US' biggest weakness may lie in outer space

"We have to be incredibly lucky to avoid a major race in space in the years to come", stated Ashley Tellis, Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Tellis spoke at a discussion hosted by The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on whether we can keep space from becoming the next 'shooting gallery'.

Tellis also stated that powerful nations, most notably China, view the US dependence on space for intelligence and data as a key vulnerability. As a result, China's national military strategy calls for the interdiction of US space capabilities as a way of equalizing the advantages the US enjoys on the conventional battlefield. He concludes by stating that, in his opinion, the US's best solution to the problem is to utilize a plan of deterrence coupled with sufficient capability for retaliation that would absorb the initial attack, and make the aggressor believe that an attack is not worth initiating.

President of the Henry Stimson Center Michael Krepon takes a much different approach. He pointed to the classic Cold War rivalry between the US and Soviet Union. Despite their competition, both nations felt compelled to sign the Outer Space Treaty, which formed the basis for international space law. Because both nations used space for intelligence gathering, both felt compelled to agree to limitations and practices that protected their own interests. With this in mind, Krepon endorsed a plan involving a code of conduct for outer space interaction for all, which he feels would prevent aggression between states. Krepon also stated that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has endorsed such a code.

McCain has taken his eye off the ball

At the Democratic National Committee today, Congressmen Adam Smith (D-WA) and Chet Edwards (D-Texas) offered a rebuttal to the Republican press conference against presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Smith and Edwards said that like President Bush, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been inconsistent in his positions and wrong in his judgments on Iraq from the beginning which has harmed America’s security.

Unlike the Bush/McCain view of indefinitely remaining in Iraq, Obama has a reasonable reduction plan for Iraq and has remained consistent on that issue, Smith said. The United States doesn’t need a permanent presence in Iraq, but a responsible leader like Sen. Obama, he said. McCain has taken his eye off the ball in Iraq and is now just following the same policy decisions as President Bush.

Edwards is also against the Bush/McCain policy of maintaining the status quo in Iraq where thousands of American servicemen have lost their lives. In addition to rebutting the Republican press conference, the DNC showed two new pro-Obama videos. One is of McCain echoing the Bush policies over the last seven years and the other is of McCain giving several different numbers about a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Obama's "eyes and ears closed"

In a press conference this afternoon Republican Senators and Congressmen launched an attack against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) by launching a new seven minute video titled "The Obama Iraq Documentary: Whatever the Politics Demand." The video asks the question: Where does Barack Obama stand on Iraq? In the video, Obama's own words are used against him to paint the senator as a politically expedient politician who will say and do anything to get elected.

"I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there [Iraq]. In fact, I think it will do the reverse," Obama is shown saying in a video clip. The next slide shows in big bold words the phrase "said he always said the surge will make things better."

Republican Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.) who was joined by Senators John Thune (R-N.D.), Richard Burr (R-Va.) and Representatives Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) as they launched their attack on Obama. Kyl said "Barack Obama announced a plan for Iraq before even going there. He believes Iraq is a political issue. "This is political expediency in how he views the war," said Kyl. Thune added on Obama by saying "one thing that has been clear it's you can guarantee he will take the position that will satisfy the far left of his party."

Blackburn of Tennessee concluded the press conference when she chided Obama for voting to "de-fund the troops." Blackburn added, "he's already made up his mind on Iraq before even going there with his eyes and ears closed." Blackburn concluded that she hopes that because Obama isn't going to Iraq for a fact finding mission and will not meet with any foreign leaders that he should spare the troops "the phot-op."

McCain at NAACP

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain discussed education, government spending, and the economy at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his remarks, McCain said his opponent democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama “an impressive fellow,” saying Obama has been able to inspire many Americans and that Obama has made historical strides for the United States.

McCain defended school voucher programs, asking where failing schools leave families and children in need of a good education. He said no bureaucracy should deny a child’s right to an education and that Americans are of dangerous schools with unqualified teachers. McCain also proposed aiding study outside of school by putting $500 million towards virtual schools and the expansion of online courses. He noted educational reform has been a goal of the NAACP, saying that despite the best efforts of teachers, blacks are among the most likely to drop out of high school. He criticized Obama’s opposition to educational programs in lower class neighborhoods and Obama’s decision to ignore public support for private school vouchers.

McCain said government spending has increased 60 percent in the last eight years, advocating reduced taxation as a method to ease Americans’ struggles with a hard economy. If elected, McCain told the conference he would double tax breaks for dependents and build 45 new nuclear plants as a method to develop alternative energy sources and to provide Americans 700,000 additional jobs. McCain closed by saying he needs counsel and goodwill from the NAACP to effectively help the United States.

Edwards’s new moral standard

The United States’s ability to fight global poverty was discussed by former Senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) at a conference held by the Center for U.S. Global Engagement. Edwards said that ending poverty is a non-partisan issue that must be seriously considered and that it is the responsibility of the next president to show Americans that their future is directly linked to the lives of people at home and abroad.

Edwards emphasized the need to improve educational standards in the developing world. He said that failed states, civil wars, and poverty cause developing countries to cut educational programs, allowing terrorism to thrive. He continued, saying children are indoctrinated to hate since the only educational options left for them are religious schools run by fundamentalists. Edwards also said the United States must fight disease by supporting preventative healthcare and work to end hunger, stating that 12 million American children went hungry in 2007.

Edwards rallied those in attendance by saying that the American Dream is supposed to be attainable for all and that Americans should not have to rely on organizations to assist them in a land of opportunity. He said Americans are ready to embrace a new moral standard, endorsing democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama as the candidate that can realize these goals.