The Obama Administration announced their decision in the past days to join the current multi-party nuclear talks with Iran. The move by the administration came as no surprise to either the public, nor the press as President Obama had made his intentions clear during the campaign. However, a letter sent to the President by Democratic congressional leadership did come as a surprise to both the administration and press. Democratic leadership urged the President to act swiftly in any potential talks with Iran and to not allow the Iranians to continue their efforts to stall talks and international action. The letter, which was necessary but unexpected, urged the President to "not take too long" with peace talks before moving onto to push for toughened international sanctions and international action. A widespread consensus has been reached that a the US presence within the multi-national talks will not likely produce results as Iran has continued it's defiance against international law and has continued its nuclear program in violation of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and numerous other treaties the nation agreed too.
Whether the letter by congressional Democrats was a sincere gesture or just an attempt to protect leadership against failure of the Obama policy is unknown, and most likely a combination of the two. Regardless, this letter should provide the Obama administration with a reminder that time in peacefully dealing with Iran is rapidly expiring and a nuclear Iran is not an option that many Mideast countries are willing to accept. The international community is in disagreement as to how far along the Iranian nuclear program is, but intelligence community is fearful that a new US presence within the international nuclear talks will set back or even restart efforts to disarm the Iranian nuclear program and result in delaying progress towards further international sanctions. The intelligence community has also expressed fears that a late US presence within the talks may also hinder the United States' ability to take pre-emptive action (i.e. air strike) against Iranian facilities without consent of the member nations. As a result, many are now rightfully wondering, is Israel the last best hope to stopping a nuclear Iran.
In 2002, Iranian dissident groups working along-side Israeli intelligence shocked the international community when they presented evidence of an advanced and unknown Iranian nuclear program. Since that date, Israeli and other intelligence officials have located and identified numerous nuclear facilities throughout Iran and the IAEA has found trace evidence of nuclear material only used within weapons programs. In the seven years since the Iranian Program was forced into the public eye, international efforts and sanctions have failed to produce any results.
In response to the Obama administrations announcement of their new diplomatic engagement with Iran, Israeli President, Shimon Peres, stated on Israeli radio that if President Obama's new dialogue failed to soften Ahmadinejad, "we'll strike him". The interview with Peres, highlights the reality that many defense officials believe that the Obama administration is operating under the assumption that if they fail, the Israeli's will clean up the mess. However, the intelligence community has long feared that unlike the previous Iraqi and Syrian facilities destroyed by Israel, much of the Iranian nuclear program is scattered and operating in underground facilities. Likewise, any Israeli operation would require that the Israelis utilize or violate the air space of multiple nations in an attempt to destroy any Iranian facility. As a result, the intelligence community along with most defense experts agree that an Israeli air strike would only work if it were part of a joint exercise with the United States, which may be unlikely considering the United States' 9th inning entry into diplomatic negotiations with Iran.
The fact remains, that although the Obama administration and the international community should pursue diplomatic avenues; but, the administration should learn from history that these avenues have produced few results. As a result, we can only hope that the Obama administration has a solid timeline in place and is not willing to allow Iran to further delay international action. In the past 30 years, the only nation to voluntarily abandon it's nuclear program was Libya, not as a result of years of negotiation, but rather the result of a fear of U.S. action following the invasion of Iraq. Nuclear Abandonment negotiations have repeatedly failed, even with nations such as Pakistan and India, who have strong diplomatic relationships with the U.S.
So the question now is simple: Has this move by the Obama administration pushed back international action against Iran? And, is Israel the last best hope to stop a nuclear Iran?
Attn: News Editors, Book Publishers & Agents
Monday, April 13, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Forget the Saudi Bow, "We are talking about housing"
Nearly a week after it occurred, it is time that the media and critics of President Obama stop the debate and endless rant over whether or not President Obama bowed to royalty in Saudi Arabia and instead discuss what can easily be referred to as the least compassionate and least presidential moment of the the 44th President to date. This week, our nation received a rude awakening about the reality of Oceanic Terrorism, as for the first time in 200 years a commercial US flagship operating in a non-combat zone fell victim to piracy.
This is not the first time that a US flagship has fell victim to piracy, within combat operational areas such as the 1960's Cambodian incident the US has combated piracy and an unknown number of personal vessels have fallen victim to piracy throughout the years. However, the events that have unfolded this week should not be taken lightly be the White House, as the handling of this event could very well open up future hijackings of American ships.
The White House has made repeated attempts to inform the public that they are "on top of" the situation and to convey the "concern" of President Obama, but during a news conference on housing this week the President, who should have been prepared, showed a complete disregard for the victims of these Somali pirates and the American whose life is still in jeopardy. During the news conference, President Obama when asked about the unfolding situation off the Somali coast responded with only 7 words..."We are talking about housing right now..."
Let's make clear that the President's first and foremost duty to this nation is to protect U.S. Citizens and US interests abroad. The United States Navy primary objective is to secure the safety of US waterways and US interests on the high sea. There is nothing more important than the sovereignty of this nation and security of it's citizens and it is time that someone remind the President of this duty. The President's reaction should have been simple and direct, alluding to the fact that his thoughts and concerns were with the families affected by this act of Oceanic Terrorism and then he should have made clear to the world that the United States Government will not tolerate any act of Oceanic Terrorism perpetrated against American citizens, American flagships or those of our allies and that these acts will stop immediately or any nation or parties responsible will have to deal with the United States military.
Since 1993, the U.S. and the media have ignored the increasing acts of piracy occurring off the horn of Africa. For the most part in the two years since Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck first focused on international piracy, the mainstream media has turned a blind eye. Only now that a US flagship has been attacked has the media or this government openly discussed the threat presented by these Oceanic Terrorists and if the administration does not deal with this situation in a direct and powerful manner, then we may as well accept the fact that there will be future attacks upon US citizens and ships upon the high sea.
For nearly 2 decades, the Clinton, Bush and now the Obama administration has largely ignored the increase in Oceanic Terrorism. The media has dulled public perception of these events by referring to them as acts of piracy, which inevitably drum up images of a peg legged hairball with a parrot sitting on his shoulder. International piracy is brutal and is an act of terrorism; and once again our governments' failure to openly address the issue has imperilled the lives of innocent Americans. Somalia is rogue state, abandoned by the civilized world and an operational safe-haven for Islamic Terrorists including Al-Quaeda. The weapons being used by these Oceanic Terrorists are being purchased through Yemen (the site of the USS Cole attack) and the chief black marketeer of Yemen is Al-Quaeda.
The events that have unfolded this week off the horn of Africa are not an isolated incident and deserve the full attention of the US media and more importantly the sitting President. Housing issues are important in this nation, but for a President to ignore a question concerning an attack upon US citizens because he is discussing "housing" is a full-blown Presidential failure and should raise serious questions this administrations priorities. I fully understand President Obama's attempt to control the media message and stay on track with his prepared remarks, but this event was beyond ridiculous. Perhaps someone in the administration should prepare remarks for President Obama after he decides to drop a few dozen bombs on Somalia ports being used by these Oceanic Terrorists (unfortunately, I doubt that will happen).
This is not the first time that a US flagship has fell victim to piracy, within combat operational areas such as the 1960's Cambodian incident the US has combated piracy and an unknown number of personal vessels have fallen victim to piracy throughout the years. However, the events that have unfolded this week should not be taken lightly be the White House, as the handling of this event could very well open up future hijackings of American ships.
The White House has made repeated attempts to inform the public that they are "on top of" the situation and to convey the "concern" of President Obama, but during a news conference on housing this week the President, who should have been prepared, showed a complete disregard for the victims of these Somali pirates and the American whose life is still in jeopardy. During the news conference, President Obama when asked about the unfolding situation off the Somali coast responded with only 7 words..."We are talking about housing right now..."
Let's make clear that the President's first and foremost duty to this nation is to protect U.S. Citizens and US interests abroad. The United States Navy primary objective is to secure the safety of US waterways and US interests on the high sea. There is nothing more important than the sovereignty of this nation and security of it's citizens and it is time that someone remind the President of this duty. The President's reaction should have been simple and direct, alluding to the fact that his thoughts and concerns were with the families affected by this act of Oceanic Terrorism and then he should have made clear to the world that the United States Government will not tolerate any act of Oceanic Terrorism perpetrated against American citizens, American flagships or those of our allies and that these acts will stop immediately or any nation or parties responsible will have to deal with the United States military.
Since 1993, the U.S. and the media have ignored the increasing acts of piracy occurring off the horn of Africa. For the most part in the two years since Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck first focused on international piracy, the mainstream media has turned a blind eye. Only now that a US flagship has been attacked has the media or this government openly discussed the threat presented by these Oceanic Terrorists and if the administration does not deal with this situation in a direct and powerful manner, then we may as well accept the fact that there will be future attacks upon US citizens and ships upon the high sea.
For nearly 2 decades, the Clinton, Bush and now the Obama administration has largely ignored the increase in Oceanic Terrorism. The media has dulled public perception of these events by referring to them as acts of piracy, which inevitably drum up images of a peg legged hairball with a parrot sitting on his shoulder. International piracy is brutal and is an act of terrorism; and once again our governments' failure to openly address the issue has imperilled the lives of innocent Americans. Somalia is rogue state, abandoned by the civilized world and an operational safe-haven for Islamic Terrorists including Al-Quaeda. The weapons being used by these Oceanic Terrorists are being purchased through Yemen (the site of the USS Cole attack) and the chief black marketeer of Yemen is Al-Quaeda.
The events that have unfolded this week off the horn of Africa are not an isolated incident and deserve the full attention of the US media and more importantly the sitting President. Housing issues are important in this nation, but for a President to ignore a question concerning an attack upon US citizens because he is discussing "housing" is a full-blown Presidential failure and should raise serious questions this administrations priorities. I fully understand President Obama's attempt to control the media message and stay on track with his prepared remarks, but this event was beyond ridiculous. Perhaps someone in the administration should prepare remarks for President Obama after he decides to drop a few dozen bombs on Somalia ports being used by these Oceanic Terrorists (unfortunately, I doubt that will happen).
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Media Still Silent On Obama's Proposal To Cut Medicare
Nearly a month and half has passed since the public got their first look at President Obama's proposed budget. Yet outside of industry publications and few mainstream news articles, the media has conveniently overlooked an Obama administration proposal that would eliminate $177 billion from Medicare Advantage funding over a ten year period and subsequently raise the out of pocket costs of more than 10 million senior citizens.
The proposal which is based upon Democratic claims that the Medicare Advantage program is more costly than the tradition system would alter the insurance company reimbursement terms of the Medicare Advantage program thus saving the federal government over $177 billion. This money would then be utilized by the Obama Administration as part of their down payment for a universal health care system. However, the Obama administration has conveniently overlooked the reality of the Medicare Advantage Program. Medicare Advantage plans, which our firm has recommended against due to federal funding uncertainty, essentially act as an alternative to tradition Medicare Supplement policies which are a necessary component of the Medicare coverage system and can cost seniors up to $4,000 per year. Medicare Advantage plans offer similar coverage while potentially saving senior citizens thousands of dollars a year in supplement premiums.
The administration claims that the higher costs of the Medicare Advantage system act as profit centers for the insurance industry. However the Obama administration has ignored, and the media has failed to point out, that these excess federal funds have been passed onto Senior Citizens through lower premiums. In fact, a vast majority of Medicare Advantage enrollees pay no or little out of pocket premiums, saving them thousands of dollars per year. Considering that a vast majority of the Medicare Advantage sales have come from lower income senior citizens, the proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage funding would result in raising the out of pocket expenses of the one demographic that could least afford the additional costs.
This administration appears to be willing to stop at nothing to push their agenda. In a rush to fulfill campaign promises, they have demonstrated a complete disregard for security of federal programs already in existence. The proposed cuts to the Medicare Advantage program will negatively impact more than 10 million seniors resulting in less discretionary income and a lower quality of care for the senior citizens. President Obama was quick to point out on the campaign trail that no Senior Citizen should have to choose between food and medicine, apparently that statement does not apply to their overall health care costs.
The proposal which is based upon Democratic claims that the Medicare Advantage program is more costly than the tradition system would alter the insurance company reimbursement terms of the Medicare Advantage program thus saving the federal government over $177 billion. This money would then be utilized by the Obama Administration as part of their down payment for a universal health care system. However, the Obama administration has conveniently overlooked the reality of the Medicare Advantage Program. Medicare Advantage plans, which our firm has recommended against due to federal funding uncertainty, essentially act as an alternative to tradition Medicare Supplement policies which are a necessary component of the Medicare coverage system and can cost seniors up to $4,000 per year. Medicare Advantage plans offer similar coverage while potentially saving senior citizens thousands of dollars a year in supplement premiums.
The administration claims that the higher costs of the Medicare Advantage system act as profit centers for the insurance industry. However the Obama administration has ignored, and the media has failed to point out, that these excess federal funds have been passed onto Senior Citizens through lower premiums. In fact, a vast majority of Medicare Advantage enrollees pay no or little out of pocket premiums, saving them thousands of dollars per year. Considering that a vast majority of the Medicare Advantage sales have come from lower income senior citizens, the proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage funding would result in raising the out of pocket expenses of the one demographic that could least afford the additional costs.
This administration appears to be willing to stop at nothing to push their agenda. In a rush to fulfill campaign promises, they have demonstrated a complete disregard for security of federal programs already in existence. The proposed cuts to the Medicare Advantage program will negatively impact more than 10 million seniors resulting in less discretionary income and a lower quality of care for the senior citizens. President Obama was quick to point out on the campaign trail that no Senior Citizen should have to choose between food and medicine, apparently that statement does not apply to their overall health care costs.
North Korea Tests More Long Range Missiles, Obama Administration Reacts By Cutting Missile Defense?
Over the past two weeks the intelligence community, global leaders and news agencies and have maintained a constant vigil over an impending North Korean long range missile test. With no certainty as to when the tests might proceed, speculation as to the purpose of the tests and timing of the tests ran the gamut. As recently as just 12 hours before North Korea launched their tests, US news agencies were speculating that perhaps the missile tests had failed at ground level or that perhaps it the tests were nothing more than an empty threat.
But then the they came...and the missile tests failed after just 15 minutes of flight...
Global reaction to the tests were half-hearted when compared to the swift and incendiary reaction that followed the series of short-range and long-range missile tests that North Korea conducted in 2006. For the most part, U.S. reaction, especially that of the Obama Administration, was non-existent compared to the swift and strong reaction of the Bush Administration during the 2006 events. Administration officials, for the most part, downplayed the significance of North Korea's tests, focusing on the overall failure of the tests rather than the disturbing reality that their technology and delivery systems were improving. Administration officials were careful not use incendiary language in order to preserve the ongoing six-party talks with North Korea and the President Obama failed to utilize his world stage to condemn North Korea's actions and call for punitive action to be taken.
For twenty years North Korea has remained a forgotten state. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union the first Bush administration and Clinton Administrations viewed North Korea as nothing more than a powerless remnant of the fallen Soviet Empire and nothing more than an isolated nuisance. Since North Korea's nuclear capabilities were discovered the nation has perplexedly remained a forgotten enemy as the Bush administration, and now it appears the Obama administration, have failed to recognize the Northern threat. North Korea was never Soviet Satellite as much as it was a necessary partner. North Korea is directly under the control of a narcissistic megalomaniac who has successfully isolated his nation to a point that there is no longer any generation of North Koreans who are aware of the freedom that exists outside of their borders. Every day that passes in which the world fails to counteract North Korean ambitions is a step closer to the North Korean capabilities of striking the US with a nuclear weapon.
While the Obama administration and news agencies have focused on the eventual failure of these tests, our true concerns should be focused on the successes of these tests. It took our government hundreds of unsuccessful missile tests and more than a decade to develop a missile capable of delivering its payload half-way around the world. But that was 60 years ago and missile technology has since been passed from nation to nation. North Korea is not building their program from scratch, they have the luxury of 60 years of gathered technology and the confirmed collaboration of missile ready states such as Iran. Over the course of just one test, North Korea was able to demonstrate exponential progress in the rocket propulsion systems. In 2006, the north achieved less than 3 minutes of flight, yet in their next test obtained more than 15 minutes of flight. Although 15 minutes may seem insignificant, consider a NASA shuttle launch and the amount of time that it takes to put a shuttle into orbit...Now how long does 15 minutes seem?
This weekend I listened to administration official during the talk shows mention that the best way to deter North Korea was to maintain a strong defensive capability. Although that statement was somewhat disturbing, the fact is that our nation should be taking every step possible to provide security our citizens through strong defensive measures. Yet, less than 2 days after North Korea's test Secretary Gates releases the proposed pentagon budget, which portrays a blueprint of the administration's policies, that cut spending on key defense initiatives including an advanced laser-based missile defense system. Now chalk it up to poor timing if you wish, but what on earth were they thinking? And what message did the administration just send to North Korea?
I am not surprised that the Obama administration would push Secretary Gates towards cutting back missile defense systems, after all President Obama openly stated (with little coverage) his opposition to advanced missile defense systems during the campaign. However, I would think that in light of North Korea's further missile testing and further abrogation of the terms of the latest disarmament agreement, that the administration would have removed that language from the pentagon budget until such time that the current situation has been dealt with. This announcement by the administration was ill-advised at the least and the idea that our government would consider a cut in funding for critical defense initiatives such as advanced missile defense systems is indefensible. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail when the budgets are up for congressional approval.
But then the they came...and the missile tests failed after just 15 minutes of flight...
Global reaction to the tests were half-hearted when compared to the swift and incendiary reaction that followed the series of short-range and long-range missile tests that North Korea conducted in 2006. For the most part, U.S. reaction, especially that of the Obama Administration, was non-existent compared to the swift and strong reaction of the Bush Administration during the 2006 events. Administration officials, for the most part, downplayed the significance of North Korea's tests, focusing on the overall failure of the tests rather than the disturbing reality that their technology and delivery systems were improving. Administration officials were careful not use incendiary language in order to preserve the ongoing six-party talks with North Korea and the President Obama failed to utilize his world stage to condemn North Korea's actions and call for punitive action to be taken.
For twenty years North Korea has remained a forgotten state. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union the first Bush administration and Clinton Administrations viewed North Korea as nothing more than a powerless remnant of the fallen Soviet Empire and nothing more than an isolated nuisance. Since North Korea's nuclear capabilities were discovered the nation has perplexedly remained a forgotten enemy as the Bush administration, and now it appears the Obama administration, have failed to recognize the Northern threat. North Korea was never Soviet Satellite as much as it was a necessary partner. North Korea is directly under the control of a narcissistic megalomaniac who has successfully isolated his nation to a point that there is no longer any generation of North Koreans who are aware of the freedom that exists outside of their borders. Every day that passes in which the world fails to counteract North Korean ambitions is a step closer to the North Korean capabilities of striking the US with a nuclear weapon.
While the Obama administration and news agencies have focused on the eventual failure of these tests, our true concerns should be focused on the successes of these tests. It took our government hundreds of unsuccessful missile tests and more than a decade to develop a missile capable of delivering its payload half-way around the world. But that was 60 years ago and missile technology has since been passed from nation to nation. North Korea is not building their program from scratch, they have the luxury of 60 years of gathered technology and the confirmed collaboration of missile ready states such as Iran. Over the course of just one test, North Korea was able to demonstrate exponential progress in the rocket propulsion systems. In 2006, the north achieved less than 3 minutes of flight, yet in their next test obtained more than 15 minutes of flight. Although 15 minutes may seem insignificant, consider a NASA shuttle launch and the amount of time that it takes to put a shuttle into orbit...Now how long does 15 minutes seem?
This weekend I listened to administration official during the talk shows mention that the best way to deter North Korea was to maintain a strong defensive capability. Although that statement was somewhat disturbing, the fact is that our nation should be taking every step possible to provide security our citizens through strong defensive measures. Yet, less than 2 days after North Korea's test Secretary Gates releases the proposed pentagon budget, which portrays a blueprint of the administration's policies, that cut spending on key defense initiatives including an advanced laser-based missile defense system. Now chalk it up to poor timing if you wish, but what on earth were they thinking? And what message did the administration just send to North Korea?
I am not surprised that the Obama administration would push Secretary Gates towards cutting back missile defense systems, after all President Obama openly stated (with little coverage) his opposition to advanced missile defense systems during the campaign. However, I would think that in light of North Korea's further missile testing and further abrogation of the terms of the latest disarmament agreement, that the administration would have removed that language from the pentagon budget until such time that the current situation has been dealt with. This announcement by the administration was ill-advised at the least and the idea that our government would consider a cut in funding for critical defense initiatives such as advanced missile defense systems is indefensible. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail when the budgets are up for congressional approval.
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