David Victor, Professor of Law at Stanford University, discusses whether diminishing resources lead to national conflicts. (0:35)

 

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The Council on Foreign Relations held a discussion entitled, “The Race for Resources: Conflict in the 21st Century” cosponsored by the Council’s Center for Preventive Action. The discussion examined the consequences climate changes have on nations and their foreign policies, China’s involvement in Darfur, and the diminishing supply of “usable” water in the world.

Participants in the discussion included Leon Fuerth, Research Professor of International Affairs at the Elliott School for International Affairs, and Paul Kern, Senior Counselor of The Cohen Group. Kern argued that there is a connection between scarcities of resources throughout the world, particularly water, and conflicts between nations. Fuerth backed Kern’s argument by discussing how aggravation in World War II and the Cold War was heightened by arguments over resources between participating nations.

David Victor, Director of the Energy and Sustainable Development Program and Professor of Law at Stanford University, talked about how “energy sources in Sudan have funded their war.” He commented on China and India’s dependency on Sudanese resources, although also mentioned that the Chinese have made progress in decreasing their dependency.

This week’s escalation of violence in Iraq and the attacks on the Green Zone, American soldiers, yet again, are caught up in the middle of a civil war. As President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain inform the public about the progress of Iraq, Iraq experts tell all at a conference call today.

The speakers were Iraq War Veteran and Chairman and co-founder of VoteVets.org, Jon Soltz, senior fellow at the Center for Action Fund, Brian Katulis, from Democracy Corps Jim Gerstein and Karin Meredith whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004, while serving his country.

Brian Katulis started off by saying that much of the things happening in Iraq the past year were temporary; however the division between the Shiite groups was and still is very sharp. During the summer, Iraqis experienced a vast amount of violence in the Southern part of the country, where 4 politicians were killed and the violence reached its breaking point in Karbala, where 50 Iraqis were killed. During the fall season, the armed confrontations declined, due to the ceasefire ordered by the Prime Minister Maliki. However, some low level clashes were seen during winter and spring. Katulis continues by saying that this week’s attacks were the worst seen this year.

Jon Soltz on the other hand urges the president to come forward and confess that this war was a mistake and a big failure. He continues by saying that this cover was a “domestic political plan.”

The third speaker, Jim Gerstein, talked about how the public is sure about their stands on the Iraq War and how eager the voters are to move on from the current administration and its war policies. He also mentioned that electing Senator McCain will no way be a change in foreign diplomacy.

Lastly, Karen Meredith talked about her fallen son, and highlighted the fact that noting has changed since 2004 and the clashes between different Shiites groups have become more violent.

 

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US Army General Livingston, Deputy Commanding General of Combined Security Transition Command, says through the mentoring process, they have emphasized the need to continue to grow the army into an effective fighting element. The leaders have realized that the treatment and training of soldiers leads to an effective army, just like the U.S. Army. The biggest difference that they’ve been pursuing, he says, has been using the Afghan chain of command to affect personnel and logistical decisions. There has never been a question about whether the Afghan army can fight, he says, it’s always “can they sustain themselves,” and they are learning to do that now. (0:54)

 

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US Army General Livingston, Deputy Commanding General of Combined Security Transition Command, says they are doing very well as far as the security situation is concerned. Corruption is a need for survival. Some people use it to get ahead or to prepare for the next hard time. We have had to remove the need for corruption, he says, by instituting better pay systems in the army and police side by using electronic funds transfers, instituting an Afghan National Security force ID card, and they have eliminated a lot of the methods of corruption, and a lot of needs for corruption. (1:00)

 

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Live from Afghanistan this morning in a press briefing held in the Pentagon, US Army General Robert Livingston, Deputy Commanding General of Combined Security Transition Command, said we will see a “different summer.” Since the last time he spoke, they have been mentoring the police, and looking towards the long-term efforts in Afghanistan.

One of the main focuses is to retrain and reinsert the police force, utilizing ANCOP to replace them. There is a training surge, he said, and they are primarily focused on individual training. ANCOP is a bit like a national SWAT unit, Livingston said, and they are divided into units, which are trained to act as a unit instead of individually. They are being trained for multipurpose tasks, but, the military needs more police trainers. The need for more trainers is being touched on but is not moving as fast as they would like. (more…)

By Meredith MacKenzie
Briefer: Scott Stanzel

Schedule: The President taped the Sunday radio address and had his normal morning briefings. He will meet and hold a press availability with the Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd. Stanzel said the president hopes to talk about Afghanistan, security, and global climate change and the common interests of Australia and the United States. He will then travel in Marine One to Freehold, New Jersey to participate in the HOPE NOW Alliance roundtable. He will tour Novadebt, after which he will make a statement on the topic of housing. He will return to the White House in the late afternoon.

Novadebt is one of the partners working with the HOPE NOW Alliance which is a counseling program which helps families avoid foreclosure on their homes. Stanzel said that the administration is very committed to helping American families stay in their homes. Stanzel said he does not expect new programs or initiatives to be mentioned in the statement on housing. Stanzel said that the White House has been watching the consumer spending numbers and we do anticipate a weak quarter. The White House economic advisors do believe that growth will pick up in the second half of the year.

When asked about the economic stimulus checks, Stanzel responded that the White House believes that the money from the economic stimulus will be spent and it will provide a boost to the economy, leading to increased consumer spending and growth in the second quarter.

(more…)

Talk Radio News correspondent, Meredith Mackenzie, will attend the White House Gaggle and the briefing.

The Washington Bureau will attend the briefing at the Pentagon. We will also cover the special meeting with Jacques Edouard Alexis, the Prime Minister of Haiti.

Professor and author Linda Bilmes of Harvard University discusses the cost of war in Iraq. (0:47)

 

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A student demonstrates shelters in refugee camps

Protest participants stage a “die-in” in a demonstration against genocide in Darfur