The House gave President Obama a slap on the wrist today for not consulting Congress on sending U.S. forces into action in Libya, but knocked down another measure with real teeth that called for pulling out of the NATO campaign within 15 days.
The House voted 268-145 on a resolution written by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that says Obama did not provide "compelling rationale" for joining the air campaign against Moammar Gadhafi and he must deliver an update to Congress in the next two weeks.
The White House called the vote "unhelpful," but in truth it was a gift to Obama, who faced a much tougher resolution sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) that gathered steam and appeared like it might pass on Wedenesday, when it was originally set to be voted on by the House.
When a coalition of anti-war Democrats and fiscally conservative Republicans started rallying around the Kucinich resolution, Boehner pulled the measure, wrote his own watered-down version and rescheduled the vote for today.
The Kucinich resolution, which would have pulled U.S. forces out of the Libya campaign within 15 days, was defeated 265 to 148. More Republicans supported the Kucinich measure than Democrats.
NATO allies and the Libyan reebels had to be relieved by the outcome.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Yemeni Rebels Attack Palace in Sanaa
Updated at 1:30 p.m. edt
Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was supposed to deliver an address assuring his people he was fine after a rebel attack today on his palace in Sanaa, but a government official tells MSNBC he is being treated for a wound to the neck.
At least four people, including top officials and body guards, were killed and others were severely wounded, NBC's chief foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports at this hour.
The White House was monitoring the situation, but had no immediate information to shed light on Saleh's condition. A spokesman for President Obama urged Saleh to accept a deal in which he would step down.
"I can tell you that we’ve seen those conflicting reports about what happened there. The President was briefed on this issue this morning," said White House spokesman Josh Ernest.
"I don’t have anything beyond what we’ve said before, which is that obviously condemn the violence on both sides, that we hope that there will be and that there should be a negotiated settlement in Yemen, and that we believe that President Saleh should sign the agreement transferring power," Earnest added.
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley suggested on Twitter that Saleh has brought on his own demise. "President Saleh has chosen to literally fight reform rather than respect it. It's a losing battle for Saleh, and tragic for Yemen," Crowley Tweeted.
End update
---[
There are reports Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was hurt today when his palace in Sanaa was shelled by rebels.
Others were also hurt in the attack, the BBC reports.
There are conflicting reports at this time about Saleh's condition.
Saleh has been an ally on the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, allowing U.S. drones to target suspected terrorists.
Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was supposed to deliver an address assuring his people he was fine after a rebel attack today on his palace in Sanaa, but a government official tells MSNBC he is being treated for a wound to the neck.
At least four people, including top officials and body guards, were killed and others were severely wounded, NBC's chief foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports at this hour.
The White House was monitoring the situation, but had no immediate information to shed light on Saleh's condition. A spokesman for President Obama urged Saleh to accept a deal in which he would step down.
"I can tell you that we’ve seen those conflicting reports about what happened there. The President was briefed on this issue this morning," said White House spokesman Josh Ernest.
"I don’t have anything beyond what we’ve said before, which is that obviously condemn the violence on both sides, that we hope that there will be and that there should be a negotiated settlement in Yemen, and that we believe that President Saleh should sign the agreement transferring power," Earnest added.
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley suggested on Twitter that Saleh has brought on his own demise. "President Saleh has chosen to literally fight reform rather than respect it. It's a losing battle for Saleh, and tragic for Yemen," Crowley Tweeted.
End update
---[
There are reports Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was hurt today when his palace in Sanaa was shelled by rebels.
Others were also hurt in the attack, the BBC reports.
There are conflicting reports at this time about Saleh's condition.
Saleh has been an ally on the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, allowing U.S. drones to target suspected terrorists.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Boehner: House To Vote On Two Libya Resolutions
House Speaker John Boehner re-scheduled votes on the U.S. role in Libya for tomorrow, a sign he is confident he can defeat a measure sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich that would essentially end the war immediately for the U.S.
Now the plan calls for two measures to be voted on in the House:
-One written by Boehner (R-Ohio) that slaps President Obama on the wrist for not consulting Congress before he ordered U.S. forces into action in Libya, but sets no deadline for an end to the military action;
-And a second resolution (the original one) sponsored by Kucinich (D-Ohio) that says Obama violated the war Powers Act and must withdraw forces from Libya within 15 days.
"The Kucinich measure would have long-term consequences that are unacceptable, including a precipitous withdrawal from our role supporting our NATO allies in Libya--which could have serious consequences for our broader national security," Boehner said in a statement.
Boehner postponed a vote yesterday on the Kucinich resolution after it became clear that anti-war Democrats and fiscally conservative Republicans were forming an alliance that threatened to pass the measure. It had the White House sweating.
The Speaker's watered-down measure is intended to placate the angry Republicans and woo centrist Democrats away from the Kucinich resolution.
"We have now been involved in a war on Libya for over 72 days with no constitutionally required authorization for the use of military force or declaration of war," Kucinich wrote today to his fellow lawmakers.
"The President recently submitted a letter to Congress about the war in Libya arguing that he was not required to come to Congress for authorization because the war is not really a war. Really," Kucinich added.
Now the plan calls for two measures to be voted on in the House:
-One written by Boehner (R-Ohio) that slaps President Obama on the wrist for not consulting Congress before he ordered U.S. forces into action in Libya, but sets no deadline for an end to the military action;
-And a second resolution (the original one) sponsored by Kucinich (D-Ohio) that says Obama violated the war Powers Act and must withdraw forces from Libya within 15 days.
"The Kucinich measure would have long-term consequences that are unacceptable, including a precipitous withdrawal from our role supporting our NATO allies in Libya--which could have serious consequences for our broader national security," Boehner said in a statement.
Boehner postponed a vote yesterday on the Kucinich resolution after it became clear that anti-war Democrats and fiscally conservative Republicans were forming an alliance that threatened to pass the measure. It had the White House sweating.
The Speaker's watered-down measure is intended to placate the angry Republicans and woo centrist Democrats away from the Kucinich resolution.
"We have now been involved in a war on Libya for over 72 days with no constitutionally required authorization for the use of military force or declaration of war," Kucinich wrote today to his fellow lawmakers.
"The President recently submitted a letter to Congress about the war in Libya arguing that he was not required to come to Congress for authorization because the war is not really a war. Really," Kucinich added.
Lawmakers Urge Recess Appointment for Wall Street Watchdog
Elizabeth Warren has the fire in her belly, but not to run for the U.S. Senate back home in Massachusetts.
The progressive Harvard Law professor wants to run the agency she conceived and proposed after American taxpayers had to bail out greedy, unregulated Wall Street banks: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"She doesn't want to run. She wants to run the agency," said a powerful ally of Warren's, laughing off the talk of her running against Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) next year.
The problem is some Republicans have already signaled that the marching orders from their Wall Street and banking industry patrons is to block her appointment, which must be confirmed by the Senate.
Now 89 lawmakers are calling on President Obama today to use the "recess appointment" to put Warren in the job -- a temporary maneuver that gets around the partisan Senate confirmation process.
"They would rather hold your appointment hostage and obstruct the process than make sure consumers have a strong advocate on their side," the letter reads.
The Wall Street watchdog agency opens its doors on July 21 and her supporters want her on the job that day. For now, Warren, currently a Treasury Department adviser, is setting up the agency.
Some progressives are confident Obama will act, not wanting to pull the scab off his sometimes testy relationship with the activist left, since his re-election is shaping up as a fight that will require every base vote he can find.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and liberal organizers have gathered another 250,000 signatures, and counting, the lawmakers said.
The progressive Harvard Law professor wants to run the agency she conceived and proposed after American taxpayers had to bail out greedy, unregulated Wall Street banks: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"She doesn't want to run. She wants to run the agency," said a powerful ally of Warren's, laughing off the talk of her running against Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) next year.
The problem is some Republicans have already signaled that the marching orders from their Wall Street and banking industry patrons is to block her appointment, which must be confirmed by the Senate.
Now 89 lawmakers are calling on President Obama today to use the "recess appointment" to put Warren in the job -- a temporary maneuver that gets around the partisan Senate confirmation process.
"They would rather hold your appointment hostage and obstruct the process than make sure consumers have a strong advocate on their side," the letter reads.
The Wall Street watchdog agency opens its doors on July 21 and her supporters want her on the job that day. For now, Warren, currently a Treasury Department adviser, is setting up the agency.
Some progressives are confident Obama will act, not wanting to pull the scab off his sometimes testy relationship with the activist left, since his re-election is shaping up as a fight that will require every base vote he can find.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and liberal organizers have gathered another 250,000 signatures, and counting, the lawmakers said.
Israeli Diplomacy and The Arab Spring: It's Complicated
In recent days there has been some crucial behind-the-scenes diplomacy between the Israeli government and the emerging leaders of Egypt as well as an envoy carrying a message on behalf of the revolutionaries bent on overturning Moammar Gadhafi in Libya.
The missions are important to providing some much-needed confidence to Israelis who feel threatened by the uncertainty of the Pan-Arab freedom movement, known as The Arab Spring.
There are still fears in Israel that the pro-democracy revolutions will be hijacked by Islamic extremists, leaving the Jewish State to face more Iranian-style governments run by religious radicals.
At the forefront of the flurry of diplomatic flurry, the Israeli Defense Ministry's political-security section representative Amos Gilad traveled yesterday to Cairo to negotiate the release of Hamas prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held by Hamas.
Shalit's release could reportedly come as early as today, though the Israeli government and Hamas is playing down the trade and its timing.
Gilad was also re-assured by senior Egyptian officials that the security measures being taken by Egypt at the newly re-opened Rafah border crossing are strict and effective. The New York Times reports that Palestinians are indeed finding it difficult to cross from Gaza to Egypt at Rafah.
On another front, the U.S. is pressing Egypt to start allowing natural gas to flow through a pipeline that serves Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The pipeline was damaged during the Egyptian revolution, but was repaired two weeks ago and stands idle.
"It would help rebuild confidence if the gas flows soon," a U.S. source who lobbies on behalf Israel said a short while ago.
Turning to Libya, French writer Bernard Henri Levy told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a 90-minute meeting in Jerusalem today that the rebel Transitional National Council intends to open diplomatic ties with Israel.
"The main point was that the future Libyan regime would be moderate and anti-terrorist and will be concerned with justice for the Palestinians and security for Israel," Levy told Agence French Presse. "The future regime will maintain normal relations with other democratic countries, including Israel."
The missions are important to providing some much-needed confidence to Israelis who feel threatened by the uncertainty of the Pan-Arab freedom movement, known as The Arab Spring.
There are still fears in Israel that the pro-democracy revolutions will be hijacked by Islamic extremists, leaving the Jewish State to face more Iranian-style governments run by religious radicals.
At the forefront of the flurry of diplomatic flurry, the Israeli Defense Ministry's political-security section representative Amos Gilad traveled yesterday to Cairo to negotiate the release of Hamas prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held by Hamas.
Shalit's release could reportedly come as early as today, though the Israeli government and Hamas is playing down the trade and its timing.
Gilad was also re-assured by senior Egyptian officials that the security measures being taken by Egypt at the newly re-opened Rafah border crossing are strict and effective. The New York Times reports that Palestinians are indeed finding it difficult to cross from Gaza to Egypt at Rafah.
On another front, the U.S. is pressing Egypt to start allowing natural gas to flow through a pipeline that serves Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The pipeline was damaged during the Egyptian revolution, but was repaired two weeks ago and stands idle.
"It would help rebuild confidence if the gas flows soon," a U.S. source who lobbies on behalf Israel said a short while ago.
Turning to Libya, French writer Bernard Henri Levy told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a 90-minute meeting in Jerusalem today that the rebel Transitional National Council intends to open diplomatic ties with Israel.
"The main point was that the future Libyan regime would be moderate and anti-terrorist and will be concerned with justice for the Palestinians and security for Israel," Levy told Agence French Presse. "The future regime will maintain normal relations with other democratic countries, including Israel."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Kucinich Vote On Ending US Role in Libya Might Pass?
Updated 1:45 p.m. edt
It is official: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) was sent an email today from the House leadership notifying him that his vote on the War Powers Act and ending U.S. involvement in the air campaign in Libya has been postponed.
The left-wing lawmaker suspects the move was made because of fear that his measure would pass.
"I am disappointed that the President and leadership feel the need to buy even more time to shore up support for the War in Libya. It’s not surprising that some are now wondering if a preliminary vote count on my resolution came out in favor of defending the Constitution," Kucinich said in a statement.
So far the vote has not been rescheduled.
end update
---[
It was supposed to be just another symbolic vote in Congress.
But word today is that the bill calling for an end to particpation by the United States in Libya sponsored by left-leaning Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) could actually have enough support to pass -- even after Democratic leaders like Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said they opposed the measure.
A coalition of peacenik Democrats and fiscally conservative Republicans who opppose spending the money to topple Moammar Gadhafi has emerged and could pass the measure, a House source explained a short while ago.
A vote scheduled for today in the House -- the same day NATO decided to extend the air campaign in Libya for three more months -- may have to be rescheduled, the source said.
It is official: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) was sent an email today from the House leadership notifying him that his vote on the War Powers Act and ending U.S. involvement in the air campaign in Libya has been postponed.
The left-wing lawmaker suspects the move was made because of fear that his measure would pass.
"I am disappointed that the President and leadership feel the need to buy even more time to shore up support for the War in Libya. It’s not surprising that some are now wondering if a preliminary vote count on my resolution came out in favor of defending the Constitution," Kucinich said in a statement.
So far the vote has not been rescheduled.
end update
---[
It was supposed to be just another symbolic vote in Congress.
But word today is that the bill calling for an end to particpation by the United States in Libya sponsored by left-leaning Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) could actually have enough support to pass -- even after Democratic leaders like Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said they opposed the measure.
A coalition of peacenik Democrats and fiscally conservative Republicans who opppose spending the money to topple Moammar Gadhafi has emerged and could pass the measure, a House source explained a short while ago.
A vote scheduled for today in the House -- the same day NATO decided to extend the air campaign in Libya for three more months -- may have to be rescheduled, the source said.
Debt Wars: DC's Summer Stock Greek Tragedy
The key to understanding the debt battle between the GOP-led Congress and the Obama White House is honing one's ability to separate the theatrics from the serious efforts to reach a deal before an Aug. 2 deadline.
Last night's House vote was stage play. House Speaker John Boehner called the vote to make a point that Congress would not raise the debt limit from $14.3 trillion to $16.7 trillion unless the bill includes widespread budget cuts. The House voted 318 to 97 against the measure.
MSNBC's morning anchor Chuck Todd reports that Boehner and the Republicans whispered to their Wall Street pals that the House voter was "a sideshow" -- a stunt to make a point.
Another kabuke dance was expected at this morning's White House meeting in the East Room. Obama planned to cite a letter the late President Ronald Reagan wrote to congressional leaders on Nov. 16, 1983. Previewing the letter, White House spokesman Jay Carney read from its text:
"The risks, the costs, the disruptions and the incalculable damage lead me to but one conclusion: The Senate must pass this legislation before the Congress adjourns."
There are no signs yet of a serious effort at compromise.
The GOP is opposed to increasing the government's revenues by either eliminating some tax breaks for corporations or raising taxes on the waelthiest 2% of Americans. They want belt-tightening to pull the country out of the listing economy and some type of fiscal alchemy that will prevent future borrowing.
The Democrats are fearful the GOP sweeping austerity measures will tank an economy that ius again shop wing signs of trouble. The White House argues that the House GOP will forego raising federal taxes, putting pressure on local communities tro raised property taxes to pay for basic services -- and raising property taxes at a trim when the housing market is slumping is not going to spur home sales.
It will be interesting to see how long Americans will put up with the thespians in the federal government this summer. There is much pain felt the past three years at the kitchen tables of America. This may not be the right climate for political one-upsmanship.
Last night's House vote was stage play. House Speaker John Boehner called the vote to make a point that Congress would not raise the debt limit from $14.3 trillion to $16.7 trillion unless the bill includes widespread budget cuts. The House voted 318 to 97 against the measure.
MSNBC's morning anchor Chuck Todd reports that Boehner and the Republicans whispered to their Wall Street pals that the House voter was "a sideshow" -- a stunt to make a point.
Another kabuke dance was expected at this morning's White House meeting in the East Room. Obama planned to cite a letter the late President Ronald Reagan wrote to congressional leaders on Nov. 16, 1983. Previewing the letter, White House spokesman Jay Carney read from its text:
"The risks, the costs, the disruptions and the incalculable damage lead me to but one conclusion: The Senate must pass this legislation before the Congress adjourns."
There are no signs yet of a serious effort at compromise.
The GOP is opposed to increasing the government's revenues by either eliminating some tax breaks for corporations or raising taxes on the waelthiest 2% of Americans. They want belt-tightening to pull the country out of the listing economy and some type of fiscal alchemy that will prevent future borrowing.
The Democrats are fearful the GOP sweeping austerity measures will tank an economy that ius again shop wing signs of trouble. The White House argues that the House GOP will forego raising federal taxes, putting pressure on local communities tro raised property taxes to pay for basic services -- and raising property taxes at a trim when the housing market is slumping is not going to spur home sales.
It will be interesting to see how long Americans will put up with the thespians in the federal government this summer. There is much pain felt the past three years at the kitchen tables of America. This may not be the right climate for political one-upsmanship.
NATO Extends Mission As Brit Mercs Deploy With Rebels
Updated 4:15 p.m. edt
Another senior Libyan government official defected today to Italy, while there was a rare explosion in the de facto rebel capital of Benghazi.
Libya's oil minister Shukri Ghanem became the latest member of Moammar Gadhafi's cabinet to defect, pledging his loyalty to the rebel Transitional National Council, the Italian news agency reported. The announcement came just days after more than 120 Libyan military, including at least five generals, defected.
In Benghazi, a car bomb exploded outside the hotel where diplomats stay when they meet with TNC officials. No one was hurt, according to the Associated Press.
end update
---[
NATO announced today it is extending the Libyan campaign by three months, driving the point home with at least a half-dozen air strikes overnight in Tripoli.
"NATO and partners have just decided to extend our mission for Libya for another 90 days. This decision sends a clear message to the Qadhafi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya. We will sustain our efforts to fulfil the United Nations mandate. We will keep up the pressure to see it through," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced.
"Our decision also sends a clear message to the people of Libya: NATO, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you. We stand united to make sure that you can shape your own future. And that day is getting closer," Rasmussen said.
A spokesman for Moammar Gadhafi repeated that the Libyan dictator will not step down.
In Britain, meanwhile, officials have been scrambling to explain an Al Jazeera video that captured about a half-dozen Western-looking military advisers mingling with the rebel army. Those boots on the ground belong to mercenary former British SAS officers, anonymous sources have been cited as saying by the UK press.
Britain, France and other Nato countries are supplying the mercs with communications equipment to work as target-spotters for air strikes and coordinators with rebel forces when British Apache and French Tiger attack helicopters are deployed around around Misrata this week, The Guardian of London reported.
Another senior Libyan government official defected today to Italy, while there was a rare explosion in the de facto rebel capital of Benghazi.
Libya's oil minister Shukri Ghanem became the latest member of Moammar Gadhafi's cabinet to defect, pledging his loyalty to the rebel Transitional National Council, the Italian news agency reported. The announcement came just days after more than 120 Libyan military, including at least five generals, defected.
In Benghazi, a car bomb exploded outside the hotel where diplomats stay when they meet with TNC officials. No one was hurt, according to the Associated Press.
end update
---[
NATO announced today it is extending the Libyan campaign by three months, driving the point home with at least a half-dozen air strikes overnight in Tripoli.
"NATO and partners have just decided to extend our mission for Libya for another 90 days. This decision sends a clear message to the Qadhafi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya. We will sustain our efforts to fulfil the United Nations mandate. We will keep up the pressure to see it through," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced.
"Our decision also sends a clear message to the people of Libya: NATO, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you. We stand united to make sure that you can shape your own future. And that day is getting closer," Rasmussen said.
A spokesman for Moammar Gadhafi repeated that the Libyan dictator will not step down.
In Britain, meanwhile, officials have been scrambling to explain an Al Jazeera video that captured about a half-dozen Western-looking military advisers mingling with the rebel army. Those boots on the ground belong to mercenary former British SAS officers, anonymous sources have been cited as saying by the UK press.
Britain, France and other Nato countries are supplying the mercs with communications equipment to work as target-spotters for air strikes and coordinators with rebel forces when British Apache and French Tiger attack helicopters are deployed around around Misrata this week, The Guardian of London reported.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)