This Hollywood movie describes Obama's ideological father. Even though he points out a strong physical resemblance, Frank Marshall Davis (loyal communist supporter of Stalin) was a teacher, mentor and ideological role model for Obama. This is one of the top documentaries of 2012. It will hold your interest from beginning to end.
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Tomorrow's Democrat: Who Could Run in 2016? -- PICTURES - NationalJournal.com
The speech given by Castro was reminiscent of the 2004 convention speech given by Obama. Very smooth and hypnotizing delivery wrapped around words that said very little, were often untrue and perhaps meant to distribute feeling to the listeners. Given the history of this kind of speech we need to be vigilant and insure that we don't make the same mistake again.
Tomorrow's Democrat: Who Could Run in 2016? -- PICTURES - NationalJournal.com
Updated: September 5, 2012 | 10:09 a.m.
Tomorrow's Democrat: Who Could Run in 2016? -- PICTURES - NationalJournal.com
Tomorrow's Democrat: Who Could Run in 2016? -- PICTURES
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Updated: September 5, 2012 | 10:09 a.m.
September 4, 2012 | 5:23 p.m.
Is it too early to be thinking about the 2016 presidential race?
Perhaps, but along with some familiar names like Hillary Rodham Clinton, there is an emerging crop of Democrats whose careers will be worth following. By getting to know this next generation, we can get a sense of where the national political landscape is heading.
Here, National Journal compiles a list of rising party stars and old hands who may breathe new life into the Democratic Party.
The Language of Success - NationalJournal.com
The Language of Success - NationalJournal.com
Updated: September 5, 2012 | 12:52 p.m.
Is There A Message Here from the Storm Gods?
Updated: September 5, 2012 | 12:52 p.m.
September 5, 2012 | 12:17 p.m.
First it was Isaac, the hurricane that did a menacing drive-by in Tampa. Now a storm forecast has sent the Democrats scurrying indoors in Charlotte. It could be just a coincidence, of course. The weather, like justice, is blind. But perhaps we also ought to entertain the possibility that God Himself is seriously displeased with the state of American politics.
I mean, why wouldn’t He be?
I’m the last person to try to channel the wishes of the Almighty (you’ll need to turn on Fox News for that). But just consider the messaging here. Isaac’s path into the Gulf coast and New Orleans delivered a scary reminder of Katrina. Thus it could be interpreted as a humbling reminder to increasingly libertarian Republicans that good government is still necessary.
The projected storm system that prevented the Dems from trying to duplicate Barack Obama’s Greek-columned annunciation as a hope-and-change savior in Denver was, perhaps, an equally humbling message: Don’t overpromise, pal. ‘Cause you’re gonna fail.
Or maybe it’s just that the Man Upstairs was upset about being left out of the Democratic platform, as Republicans suggested yesterday that He would be.
There is an old saying in American politics: “The Lord looks after drunks, children and the USA.” But given the disastrous policies of recent years, and the unremitting polarization of American politics, it’s not beyond reason to wonder whether the Lord has come to believe that we Americans are using His name in vain. That we are no longer doing a very good job, in other words, of being “one nation under God,” that the pluribus is no longer much of an unum.
Just a possibility...
Some U.S. Generals Unlikely to Get Their Way on Afghanistan - The Atlantic
Some U.S. Generals Unlikely to Get Their Way on Afghanistan - The Atlantic
Some U.S. Generals Unlikely to Get Their Way on Afghanistan
AUG 5 2012, 9:00 AM ET 6Several military commanders say they want to keep troops in the country, but the White House seems intent on winding down.
During the presidential-election campaign the positions of President Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney have converged on the issue of withdrawing most U.S. forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Neither the Obama administration nor the Romney campaign has made clear, however, how fast the remaining force of 68,000 U.S. troops should be pulled out between now and that deadline. With an important milestone approaching next month - when the last of the 30,000 "surge" troops will exit the country - U.S. military commanders are indicating their desire to keep as many of the remaining troops in Afghanistan for as long as possible.
In late May, for instance, Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, the second-in-command in Afghanistan, told NPR: "Personally, I would like to stay at 68,000 through the first part of [2013], and then again we'll make an assessment." The top commander, Gen. John Allen, told the Senate Armed Services in March, "Sixty-eight thousand is a good going in number, but I owe the president some analysis on that."
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U.S. commanders are angling for maximum force levels because, in their view, the situation in Afghanistan is already reaching its maximum in risk tolerances. "In terms of the mission, the main risk we face is not finishing the work of clearing the Haqqani network from areas in the east that are very close to Kabul," said Lt. Gen. Dan Allyn, until recently the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan's Regional Command East, speaking on Thursday at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington. If the United States keeps the remaining 68,000 troops in-country through next year's fighting season, it can finish that job, he said. Otherwise U.S. commanders will have to hand the burden to Afghan Security Forces that are still struggling to stand on their own. "That's not an insignificant risk," he said.
If history is any judge, however, the generals may not get their wish for a pause in troop withdrawals. The White House is reportedly considering a plan backed by National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon to pull 10,000 more troops out by the end of December, for instance, and then 10,000 to 20,000 more by next June.
"I'm very concerned, because the track record of our generals getting their way on troop levels is not good," said retired Gen. John "Jack" Keane, the former vice chief of staff of the Army and an architect of the Iraq surge, also speaking at the Institute for the Study of War. The last U.S. commander in Iraq wanted to maintain a residual force of roughly 20,000 troops, he noted, and got zero. U.S. commanders likewise requested an Afghan surge of 40,000 to 60,000 troops, and had to settle for 30,000. U.S. commanders wanted those surge forces to remain in Afghanistan through 2013, a request that was also rejected when the September 2012 deadline was set for their withdrawal. "So I hope General John wins the argument about keeping the current level of forces in place, but if he does, it will be the first time one of our generals won an argument on force levels," Keane said. "I think the national-security team will do what they can to reduce the number."
Talk of an accelerated withdrawal comes even as some NATO planners are proposing that the Afghan Security Forces be reduced from 352,000 to 230,000 after 2015, as a way to save $2 billion a year in international funding. "So now we are talking about pulling 100,000 NATO troops out of Afghanistan and shrinking Afghan forces by 100,000 plus, even as we leave in place these sanctuaries for Taliban insurgents inside Pakistan," Keane said. "I think that will bring the Afghan mission to the brink of failure."
This article originally appeared at The National Journal, an Atlantic partner site.
A U.S. Army soldier reacts inside an armored vehicle after his comrade was wounded at patrol by an IED in southern Afghanistan. (Reuters)
During the presidential-election campaign the positions of President Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney have converged on the issue of withdrawing most U.S. forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Neither the Obama administration nor the Romney campaign has made clear, however, how fast the remaining force of 68,000 U.S. troops should be pulled out between now and that deadline. With an important milestone approaching next month - when the last of the 30,000 "surge" troops will exit the country - U.S. military commanders are indicating their desire to keep as many of the remaining troops in Afghanistan for as long as possible.
In late May, for instance, Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, the second-in-command in Afghanistan, told NPR: "Personally, I would like to stay at 68,000 through the first part of [2013], and then again we'll make an assessment." The top commander, Gen. John Allen, told the Senate Armed Services in March, "Sixty-eight thousand is a good going in number, but I owe the president some analysis on that."
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If history is any judge, however, the generals may not get their wish for a pause in troop withdrawals. The White House is reportedly considering a plan backed by National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon to pull 10,000 more troops out by the end of December, for instance, and then 10,000 to 20,000 more by next June.
"I'm very concerned, because the track record of our generals getting their way on troop levels is not good," said retired Gen. John "Jack" Keane, the former vice chief of staff of the Army and an architect of the Iraq surge, also speaking at the Institute for the Study of War. The last U.S. commander in Iraq wanted to maintain a residual force of roughly 20,000 troops, he noted, and got zero. U.S. commanders likewise requested an Afghan surge of 40,000 to 60,000 troops, and had to settle for 30,000. U.S. commanders wanted those surge forces to remain in Afghanistan through 2013, a request that was also rejected when the September 2012 deadline was set for their withdrawal. "So I hope General John wins the argument about keeping the current level of forces in place, but if he does, it will be the first time one of our generals won an argument on force levels," Keane said. "I think the national-security team will do what they can to reduce the number."
Talk of an accelerated withdrawal comes even as some NATO planners are proposing that the Afghan Security Forces be reduced from 352,000 to 230,000 after 2015, as a way to save $2 billion a year in international funding. "So now we are talking about pulling 100,000 NATO troops out of Afghanistan and shrinking Afghan forces by 100,000 plus, even as we leave in place these sanctuaries for Taliban insurgents inside Pakistan," Keane said. "I think that will bring the Afghan mission to the brink of failure."
This article originally appeared at The National Journal, an Atlantic partner site.
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