PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NEWS
A Clash of Philosophies
Peter Baker, New York Times – October 4, 2012
Somewhere in the wonky blizzard of facts, statistics and studies thrown out on stage here on Wednesday night was a fundamental philosophical choice about the future of America, quite possibly the starkest in nearly three decades.
Romney Doesn’t Dispute Plan to Increase Military Spending by $2 Trillion
Hayes Brown, Think Progress – October 4, 2012
During Wednesday’s presidential debate, Mitt Romney didn’t dispute President Obama’s criticism that the Republican candidate has pledged to raise military spending by an additional $2 trillion. Romney repeatedly promised throughout the back and forth that he would both cut taxes and reduce the deficit, despite his desire to boost military expenditures, and didn’t say how the math would work out.
CTBT
Chile, Dutch and Others Vie for Nuclear Treaty Top Job
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – October 4, 2012
Chile, the Philippines and the Netherlands are among countries lobbying for their candidates to head an international body set up to monitor a planned global ban on nuclear weapon tests, diplomats said on Thursday. Senior officials from Burkina Faso and Mongolia are also seeking the job as executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in a vote expected later this month.
IRAN
IAEA Director General Urges Iran to Engage on Nuclear Tech
Enda Curran, Wall Street Journal – October 4, 2012
The chief of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog urged Iran Thursday to engage in fresh talks on its nuclear ambitions in an effort to end months of stalemate that has denied inspectors access to the country’s key nuclear facilities. “We are ready to have a meeting at an early date, but the fact is that as of today, no specific date has been decided for a meeting,” International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano told reporters here.
Protests in Iran: Will Pain of Sanctions Change Iran’s Nuclear Calculus?
Tony Karon, Time – October 4, 2012
Blame sanctions, says Ahmadinejad, of Iran’s economic chaos. Blame Ahmadinejad, say the protesters — and supporters of the Supreme Leader.
Clinton Calls Iran Its Own Worst Enemy
AP – October 3, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham says Iranian leaders are to blame for hurting the Iranian economy, sinking currency rate and rising economic protests. Speaking Wednesday beside Kazakhstan’s foreign minister, Clinton acknowledged the international sanctions have contributed to Iran’s economic woes, but she added the sanctions could be removed quickly if Iran’s government complies with its nuclear obligations and is willing to work with the international community “in a sincere manner.”
AFGHANISTAN
The ‘Andar Uprising’ and Progress in Afghanistan
Frederick W. Kagan and Kimberly Kagan, Wall Street Journal – October 4, 2012
Success in Afghanistan remains possible. As tragic and regrettable as they are, recent “green-on-blue” attacks against U.S. forces do not signify the failure of U.S.-Afghan partnership efforts or the enmity of the Afghan National Security Forces and Afghan people. Incidents spectacular enough to grab headlines in an overheated election year have badly distorted our understanding of what actually has happened on the ground in Afghanistan this fighting season.
NORTH KOREA
North Korea Defies Reform Predictions
Bruce Klingner, Korea Times – October 4, 2012
Pyongyang once again disappointed those predicting it was about to change its ways. For months, experts and major media organizations have proclaimed imminent economic reform, even declaring that “North Korea has virtually abandoned the planned economy.” An unprecedented second Supreme People’s Assembly this year could only mean codification of free market principles, or so it was argued.
Yet, the legislative assembly came and went in late September with nary a whisper of economic reform. What went wrong?
DEFENSE SPENDING
Op/Ed: Protect Our Troops, Not Wasteful Defense Programs
JV Venable (Colonel, USAF Retired), Forbes – October 4, 2012
A good leader can take something that works and build upon it. But it takes a great leader to realize that something is not working, admit defeat and find an alternative solution, especially when the lives of American lives are at stake.
