Tortured POWs continue to go without compensation

Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) spoke today at the Committee of the Judiciary hearing on ensuring legal redress for American victims of State-sponsored terrorism. He says that the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act is there to provide POWs with the compensation that they deserve. The President’s veto of the bill, will expose Iraq with billions of dollars of liability and reconstruction efforts, however the government of Iraq entered into commercial compensation resolutions with Japan for commercial claims, but people who suffered torture have gone without compensation. (1:19)
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Reports of abuse are a "black eye" for the United States

During a press conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates comments on the recent Supreme Court decision that detainees at Guantanamo Bay prison have the right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts. He says that the early reports of prisoner abuse at Guantanamo were a black eye for the United States. (0:48)
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Bush says freedom will again prevail in Iraq

President George W. Bush speaks at the groundbreaking of the United States Institute of Peace headquarters today. Bush speaks about the ideological struggle against violent extremism, which the USIP is playing an important role. USIP is working in Iraq to improve the government and promoting peaceful engagement. (0:43)
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Rice: Extremists are thugs and tyrants

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that the true motives of extremists must be exposed and that freedom, democracy, and pluralism are the only things that will give responsible Muslims the ability to discredit violence. Rice adds that the United States will only lose if it loses the will to promote these values. (0:52)
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McCain: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps are terrorists

At an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says that the U.S. "must apply the full force of law to prevent business dealings with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps." He says he was "pleased" to back an amendment that called for the designation of the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization "responsible for killing American troops in Iraq." He says that while over three-quarters of the Senate supported this "obvious step," Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) did not because he thought it would send the "wrong message" to the world and to the region. McCain says that he is "mistaken," and that holding Iran's influence in Iraq in check and holding a terrorist organization accountable "sends exactly the right message" to Iran, the region, and the world. (1:03)
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Rationale for war: “Saddam had a long history of supporting various terrorist groups”

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith says that nobody in the administration believed that Iraq was responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11, and that the controversy of Iraq’s ties to al-Qaida was not an enormous influence on going to war. He says that the rationale of the war relating to terrorism had to do with Saddam’s long history of training terrorist groups in Iraq and promoting terrorism. (1:11)
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"Our potential vulnerability to new threats grows everyday"

House Armed Services Committee subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats ranking member, Mac Thornberry (R-TX) argues that his committee can not fully do its job to fight terrorism if other security measures like FISA or authorizing interrogation techniques are not addressed in the House. (0:57)
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"Medicaid reimbursements and terrorism preparedness" not necessarily related

At the second of a two-day hearing on how reduced Medicaid funding may impact trauma center emergency response, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) says that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has been “conflating the issues of Medicaid reimbursements and terrorism preparedness” which “simultaneously simplifies and obscures both issues.” (0:59)
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Reduced Medicaid funding could be crucial in "golden hour" of emergency situation

At the second of a two-day hearing on how reduced Medicaid funding may impact trauma center emergency response, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) says that “if the unthinkable happens,” whether or not emergency care is readily available will determine how many lives are lost and saved in the "golden hour" of such a situation. He says that the Federal government “should not be taking actions that undermine the prospect of an effective emergency response” by cutting Medicaid funding. (0:45)
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There is unification behind Maliki post-Basra says Gates

During a press availability during his trip to Mexico City, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that the Iraqi government is unifying behind Prime Minister Maliki for his decision to go after illegal Shiite militias in Iraq. (1:32)
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A reminder to Iran

During a press availability during his trip to Mexico City, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that an increased Navy presence in the Gulf does not represent escalation against Iran, but might serve as a reminder. (0:31)
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Help them increase their crop yields, Casey says

At a news conference held in the Capitol, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) says we have too look at other options [in dealing with the food crisis]. One, to permanently increase crop yields so that nations can feed themselves. Second, to reduce the costs of overseas food networks, so that more of the food that is donated will feed the hungry instead of spoiling in warehouses. (0:32)


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Food Crisis just as damaging as terrorism

At a news conference held in the Capitol, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) says the instability that this [the food crisis] can create in countries around the world, can be just as damaging as terrorism. If we don’t deal with this in a direct way, we run the risk of needing more peacekeeping forces. (0:23)


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Military options should not come off the table with Iran

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen says that Iran has increased sponsoring terrorism, killing coalition forces, and interfering in Iraq. He says that tensions continue to rise and that Iran is "ratcheting up" it's involvement of terrorism. Mullen says that military options should not be off the table. (1:14)
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Thompson says DHS is working to preserve civil liberties

At the Center for American Progress's discussion on the "State of Homeland Security," Congressman and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) says that preserving civil liberties is "an issue" for the department, and discusses his experience being "spied on" by the FBI during his youth as a civil rights activist. He said the committee is in the process of vetting every program that the department produces "to make sure that a nation of laws is also one that protects its citizens." (1:17)
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Thompson says DHS needs more diversity

At the Center for American Progress discussion on the "State of Homeland Security," Congressman and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) says that the Department of Homeland Security needs more diversity among employees. He says if you take TSA and Border Control out of the department, "it looks like white men over 50 years old," and that they want to fix this and create a staff that represents America. He also says "we absolutely reject" the notion that the department "can't find qualified people." (0:42)
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Departments need to "repeat the semester"

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, testifying at the House Armed Services Committee, answers a question from ranking member Duncan Hunter about what grade he would give the Justice Department, Agriculture Department and the Trade Commission. (1:09)
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Threats can emerge almost anywhere

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testifying before the House Armed Services Committee says that supporting U.S. allies can help these countires to confront threats and prevent U.S. military involvement. (0:44)
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Obama corrects AP board chair's "Obama bin Laden" slip

Dean Singleton, board chair of the Associated Press news agency, asks Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) if he would shift troops to Afghanistan and accidentally refers to alleged al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden as "Obama bin Laden." Sen. Obama intercedes and corrects Singleton, conceding that the mistake has been made before and because of that, "it's pretty impressive" that he is still in the race for presidential nominee. (0:55)
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GAO director says Dept. of Homeland Security has made progress, but still has work to do

Norman Rabkin, managing director for the Government Accountability Office's Homeland Security and Justice Team, tells Congress that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made advances in terms of its mission statement to protect America from terrorist attacks, but lacks managerial progress. (:58)
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