Helene Weinstein, Assemblywoman for New York Assembly, talks about introducing a bill to family court about civil order of protection for those that do not live together or for those of same sex relationships or teenage relationships. Before this bill only those that were married could request a civil order of protection.(11:00)
Susan White, Advocate against domestic violence, speaks about women in the work force and giving them the opportunity to speak out about their experiences with abuse. (8:55)
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says that due to the complex international environment, support for the next administration is necessary (1:20).
Jim Press, President and Vice Chairman of Chrysler LLC defends the integrity of his company. (0:52)
Wanda Lucibello, staff member on the Special Victims Division in New York, is talking about preventing abuse within martial relationships and having more abused speak out about their experiences. (10:45)
Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism chairman Bob Graham suggested improving protection for the high containment labs where pathogens are created by standardizing them (0:41).
Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism co-chair Jim Talent says that it would be easier for terrorists to obtain a biological weapon than a nuclear weapon, and that a biological weapon may prove to be more dangerous since it could be used more than once (0:29).
Chrysler LLC held a rally at an auto dealership in support of their proposed automaker bridge loans. The rally was attended by people affected by the entire auto industry, from the president of Chrysler, to dealers, industry parters, and local businessmen who are dependent on customers that dealers bring to their area.
“We sell an average of 25,000 cars a year to Marlyand residents. The sales tax alone generated on these vehicles over $30 million a year,” said Tammy Darvish of the Darcars Automotive Group, a car dealership group in Maryland and Northern Virginia. “We have 233 local businesses and vendors with whom we do over $83 million a year of business with…these are examples of where the pain would really be felt if manufacturers who provide us vehicles were not provided the much-needed support from Congress.” Darvish emphasized that communities and stories like hers can be told across the country. “We are the backbone of the American economy, and there is no other industry stronger or more united in good times or in bad times than all of us automotive dealers here today,” said Darvish.
This rally isn’t about “Wall Street or board rooms…this is main street, this is jobs, this is preserving our way of life,” said Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President of Chrysler. “This isn’t a business of a couple people flying around on jets,” said Press, “Chrysler is…a company that has made the way of life we enjoy.” Press said that if one of the automaker companies went under, it would have a ripple effect throughout the entire economy. “I flew Southwest to come here, I took the train from Philadelphia…I’m in a town-and-country van to go to Washington,” said Press.
“I don’t think we’re moving towards another Cold War, but the dangers do exist,” said Salome Zourabichvili, Chairwoman of the Georgia’s Way Party (former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Georgia). Zourabichvili says Georgia, Russia and the European Union need to have a frank and firm discussion about border security, energy policy and security, and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) in order to prevent more conflict between Georgia and Russia.
At a discussion at the Woodrow Wilson center, Zourabichvili recommended that the Obama administration recognize Georgia’s desire for Democracy, independent media, and government transparency. She warned the U.S. to aid Gerorgia’s government and institutions conditionally in order to allocate funds to the best place. Zourabichvili said private American institutions who fundraise for Georgia end up unintentionally funding the Georgian military budget (one-third of the national budget in 2007) and “regime consolidation.” With little pressure for government transparency, Zourabichvili said local levels of government practically “don’t exist,” have no budget and are largely governmentally controlled.
Zourabichvili said in exchange for a clear allocation of funds to Georgia, the U.S. will see a Democratizing nation and prevent the opportunity for escalated violent conflict between Georgia and Russia.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was presented with the National Defense University Foundation’s American Patriot Award in recognition for his distinguished, albeit often times controversial, career in public service.
Colleagues from the military, diplomatic, political and economic communities attended the award gala, and offered praise, matched with a goodhearted ribbing of Kissinger’s infamous ego.
“I want to warn you, especially you Henry, that I’m not going to praise you too much. I’ve known Henry very well for so many years, and I don’t want to overload the modesty that has been such a part of his character over these years,” Alexander Haig, former Secretary of State in the Reagan administration, teased
Colin Powell, Secretary of State during President George W. Bush’s first term, recounted a party in which Kissinger escorted Princess Diana.
“Have you ever seen Henry escort a beautiful woman around? It’s something to behold,” said Powell. “He escorts her through the room, making sure all eyes are on him. It is absolutely marvelous.”
However, when it came to discussing Kissinger’s foreign policy contributions, the mood turned much more solemn.
Haig credited Kissinger for maintaining peace throughout the Cold War, “I am grateful for your lifelong friendship, for what you have done for this country. To bring it into this century, and to do so without a shot being fired. And let me tell you, that happened from strategic thinking and creative diplomacy, and thank god it did. And for that debt of peace and success we owe Henry Kissinger, who was the architect of those policies, a world of thanks and gratitude,” said Haig.
Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan linked the Former Secretary of State’s policies with the spread of democracy abroad.
“In the 1960’s, there were fewer than 40 democratic nations in existence. Now thanks in significant part to Henry and the worldview he fostered in succeeding generations of American diplomats, American values are emulated virtually everywhere.”
At the evening’s close, Kissinger took the opportunity to reiterate his political philosophy.
“I came to this country as a refugee from Germany. So I have known in a way, that native born Americans cannot experience, what this country means to the downtrodden and those who need a ray of hope. And those of us who have gone through this have been committed to the proposition that American honor can’t be jeopardized for the sake of immediate comfort.”
Kissinger also touched upon the future, explaining that although he supported John McCain, the complex international situation requires cooperation.
“The new administration must be given every support and every encouragement to deal with this in the manner they have so far dealt with it. And I want to say that the hope of all Americans is with this new period that is now beginning.”
The National Defense University Foundation describes the recipients of the American Patriot Award as being those who have demonstrated ‘a profound and abiding love of country and whose inspirational leadership and selfless dedication symbolize our nation’s ideals, values and democratic principles’. Past recipients include John Glenn, Colin Powell, Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), and Senators Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
Henry Kissinger has been credited with opening diplomatic relations with China, developing the political strategy realpolitik, and establishing détente with the Soviet Union. He has garnered criticism for helping to orchestrate a clandestine bombing campaign against Cambodia and allegedly supporting the 1973 coup that put Chilean dictator Augosto Pinochet in power.
