Letters to the Editor
casual_observer
Published Letters: 1249 Editor's Choice: 1
-
Interesting Data
[Read the article: Attacks on civilians, torture and lawless detentions]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The comparative data on violence directed at civilians is very interesting. I hope there will be discussion regarding why the US is such an outlier in this regard. Is it due to our violent history? Is it because our own citizenship has forgotten what it is like to have military violence directed at it? Regardless, our own aberrant willingness to inflict violence on civilians is a troubling fact.
GG, the CBS/NYT poll may also be worth future discussion. Looking at those numbers, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the democratic majority has just damaged itself (Iraq appropriation) with it's own base and with independents. Resulting frustration could well be visited on democratic incumbents next year.
A discussion of what the congressional thinking was on this issue would be interesting. It is not enough to call them "spineless" and then drop the topic. What is their logic?
-
OT
[Read the article: The complete myth driving our Iraq "debate"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Little coverage of this Presidential Directive, but people keep calling in to C-Span asking/complaining about it. Some links to the directive, and related articles.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html
“BUSH MAKES POWER GRAB”
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_107907.asp
“BUSH GRANTS PRESIDENCY EXTRAORDINARY POWERS”
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55825
-
Just for laughs
[Read the article: The complete myth driving our Iraq "debate"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The congressional description of the "emergency" spending bill as introduced--the description of the bill as passed to follow:
"U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 - Makes emergency supplemental FY2007 appropriations for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as specified activities, including international and security-related activities, of the Departments of Defense (Military, including funds for Iraqi and Afghan security forces), of Justice, of Energy, of Homeland Security, of Defense (military construction and base closure), of State (including international peacekeeping operations), related agencies, and the House of Representatives and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Provides funds to enable military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction requirements.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to inspect annually military medical treatment facilities, including military quarters housing medical hold or holdover personnel, to insure that they meet acceptable standards for their maintenance and operation. Requires additional inspections of identified deficiencies.
Provides funds to the Government of Iraq to support the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of militias and illegal armed groups.
Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Woodrow W. Keeble for valor during the Korean War.
Provides funds to local education agencies (LEAs) in districts adversely affected by significant changes in the military population.
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) as battalions of the Iraqi security forces achieve a level of combat proficiency to conduct independent combat operations without support from Iraqi Coalition forces, U.S. Armed Forces units should be redeployed from Iraq; and (2) regular, accurate accounts of the combat proficiency of Iraqi battalions security forces are necessary for the American public to gauge the development of them.
Prohibits the use of funds to deploy or redeploy any unit of the Armed Forces to Iraq unless the President has certified to the congressional appropriations committees in advance that the unit is fully mission capable. Sets a maximum number of days for deployment or redeployment in Iraq for military units. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition and deployment or redeployment limits on a unit-by-unit basis for reasons of national security.
Provides that such limitations shall not be construed to require force levels in Iraq to be decreased below total U.S. force levels before January 10, 2007.
Prohibits the use of funds to close Walter Reed Army Medical Center until equivalent medical facilities at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, and/or the Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Community Hospital have been constructed and equipped.
Specifies conditions for assistance to Lebanon.
Provides funds to assist Liberia in retiring its debt arrearages.
Requires the Department of State to provide GAO staff members the country clearances, life support, and logistical and security support necessary for them to establish a presence in Iraq for at least 45 days.
Makes additional appropriations for disaster relief and recovery related to Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, Dennis, and Rita to the Departments of Agriculture, of Justice, of Commerce, of Defense (Civil), of Homeland Security, of the Interior, of Education, of Transportation, of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Makes other emergency appropriations for specified purposes to the Departments of Defense (Civil), of the Interior, of Agriculture, of Health and Human Services (for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and for response to an influenza pandemic), of Veterans Affairs (particularly veterans' health programs), of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the legislative branch.
Makes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to eliminate the FY2007 shortfall in funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage to: (1) $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after enactment of this Act; (2) $6.55 an hour, beginning 12 months after that 60th day; and (3) $7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day. Applies federal minimum wage requirements to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and to American Samoa.
Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend and revise certain tax provisions affecting small business owners, including the work opportunity tax credit and expensing of small business assets; (2) extend and expand certain tax incentives for investment in the Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone; (3) revise requirements relating to subchapter S corporations; and (4) modify certain miscellaneous tax administration requirements."