Afghanistan Needs Continued American Commitment, Says Official

Philip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke told the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday that if the United States is going have a successful run in Afghanistan, its commitment and investment must continue unwavered. 

Holbrooke said strengthening the Afghan government and weeding out corruption is critical if President Obama’s war strategy is to succeed. 

“The steps we’ve taken so far to fight corruption is a start,” said Holbrooke, citing the multiple recent arrests of corrupt Afghan officials. Despite the progress, Holbrooke acknowledges that there was still a lot of work to do in erasing corruption within the Afghan government.

One of the keys to a stronger Afghan government, Holbrooke said, is an effective transfer of control from US and NATO forces to locals. He said that, without a commitment to a smooth transfer, “the process will not move forward.”

Holbrooke stressed that persistent investment in the Afghan military and police forces and the economic development of the country is vital. Accomplishing these goals will require “continued American commitment,” and patience even after American troops have left the country.

Holbrooke’s testimony comes in wake of wavering Democratic support for the war in Afghanistan, including a vote for an additional $37 billion in war spending that 106 House Democrats voted against.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), one of the opposing Democrats, questioned the validity of the United States’ mission in Afghanistan. Moran recounted his recent visit to Afghanistan where he was told that from the perspective of some Afghan tribal leaders, the United States “didn’t liberate Marja, the Taliban liberated it from a corrupt police chief who was preying on his own people.”

Rep. Schiff Introduces New Way To Try Terrorists

By Aaron Richardson

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Ca) testified Wednesday at a hearing surrounding the legal issues of the military commissions system, stating that there is a better way to prosecute the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

“Some call for the creation of a National Security Court to try the detainees and others have advocated all the detainees go into federal criminal courts. Earlier this year I introduced the HR 1315 “The Terrorist Detainees Procedures Act of 2009” The legislation would make use of the military courts-martial and would prosecute the detainees as unlawful combatants.” said Schiff.

Schiff also testified how he felt about the way the current system that is in place.

“I believe the commissions system has proved so flawed and the due process proved inadequate and discredited that in the case of the detainees at Guantanamo should be completely dropped," Schiff said.

According to a statement released by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tx) the issue is not the way in which the detainees are being prosecuted, but the rights they may receive as possible terrorists.

“Now President Obama wants to give known terrorists the constitutional rights of citizens on trial in the U.S. Once terrorists are given additional rights, such as the right to remain silent, of course they do just that. The result is no interrogations, no information and possibly more attacks.”

Today At Talk Radio News

Reporters are covering:

1. The House Appropriations Committee Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the base posture and supplemental request. Witness: Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command.

2.House Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on "The American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009, Day 4. Witnesses: Former Vice President Al Gore, former Sen. John Warner, (R-Va.), and others.

States face $100 billion budget gap as result of recession

The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing today on "The Need for an Economic Recovery Bill."

“These are very difficult times for the American people. The U.S. lost almost 2 million jobs in the last year. Growth in population force mean unemployment has expanded even more - 3.1 million. One in eight persons in the labor force is either unemployed or underemployed,” said Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wisc). Obey discussed the need to increase federal spending in order curtail the effects of the recession.

“States will face a budget gap of $100 billion in each of the next two years; the gap is roughly 15 percent of state operating budgets,” said Obey. “If states raise taxes and cut important investments it would add substantially to the downward momentum of the U.S. economy.” Most state are required to balance their budgets, and may have to call on the federal government to fill their budget gaps.

Three governors testified to the budget cuts that their states are being forced to make and how they will continue to have to make tough decisions concerning which programs and funding that they will have to reduce or eliminate.

“This economic crisis is unprecedented in recent decades..the projected drop in revenue...leaves us facing our largest budget gap ever -- $5.4 billion over the next two years, or 17 percent of our biennial budget,” said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. “I could cut the [government] workforce for the state of Wisconsin..in half and we still wouldn’t be dealing with the full scope of the deficit we now face,” said Doyle to illustrate how drastic his budget gap was.

States all throughout the U.S. are experiencing drastic problems related to the recession. “The use of our food banks are up over 30 percent in client usage,” said Vermont Gov. James Douglas. “Applications for unemployment is so large that we had to shift 150 people out of other departments to actually deal with the ongoing crisis of servicing those that are applying to unemployment,” said Douglas. “It is time for us all to pull together, join hands together, be partners, address this, not only to stimulate the economy but to service the basic core needs of our communities.”

How to solve the oil problem: Do something about it

Witness Walter Lukken of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Lukken tried to explain the multitude of issues contributing to rising oil, corn, and other commodity prices and what the CFTC is doing to address the problem.

At one point, Chairwoman DeLauro (D-Conn.) began to raise her voice in frustration. She said that CFTC, which is in charge of assessing the commodity price problem, should also be taking action, but nothing is being done.

It is the price of onions, not oil that has risen the most since 2006, Lukken said. Oil and corn prices have risen 100 and 300 percent respectively, but onion prices have gone up 400 percent since 2006. 70 percent of oil in the U.S. is imported, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) said. Money is moving away from America and into other financial markets, Kaptur said.

When prompted by Rep. Ray Lahood (R-Ill.) to answer questions about rising oil prices in simpler terms, Lukken said, “We are consuming more than we are producing.” Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) asked Lukken if any oil suppliers were hoarding inventory. Lukken said there is no evidence of hoarding.

A number of representatives said they were confused about the terminology Lukken was using. Chairwoman DeLauro observed the confusion and said that the commodity market is complex and so the answers to rising oil prices and other commodities will also be complex.