by Frank James
A quick guided tour of some of the morning's most important or interesting (or both) Washington-related stories.
Recent U.S. military war games suggested that Iraq would become three separate nations if U.S. forces left anytime soon.
Contractors in Iraq have nearly as many employees as there are U.S. troops in the war-torn nation, exposing these workers to the dangers from violence but without the medical safety net provided to service members.
Democratic senators declared they would keep the Senate in session all night to try to force Republicans to allow a vote on Democratic legislation that would set a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin sent a letter to the Pentagon warning that the additional armor plating for the military's new mine resistant vehicles is too heavy, impairing the vehicles.
The rebuilding of New Orleans's levees has occurred more slowly than expected with doubts about their ability to withstand another large hurricane and complaints about how the reconstruction efforts favor white over black neighborhoods.
President Bush said his administration would redouble its efforts to achieve a Palestinian state and recommended a fall regional summit to advance the two-state goal of Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security.
Presidential candidates have been forced to accelerate their spending, according to their fundraising and spending reports, as they prepare for the much earlier spate of state primaries.
Sen. Barack Obama's campaign has used unusual methods, like counting the sale of cheap campaign souvenirs like key chains as contributions to build his army of small donors.
The Food and Drug Administration has so few inspectors that less than one percent of the food is inspected and the situation is likely to worsen according to a congressional report.
A shadowy Marxist group claimed to blow up natural gas pipelines in central Mexico this month, causing U.S. auto manufacturers to temporarily stop production.
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Comments
The "Recent U.S. military war games..." story is very interesting.
It's anybodys guess as to whether it's accurate, but it's worth finding out.
What we know for sure is that the Iraqi Government is unable and/or unwilling to forge a political compromise. The only thing these genuises seem to agree on is they want to take time off work.
We need to get our troops out of the Iraqi Civil War referee business.
NOW!
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 17, 2007 9:58 AM
If the choice is another American military death or few billion or trillion and staying in Iraq versus Iraq turning into three separate
countries, I'll take the latter.
Give the Iraqis reasonable warning and start the pullout this summer. No more American deaths. No more billions of American
dollars.
If the pullout results in a bloodbath (and there is no certainty that it will), well, in the end it's the Iraqis' decision. We can't save all the countries in the world from themselves.
Let Iraq's neighbors and the Arab world take care of the problems there. It really is in their national interest.
Let's keep saying to ourselves: half a trillion dollars and 3600 American
soldiers dead--we've done our share. It's time for other parts of the international community to step in. The UN. The Arab League. The EU.
It's also time to impeach Bush and Cheney if they persist in this bloody, expensive war. Maybe that will get their attention.
Posted by: Helena | July 17, 2007 10:08 AM
A story in politico.com notes that the Dems "all-night" stunt just happens to coincide with a moveon.org fundraiser.
Dems pandering to their nutroot base? Obviously. So obviously that even politico.com (which "Swamp" writers often cite, but not this time) notes it. See
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0707/4985.html
Posted by: Bruce | July 17, 2007 12:49 PM
RNC Bruce,
Are you a "black helicopter" believer?
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 17, 2007 1:19 PM
Hey Bruce, why haven't you linked to the latest AP-Ipsos poll about Republicans choice for their Nominee? I know how closely you follow polls.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/17/politics/main3065916.shtml
The leading candidate is.."none of the above."
I'm sure that will work out great for you guys!
Posted by: Tony | July 17, 2007 1:24 PM
Posted by Bruce July 17, 2007 12:49 PM
RNC Operative,
I applaud anyone who can make money off of these pro-war Republic Party members, god knows they've made enough money off of everyone else.
Posted by: John E | July 17, 2007 1:39 PM
Bruce is right the George Soros funded MoveOn.org is talking about the Reid and Durbin stunt to give more publicity for trying to get to 60 votes. Durbin and Reid know they won't get 60 votes now they are crying over the Tom Daschle rule when the Republicans ran the Senate they laughed and said we need a super majority not a simple majority. Now that their liberal ox's are getting gored they want to go back to a simple majority. Durbin and Reid and Schumer are schemers not leaders. Tomorrow the Senate won't get anything done because they are being tricked by the Democrats into staying up all night. These Dems are narcissistic. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | July 17, 2007 2:39 PM
How about a swamp item on the speculation about which Tribune Washington Bureau staffer was calling the DC madam? Seems to me like that's news. Or is it not news when it's reporters whose hands are caught in the cookie jar?
Posted by: Hillaryis44 | July 17, 2007 4:16 PM
Hillaryis44-
They already did.
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2007/07/sorry_wrong_number.html
Oh well, I guess you'll have to try again to distract from the real issues of the day.
Posted by: Tony | July 17, 2007 5:07 PM