Talk Radio News Service Military Affairs Correspondent Richard Miller interviews Lt. Doug Lowery about humanitarian assistance while embedded in Afghanistan. (8:34)

 

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During a press conference at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that the tragedy in Myanmar is compounded by the restriction of aid workers. He offers examples of when the U.S. military was able to help in humanitarian crises in the past. (0:31)

 

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During a press conference at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that despite his concerns about stop-loss, a retention technique where military members who are scheduled to retire or discharge are not allowed to do so, it has proven necessary in the current conflicts. He says that he expects with continued draw downs in Iraq, that the number of stop-loss cases will be reduced. (0:58)

 

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During a press conference at the Pentagon Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that despite a desire by the Commandant of the Marine Coprs, General James Conway, to move Marines into Afghanistan, additional deployments of Marines or other additional troops depend on the force levels in Iraq. (0:40)

 

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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen briefed the press at the Pentagon. The made a brief opening statement about how May is Military Appreciation Month and then took questions.

Gates stressed that there is no plan to extend the tour of the 3,400 Marines currently in Afghanistan. He said that “no one has suggested even the possibility of extending that rotation and I’d be loath to do that.” Mullen followed up that further additions of Marines to Afghanistan are “very much tied to troop levels in Iraq.” Gates said that a transition for the Marines from Iraq to Afghanistan “should it occur would be very challenging.”

On Myanmar the Secretary said that the Essex Strike Group has been offloading helicopters in Thailand where drops of supplies could be available in Myanmar within hours. The rest of the naval assets in the region have begun to head toward Myanmar in the even that the U.S. military is granted access to give aid. Both the secretary and the admiral stressed that under no circumstances would the U.S. move in without the permission of the Myanmar government. “The tragedy is compounded by the fact that if you look at what our Navy was able to do both with the tsunami and the Pakistani earthquake there is an opportunity here to save a lot of lives and we are fully prepared to help and help right away, it would be a tragedy if these assets, people didn’t take advantage of them.” Gates emphasized that the U.S. offer to help is totally non-political.

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Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) explains the Republican energy legislation, saying that the only way to drive gas prices down is to increase supply. (0:26)

 

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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says that there is not one simple solution for solving the high prices for oil and gas and gives a “real world” example of struggles due to the high prices. (1:08)

 

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Senator Kay Baily Hutchinson (R-TX) says that passing a windfall tax on profits made by oil companies would be a “stupid thing to do.” (0:59)

 

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The overwhelming topic at today’s stakeout was energy legislation. The Senate Republican Conference after leaving their weekly policy lunch was very clear about their message: increase supply. They explained through Senate Energy Committee Ranking Member Sen. Pete Domenici (R-MN) a five point plan to reduce crude oil prices by increasing supply. The Republican legislation calls for 2,000 acres of Alaskan plain know as ANWR to be opened for drilling, remove the moratorium on off-shore natural gas drilling and reward the states that abut offshore drilling coasts for doing so, to utilize and stop filling the strategic oil reserve, dedicate money to construct more refineries, and to borrow technology from South Africa to substitute liquid coal for oil. Senator John Ensign (R-NV) said that a principal problem with the price of oil is speculation in the futures market. He said that a strong commitment by the Congress in future investment in building America’s supply would stop speculation and immediately bring oil prices down.

The Republican statements were immediately followed by statements form the Senate Democratic leadership on their energy proposals. The Democrats began with Energy Committee Chairman Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) who explained the Democratic legislation. He said that they too have provision in the bill to stop filling the strategic oil reserve as well as anti-price gouging provisions. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) said that their bill reevaluates the windfall profits tax on “Big Oil” reestablishing the definition of “windfall” and taxing those profits at 25 percent. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said that the Democratic legislation also attempts to regulate margins in the futures market as a solution to the “orgy of speculation” over oil prices. Majority leader Reid said that they are going to “try and take a whack” at “Big Oil” in their bill.

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The briefer was White House Press Secretary Dana Perino.

Schedule
The president had his normal briefings. At the time of the gaggle, the president was meeting with the House Republican Conference. At this meeting the topics of the 2008 global war on terror supplemental, the price of gasoline, energy legislation, housing, the Protect America Act and the Colombia Free Trade Agreement were slated to be covered. The president is expected to give a statement on the meeting at 10:10. Today President Bush will sign the Ensuring Access to Student Loans Act. He will be briefed in the afternoon by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer about several USDA programs, specifically those domestic food aid programs such as food stamps, school lunches and WIC. The president will address the Council of the America’s at the State Department. His statement is expected to focus on the Merida Initiative, a program that gives aid and supplies to Mexico and other Central American countries to fight the war on drugs. He is expected to push for the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and call on Cuba to begin a process of democratic reforms. There will be a briefing by Steve Hadley on the president’s trip to the Middle East this afternoon.

Russia
In response to a question about the transition of power between former Russian president Vladimir Putin and the current president Dimitri Medvedev, Perino said that she expects the president to speak to Medvedev soon, but not today. She said that the two men look forward to beginning their relationship as two heads of state and that the G8 may be the first time they meet in person. Perino said that both leaders recognize that it is important to have a good relationship and that the two nations will continue to speak frankly and cooperate especially as it concerns Iran and it’s nuclear program.

Myanmar
Responding to a question about American aid in the wake of deadly cyclones in Myanmar, Perino said that it was her understanding that the U.S. stands ready to help but that no other nation has been allowed access into Myanmar to assist. “There is no substitute for being there on the ground helping directly,” Perino said.

Housing
On the topic of the housing bill being put forth by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) Perino said that the White House feels it goes too far, too fast. The administration would like to see the modernization of the Federal Housing Administration and other reforms included in the bill with out putting too much risk on tax payers.

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