the Senate, the editorial says that these officials ignored warnings from lawyers in the armed forces that they were breaking the law, subjecting soldiers to criminal liability, and employing a policy that was counterproductive to American security. The piece states:

These top officials, charged with defending the Constitution and America’s standing in the world, methodically introduced interrogation practices based on illegal tortures devised by Chinese agents during the Korean War. Until the Bush administration, their only use in the United States was to train soldiers to resist what might be done to them if they were captured by a lawless enemy.

It appears the Bush administration doesn't think it has a problem, as Dick Cheney admitted this week that he authorized waterboarding, and the White House has said it doesn't see a need for sweeping pardons.

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