A panel of foreign affairs experts argued Tuesday that France’s re-entry into the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization’s military command is not a “Trojan Horse” plot to undermine the power of NATO. Speaking at the Atlantic Council’s discussion “Going from Oui to fait Accompli: France’s Normalization with NATO” the panel discussed the key role that France will play in bringing together the European Union and the United States within NATO.

Leo Michel, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, says the idea that France’s re-involvement in NATO will allow them to undermine the organization is ridiculous.

“This is a win, win outcome. It is not cover for some a nefarious French plot to hobble NATO.”

“French reintegration is a vote of confidence in the trans-Atlantic community and provides an example to the rest of the Europe of a common effort towards meeting challenges coming at us” explained Jim Townsend, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy.

However, the panel stressed that France’s new role did not mean that the relationship between France and the United States would be “simple and easy.”

” There are some in town that think that the clouds are going to open and rainbows are going to appear and all of a sudden divisions after division of French forces are going to flow into the NATO system…that is just not realistic.” However, Townsend added, “The addition of French strategic thought back into NATO military command…will be a tremendous plus for the alliance.”

The President of the Center for Excellence in Education, Joann DiGennaro, explains the need for better laboratory skills among high school students and what they are doing to help the problem. (1:34)

“Innovation, conservation and production,” were the key messages coming from the Republican Study Committee and the Western Caucus as Congressional Republicans unveiled their alternative energy proposal today.

Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said, “Republican are wholly committed to finding positive solution to the challenges we face. Like with the stimulus, like with the budget and now in contrast to the Democrats national energy tax we are here to offer our vision.”

The American Energy and Innovation Act, as the proposal will be labeled, will create jobs and reduce debt according to Republicans. The main aims outlined in this bill are to, “encourage innovation” by creating renewable fuel options and environmental jobs. “Promote conservation” by “providing incentives for easing energy demand and creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment” and “increase production” by making use of all available technology and resources.

Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) said there were now “two roads” Americans could chose to tackle energy needs. “The Democrat road is saying it can’t work we are not even going to it, our road is saying we have the ideas now is the time to do it, said Bishop.

Adding that “The Democrats have already given us an option on energy issues that will cost individuals up to $3000…the Republican road we want to go down is one that actually grows our energy supply so that no-one is harmed and in fact we have the chance to reduce the cost of energy.”

Bishop compared the two strategies to the movie ‘Back to the Future’ saying, “Remember those sequels to ‘Back to the Future’ where there were the two worlds? Our world is the one where the McFly family is happy, the Democrat version is the one where Biff runs everything.”

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said the bill would be a “common sense act that is going to use our natural resources and our advanced technology to meet our energy needs and most importantly help our economy grow.”

In closing, Congressman John Fleming (R-La.) added, our vision “creates a vision for jobs, more jobs, not the so called paper mache jobs the green jobs, but real jobs created by industry.”

Talk Radio News Service embedded military affairs correspondent Richard Miller interviews Peter Jouvenal, a former war photographer and a hotel owner in Kabul, Afghanistan about his experiences covering the constant state of war in Afghanistan. (21:25)

Talk Radio News embedded Military Correspondent Richard Miller interviews Specialist Michael C. Smeltzer, 4th Brigade Combat Team, in Afghanistan about his second career in the military. (10:21)

Talk Radio News Service embedded Military Affairs Correspondent Richard Miller interviews Lt. Jason Chambers who is serving as a chaplain in Afghanistan. (9:07)

Talk Radio News Service embedded Military Affairs Correspondent Richard Miller interviews an officer in the U.S. Army, Col. Scott Waterman a special forces trainer of the Afghan security forces. (9:53)

The Instructor

Loading AK-47 magazines one round at a time

The face of the NCO

Check out more photos from Richard’s trip to Afghanistan on our Flickr Page!