AM Feed - July 5: Foreign Policy Issues Continue to Dog Bush Administration
Hot Topics
- President Bush has handled foreign policy crises during his administration with a mix of over-heated bluster and curious decision-making. The results in Iraq and Afghanistan speak for themselves – and now North Korea is developing into more of a problem as well. North Korea launched six missiles yesterday and another today, despite warnings from the US, Japan, China and South Korea against doing so. The missiles – one of which can potentially reach Alaska – all crashed into the Sea of Japan, an apparent failure. The brazen display is yet another bellicose signal from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. [link]
- On the topic of foreign policy mishaps under the Bush administration: The CIA has now decided to fold the unit dedicated to hunting down Osama bin Laden. Shortly after the attacks of 9/11, President Bush promised to hunt down the al Qaeda leader “dead or alive.” Now, almost five years later, the war in Iraq has spread forces thin and diverted our attention away from capturing or killing bin Laden. Analysts within the unit, called Alec Station, have been reassigned within the CIA. [link]
- It looks like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R-CA) transition to becoming a politician is officially complete: His campaign was fined $202,200 for failing to properly report $25 million in donations during the special elections last year. It wasn’t the first penalty for Schwarzenegger during his time in politics, but this news adds insult to injury over the elections, which were a huge political defeat for Schwarzenegger’s agenda. Documents show that Schwarzenegger’s campaign failed to report expenditures on time in 143 instances. [link]
Morning Snark
- All of the analysts who’ve been reassigned from the hunt for bin Laden should join all of the analysts who’ve been reassigned from the hunt for Iraq’s WMDs – and together maybe they could finally solve the mystery of this Santa Claus fellow.
Comment
- Does the Old Testament refer to Santa Claus? If it doesn’t then he doesn’t exist. But then neither do bin Laden or WMDs in Iraq.
— Rosalie Stern Jul 5, 13:42 # - I don’t know why W doesn’t just hire Michael Chrichton to find Osama Bin Laden and while he’s at it, the WMDs, too. At least the fiction will be entertaining.
— Thom Politico Jul 5, 14:06 # - Impeach and indict Bush and Cheney.
They are war criminals and the world knows it (except of course for that 33% of his most loyal comrades).
— MO Jul 5, 16:03 # - In 2001 the new Secretary of State, Colin Powell, announced that the U.S. would continue its diplomatic initiative with North Korea. Bush immediately cut Powell off at the knees with a repudiation of the policy and all things Clinton. (Remember Christy Whitman’s announcement that arsenic in water limits imposed by Clinton would be continued, only to suffer the same humiliation as Powell.) Both of the two Republican “moderates” stayed on only to be used further in humiliating roles. A little profiles in courage from those two might have headed off failed policies in foreign affairs and and environmental protection
— Neil S. Hutchens Jul 5, 16:21 # - Wimps, pimps and thieves.
Impeach and indict.
— MO Jul 6, 11:31 #
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