Treatment Of NASA Employees: A Space Travesty?

By Monique Cala University Of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) questioned NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Thursday over what appeared to be a lack of respect shown towards the agency's employees following the release of NASA's budget request for fiscal year 2011.

“There was a statement made by a very senior political appointee in NASA's front office, Mr. Alan Ladwig. He said: 'For those who fuss over President Obama’s Budget for NASA I have two words ‘Bite Me,’" said Olson. “Thats one hell of a message to send to thousands of loyal NASA employees and contractors who have given their life to human space flight.”

Bolden responded to Ladwig's alleged comments, and reassured the committee that Ladwig’s statement was not the message NASA intended to send to its employers or the United States. Bolden told the committee he would look into the claim and take care of what he described as as an 'unacceptable' action.

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) challenged the speed at which NASA employees were informed of the new budget.

“Many Folks in your own agency do not appear to have known what was in the budget request until the very weekend before it was released,” said Gordon. “In addition, it has taken almost a month for Congress to get the NASA budget justification documents, a state of affairs that is not -and should not be- an acceptable way of doing business with regard to such an important national endeavor.”

Bolden apologized for the delay between communication efforts and acknowledged recognizable concern as NASA takes a ‘historic shift.'

“NASA’s exploration efforts will focus not just on our moon, but also on near earth astroids, strategic deep space zones and the planet Mars and it’s moons,” he said.

A full copy of the proposed FY2011 Budget for NASA can be found on the NASA website.

Clinton: Iran Has Refused To 'Live Up To Its Responsibilities'

By Monique Cala University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday that Iran has failed to “live up to its responsibilities."

“Iran has left the international community little choice but to impose greater costs for its provocative steps,” said Clinton. “We are now working actively with our partners to prepare and implement new measures to pressure Iran to change its course.”

Along with criticism against Iran, Clinton highlighted the State Department's top priorities, which includes investing in security, development and basic human rights.

“At a time of change and challenge at home and abroad, these investments will enhance the security of Americans, assure the future American leadership, and help build the foundations of peace, stability, and prosperity in the years ahead,” said Clinton.

Several Senators at the hearing asked for U.S. support of women’s rights in the Middle East and an end to the battle against the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda. Clinton pledged full support of both causes, warning that she did not want to ‘sugar-coat’ how hard would both be.

DOD Requests $549 Billion From Congress

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen pleaded with Congress to approve a $549 billion DOD budget for FY2011 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

But this request does not include an extra $159 billion to support Overseas Contingency Operations, primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as a $33 billion war supplemental to support the President’s new agenda in Afghanistan.

Mullen said that Afghanistan is becoming the “center of gravity” for U.S. forces and added that the nation’s efforts will yield positive results within the next 18 months. Mullen also said that in that time, the number of American soldiers should decrease to 50 thousand and the military’s role should shift from combat to an advise-and-assist role.

“Getting there will demand discipline and hard work,” Mullen said. “It will most assuredly demand more sacrifice and more bloodshed, but the stakes are far too high for failure.”

Both Mullen and Gates stressed the importance of balancing the dissemination of funding to a variety of DOD initiatives.

The $549 billion budget is said to support a wide array of new and continuing Armed Forces initiatives. The modernization and creation of new ground, sea and air combat vehicles are key investments in preparing the military for the future, Gates said.

According to Mullen, the budget will also secure nearly $9 billion to support military families and advocacy programs. This includes child care and youth programs, counseling for veterans, military spouse employment and $2.2 billion for wounded, ill, and injured soldiers.

“It’s about balance, it’s about deterring and winning the big and the small wars, the conventional and unconventional,” Mullen said. “But where balance is most needed is in the programs and policies of our most important resource, our people.”