Fritz Ermath, Former National Intelligence Council Chairman, says U.S. policy making toward Russia should be informed by the deepest possible understanding of Russia. He says the U.S. devoted extensive research to that understanding during the Cold War, and the current policy-makers need to study Russia more today. (0:45)
Baker Spring, Research Fellow of National Security Policy at the Heritage Foundation, described the Obama administration’s failure to conduct the fundamental reviews necessary for a well grounded arms control policy as a “rush to failure”. Spring went on to add that arms control was at the heart of the U.S.-Soviet relationship and is now a central theme of the U.S.-Russia relationship. (1:04)
Elisa Massimino CEO and Executive Director of Human Rights First explains the policy damage caused by Guantanamo Bay and its international effect on radicals like Al Qaeda. (0:36)
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, answered questions for almost four-hours on foreign policy priorities in the Obama administration in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today.
Upon entering Clinton was met with protest signs from Code Pink asking the State Department to begin talks with the Palestinian government even if it did include Hamas, as they were democratically elected to their positions. One protester held a sign which read, “It is called the ‘state’ not ‘hate’ department.”
During the hearing Clinton made it clear that talks between the Obama administration and Hamas. She said, “The President’s policy…is very clear, we will not deal with, nor in any way fund, a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized Israel and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian authority. That is our policy, but we want to leave open the door so that can happen.”
This was Clinton’s first appearance to the House since her confirmation hearings earlier this year. In her opening statement she spoke of the progress she had made nearly 100-days into her new role. Clinton reiterated the Presidents goals in Afghanistan and and Pakistan and stated the administrations “core goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda, to prevent their return to safe havens in Afghanistan or Pakistan.”
On Iran Clinton said, “We are deploying new approaches to the threat posed by Iran, and we are doing so with our eyes wide open and with no illusions. We no the imperative of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons after years, during which the United States basically sat on the sidelines, we are now a full partner in the P5+1 talks.”
Before taking questions Clinton told the committee, “We are in this together. We have to row in the same direction for the benefit of our country and our children.”
From the Republican side, Clinton was asked multiple questions on her thoughts relating to abortion around the world. Congressman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) led the talk by asking whether “the Obama administration would be seeking in any way to weaken or over-turn pro-life laws and policies in African and Latin American countries either directly or through multilateral organizations.” Clinton told the committee, “It is my strongly held view that you are entitled to advocate and everyone who agrees with you should be free to do so anywhere in the world and so are we. We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women’s health and reproductive health includes access to abortion, that I believe should be safe, legal and rare.”
Clinton told the committee that during her time as First Lady helped create the campaign against teen pregnancy which saw the rate of teen pregnancy decrease. She said, “I am sad to report that after an administration of 8-years that undone so much of the good work, the rate of teenage pregnancy is going up”. To which she received applaud from members of the public listening at the hearing.
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) continued on the topic of abortion stating, “I don’t believe we should use American foreign policy to export abortion.” He feared it would “undermine” foreign relations with other countries. Congressman Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) also asked about abortion, asking Clinton her views on forced abortion in China. To which Clinton repeated her stance as First Lady stating this was “absolutely unacceptable.”
The hearing also saw clear partisan disagreement from the members on President Obama’s handshake with President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez. Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said he was “not amused” by these pictures and called Chavez a “Catro wannabe in the region”. Congresswoman Shelley Berkely (D-Nev.) addressed Pence’s during her statement, stating, “as an American I would have been mortified if our President had done anything other than what he did.” Addressing this argument Clinton said, “
Another area of partisan division lay in the decision to investigate some detainee tactics used during the Bush administration. Clinton repeated Obama stating, “No-one will be prosecuted who acted within the four corners of the legal advice that was given, following that advice to perform that function, that, that person believed was legal. However those who formulated those opinions and gave those orders should be reviewed and the President has referred that to the Attorney General.”
Asked by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) whether they she would be in favor of releasing documents that Dick Cheney has requested be released. Clinton responded, “It won’t surprise you that I don’t consider him a particularly reliable source of information.”
Clinton also answered questions relating to safety on the Mexican border, human rights in Cuba, terrorism, and Africa and Iraq amongst other top political issues. –
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today on foreign policy priorities for the Obama administration, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made clear the administrations position on working with the Palestinian political group Hamas. She said, “The President’s policy…is very clear, we will not deal with, nor in any way fund, a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized Israel and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian authority. That is our policy, but we want to leave open the door so that can happen.”
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) whether they she would be in favor of releasing documents that Dick Cheney has requested be released with regards to the investigation into tactics used during the Bush administration at a House Foreign Affiars Committee hearing today. Clinton responded, “It won’t surprise you that I don’t consider him a particularly reliable source of information.”
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee today to discuss the foreign policy priorities for the Obama administration. Congressman Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) asked Cinton about abortion asking her views on forced abortion in China. To which Clinton repeated her stance as First Lady stating this was “absolutely unacceptable.”
by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
At a discussion titled, “The Future of Northeast Asia’s Peace and Security: The Obama Administration’s Emerging Korea Policy,” Han Duk-soo, the Republic of Korea Ambassador to the U.S. addressed North Korea’s Sunday missile attack. He said that the six-party talks should be promoted and that it is at present the only alternative to the peaceful denuclearization of North Korea. (01:54)
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Ben Bernanke testified before the House Financial Services Committee concerning “An Examination of the Extraordinary Efforts by the Federal Reserve Bank to provide Liquidity in the current Financial Crisis.”
Chairman Barney Frank, (D-Mass) said in his opening statement: “I read before coming here, the new Treasury of the Secretary’s announcement of his plans to use the TARP funds. It is very clear that the Obama administration, as did the Bush administration is using the money in the TARP program in conjunction with the lending authority of the Federal Reserve.”
“There are also some important questions in the ways in which we govern ourselves. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve and indeed the Federal Reserve system, I believe were responding to the very real needs in society and people need not agree with every specific decision that the Federal Reserve made, to appreciate the sense of very important public purpose that has motivated them,” Chairman Frank said.
The Trouble Assets Relief Program (TARP), was a program set up, in October 2008, by the United States government to allow them to purchase assets and equity from financial institutions to help strengthen them during the economic recession.
The Ranking Member of the Committee, Representative Spencer Bachus, (R-Ala) said: “I believe in a democracy it should be a requirement in any agreement or transaction involving the government that…in the event that our governing officials come to the decision that the commitment of public funds is necessary, if a commitment of taxpayer funds or guarantees cannot be disclosed because of the circumstances involved it cannot and should not be made.”
Chairman Bernanke answered questions for over two hours to the Committee concerning the Federal Reserve’s problems in this economic crisis.
“I firmly believe that central banks be as transparent as possible both for reasons of democratic accountability and because many of our policies are likely to be more effective if they are well understood by the markets and the public…The Federal Reserve is committed to keeping the Congress and the public informed about its lending programs and its balance sheet.”
“To improve public access to information concerning Federal policies and programs, Federal Reserve staff are developing a new website that will bring together a new systematic and comprehensive way to find a full range of information the Federal Reserve already makes available, supplemented by new explanations, discussions and analysis. Our goal is to have this website operational in a few weeks.”
Chairman Bernanke also referred to a new committee that will revue the Federal Reserve’s current publications and disclosure policies that will relate to the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet and lending policies.
International Affairs Correspondent Blanquita Cullum interviews Head of delegation and ambassador for the European Union John Bruton about Europe’s view on Obama and Americas foreign policies. (16:34)
