In early 2007, Defense Secretary Robert Gates opted for humor to defuse a tense situation on the world stage. A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin harshly criticized U.S. foreign policy at a security conference in Munich, arguing that America wants to be the world’s sole “master,” Gates told the assembled officials, “One Cold War …
It was August, 1993 and President Clinton was working the Democratic majority in Congress to gather the votes for his first budget plan. For a President trying to change the direction of federal policy, as he was after 12 years of Republicans Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the first budget is perhaps the most …
Continue reading “Letter from Washington: Obama’s Playing Field”
TESTIMONY OF LAWRENCE J. HAAS VICE PRESIDENT COMMITTEE ON THE PRESENT DANGER TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS “IRAN: REALITY, OPTIONS, AND CONSEQUENCES. PART 2 – NEGOTIATING WITH THE IRANIANS: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHS FORWARD” Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Shays, Members of the Subcommittee, thank …
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent embrace of Iran’s radical regime begs a basic question for President Bush — would he rather prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons or continue working through the increasingly unhelpful institutions of the global community? Clearly, he can’t do both. The United Nations won’t act — Russia and China, both arms …
Continue reading “Time for a new “coalition of the willing” against Iran”
A recent call by three House Democrats for a temporary tax surcharge to finance the Iraq war met an all-too-expected fate. The White House and congressional Republicans blasted the Democrats as congenital tax raisers, and Democratic leaders played defense by disavowing the idea. With their proposal, Reps. David Obey, D-WI, John Murtha, D-PA, and James …
Continue reading “Raise taxes to strengthen national security”
Heading into the 2008 elections, President Bush’s management of the war in Iraq has given the Democratic Party a huge opportunity to compete with Republicans on the issue of national security — an issue the GOP has used to its advantage for the better part of several decades. But the Democrats’ presidential candidates, congressional leaders …
Continue reading “Democratic excesses on Iraq put 2008 at risk”
War opponents have learned a thing or two over the years. Rather than take the political risk of demonizing U.S. troops, as they did during Vietnam, they now say they “support the troops” even though they oppose whatever military exercise those troops happen to be engaging in. The war in Iraq has offered a new …