UN officials believe the living conditions of Afghan civilians will be harmed by an expected intensification of the conflict. They also note that recovery and reconstruction efforts in the country could be undermined by the widening conflict, as NATO and Afghan forces continue a major military operation in Helmand province.

“Afghanistan needs long term development and many donors support recovery and reconstruction efforts,” said Robert Watkins, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, as he outlined a new framework for the 2010 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP).”However the impact is often undermined by emergency situations and conflicts”, Watkins said.

The current military surge in Helmand Province has already forced 10 000 civilians out of their homes.

Laurent Saillard, director of ACBAR( Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief ) also said he did not expect an improvement in the security situation for civilians in the country. “ We assume that, in regards to the military presence, there will be an intensification of the conflict, which will impact on the living conditions of civilians in Afghanistan.”

Amnesty International estimates the war claimed over 2400 civilian casualties last year, the highest total since 2001, when military operations first began.

The new HAP also addresses growing concerns over the use of aid as a political and strategic tool by the military, by increasing the role of NGO’s in the distribution of aid. “Distribution of humanitarian assistance should remain solely within the realm of humanitarian actors and not the military” said Watkins, “ The distribution of aid by military personnel gives the wrong signal to communities who then perceive all aid to be associated with the military. This has lead to threats of violence against the humanitarian community and hampered their ability to deliver needed services.”

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) gives ‘kudos’ to First Lady Michelle Obama on her fight for families of those serving in our Armed Services. Larson says that the real struggle is what those in our military do everyday. (0:30)

 

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Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in the press conference that the trial of the 9/11 conspirators by military commission is the only viable option for the U.S. (0:20)

 

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Following the State of the Union address, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) discusses how she thinks the freeze on discretionary spending will affect the military. (0:21)

 

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Jack Rice files a report from “the Boardwalk” in Kandahar, Afghanistan, talking about the strange contrast of the members of the military playing sports near American franchise restaurants against the weaponized, unmanned drones flying overhead.

 

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Guillermo Perez-Cadalso, former Foreign Minister and Honduran Supreme Court Justice, says that in the midst of all the media has failed to seperate the issue of President Zelaya’s removal from the country versus his proper removal from office under the terms of the Honduran Constitution. He highlights the fact that Zelaya was “legally and constitutionally removed from office.” (0:18)

 

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When asked what he believes President Barack Obama’s reaction to the military overthrow of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should be, human rights attorney Robert Amsterdam insists that Obama should have “no major role” in the situation. Amsterdam says Obama will keep his distance because of the instability of the situation. (0:37)

 

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By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Veterans and their families are receiving attention and better benefits as result of the recently passed supplemental bill, according to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She expressed her delight for the military families during her weekly press briefing. Pelosi also said the legislation not only helped our service men and women but included a provision that extends the G.I. Bill of Rights to families of the fallen.

“When we passed the bill last year, we were very proud of it. You would be able to transfer benefits, from a veteran who wasn’t interested in using it, to a family member. What emerged in conversations with family members is that if your family member fell in combat, you lost the benefit. So for us, this is a specific but very important improvement,” said Pelosi

She said members of the House met with veteran service organizations this week and the organizations that were pleased with how the new law will benefit them.

Members of the House were also able to announce advanced appropriations funding this week. It is something the veteran service organizations have been requesting for years and Pelosi said that it was “a giant step forward.”

As she continued to discuss what the House is doing to help U.S. service men and women she noted a change on what she called the “authorizing side.” The Armed Services Committee marked up its bill. That includes a pay raise for veterans, $1.9 billion for family housing and an internship pilot program for military spouses.

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

On Monday, Dr. Rafe Al-Eissawi, Iraq’s deputy prime minister, made a speech at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace Center in which he addressed the issue of U.S withdrawal from Iraq. Al-Eissawi insists that Iraqi security forces are ready to take over the protection of the country.

Al-Eissawi was optimistic that the Iraqi security forces could meet the requirements expected by the U.S to allow for the American withdrawal of its troops to optimize Iraqi stability and security after the 2010 Iraqi general elections that will determine the new members of the national parliament.

“Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end,” announced U.S. President Barack Obama on February 28.

Speaking on his assessment of the withdrawal, Al-Eissawi said “We consider the Iraqi forces are capable of controlling the situation.”

Iraq has acknowledged and taken measures to fill the vacuum left by the rapid departure of American forces and the gradual dispersion of American influence, Al-Eissawi said. “We are fully aware of the challenges that may take place accompanying this control shift of transition from mixed Iraqi-American to purely Iraqi security forces.”

But Al-Eissawi recognized that the Iraqi security forces’ capacity to take over the security of Iraq would not come immediately but would rather require that the national forces remain under American auspices, saying that Iraq “may need the American force in the next period, focusing more and more on training and some logistic support, which is considered to make a great difference.”

According to Al-Eissawi, the effectiveness of the withdrawal depends upon “The necessity of commitment and implementation of the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement that provides a framework of cooperation between two countries as one state stations troops in another state) between Iraq and America and the timing of withdrawal of the main troops from the main cities and the capacity building of the Iraqi security forces that will be able to cover the security vacuum that may take place accompanying the withdrawal.”

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

Despite the uncertainties that Congressional Republican leaders have on the efficacy of the reform of the International Monetary Fund, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is adamant that “The IMF will have a strong support from the Democrats.”

Pelosi defended the international organization today at her weekly press conference where she also mentioned the success of her recent bipartisan trip to China.

House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Whip Eric Cantormay, backed by other House Representatives who fear that Democrats are fusing two very different entities, the IMF and a bill, together, said that “Weighing down this critical legislation with non-defense spending will only drag this process out further and cost it essential Republican support needed for passage.”

Cantor added that “We should not be having this discussion. IMF funding has no business being included in the war supplemental bill,” while adding that the funding may result in helping terror-sponsoring states such as Pakistan.

The debate over funding of the IMF has stemmed from President Barack Obama’s announcement at the April Group of 20 meeting that $100 billion will be granted to the IMF as part of the U.S war-bill which should further the fight against the global economic crisis.

Obama also said that the U.S would support the IMF as it sell 400 tons of gold, whilst Pelosi reminded that “It [the IMF] has been reformed so that it will help the poor. They wanted to sell gold, we said you can, but the proceeds have to go to help the poor.”

Responding to Cantor’s allegations, Pelosi said “I don’t know why anyone would say that the money is going to the hands of terrorists, it’s simply not based on facts and is a scare tactic.”

Pelosi also said “There are two contradictory things: one says that one shouldn’t be on war funding, which is our responsibility to support our troops in the war in Iraq, end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home and fight terrorism where is it a threat to our country, which is in Afghanistan, and we know that we have to do that.” She added that “The IMF, in its reformed state, can be a force for alleviating the despair amongst people in the world. It’s a very important national security initiative.”

“The issue of the IMF, I think, has strong support on the Democrats’ side; not any support we’re hearing on the Republican side,” Pelosi said.

This war-bill, which involves military and diplomacy costs for Iraq and Afghanistan, will skyrocket to over $100 billion.