McCain is providing the American people with “gimmicks”

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) said in a conference call with the Barack Obama campaign, that John McCain (R-Ariz.) has spent the week exhausting himself with a double talk dance and presenting new and opposite views on many of his policies.

Kerry outlined several positions that McCain has changed on over the past few weeks such as torture, offshore drilling, drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). McCain said that he would “be more than happy to examine that again” even though he previously said it wasn’t worth the time. Kerry said that the U.S. has only three percent of the world’s oil and John McCain used to know his stuff and argue is points well, but now “running for president has evidently provided an opportunity for double talk” or more of the Washington game at the expense of the interest of the American people.

Kerry said that before McCain can start debating with Obama, he needs to finish debating with himself. The fundamental distinction between Barack Obama and John McCain is that Obama understand that you can’t drill your way out of this crisis but that you need alternatives, Kerry said. McCain is offering the same Bush mentality that oil can solve every problem. The United States cannot have leadership that pretends there is a solution for getting more oil and gas through U.S. sources that will help the current crisis, the leadership need to be focusing on alternative energy solutions, he said.

St. Paul Minnesota Mayor, Chris Coleman agreed with Kerry’s remarks and said that McCain’s gas tax holiday is “the biggest gimmick McCain has put out there.” Whereas Obama has proposed significant and real steps towards a more secure future, McCain has only proposed more Washington gimmicks and flip flopping policies.

Iran: The spark that ignites the Middle East

Jackie Davis of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis said that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities has substantial implications for the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East. She said that in the past economic sanctions have been vital in deterring Iran from creating nuclear weapons. The major problem with the sanctions, she said, is that because Iran has so many natural resources that are in high demand, many countries are dependent on Iran and therefore less willing to enforce sanctions.

Davis said that from a U.S. perspective if Iran obtained nuclear capabilities it would “open the flood gates” for other countries to begin trying to acquire nuclear weapons. She said that the need for diplomacy between Russia and the U.S. is paramount. The relationship the Russians have with the Iranians and the military power they have put them in a position to have considerable influence over Iran.

She also said that without greater insight into the Iranian government, it is impossible to determine how they would actually use their nuclear weapons. She said that if Iran were to gain nuclear capabilities it could act as a catalyst and ignite the whole region.

Today at Talk Radio News

Today at the Washington Bureau, Chief Pentagon Correspondent Meredith MacKenzie will be covering events at the Pentagon. Legal Affairs Correspondent Jay Tamboli will be at the Supreme Court. Chief United Nations Correspondent Dan Patterson will be at the UN, after which he will go to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to cover the floods with Correspondent Dawn Jones.

Staff will covering a defense briefing with General Dan McNeille, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, a discussion on "Iran, Middle East and Russian Perspectives," events at the "Prepare for Launch" health reform summit, a discussion on "How will the next president reduce nuclear dangers?" and a conference call briefing to release the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index for June and discuss what the housing market needs to get back on track.

Iran is a malevolent, but manageable, threat

The House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia met to discuss “Iran’s Strategic Aspirations and the Future of the Middle East.” Gary Ackerman (D-NY), said that Iran’s threat to America has gone ignored for years. He said that now Iran’s expanded realm means a real threat to the U.S., but that the security risks are manageable.

Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said that Iran is the most malevolent and dangerous threat to U.S. interest. As for diplomatic tactics, Pence hoped that the next President would not use direct negotiation because it is ineffective. All of the witnesses emphasized Iran’s desire to become the preeminent power in Middle East. Judith Yaphe said that Iran wants the U.S. to recognize its legitimacy and its right to be the great power in the area. Because of Iran’s expanded realm of power and threat, the issues of Iraq and Iran are not isolated. Therefore, consideration must be given to Iran’s response to any changes made in Iraq, as Yaphe said.

In addressing the question of how to end Iran’s nuclear threat, Yaphe said that there is little to lose in negotiations, but Jon Alterman emphasized that the U.S. must not approach talks with the objective of changing the Iranian government. Experts and congressmen have not agreed on a tactic with Iran. While Pence endorses stronger sanctions rather than direct negotiations, the experts contend that talks with Iran may be progressive as long as they are not too ambitious.

Deputy Prime Minister of Israel urges cooperation among moderates

Deputy Prime Minister of Israel Haim Ramon spoke at the 20th annual Soref Symposium. He spoke on the challenges facing Israel currently and some of its recent conflicts. He said that in the past the major challenge facing Israel has been the Israel Palestine conflict. Ramon however, said that currently the most important conflict is between moderate ideals and radical Islam in the Middle East.

He spoke on Syria and said that in order to understand Syria one must judge their actions and not their words. He said at times Syria has been supportive of peace with Israel but they still continue to support radical Islam. Ramon went on to say that the Doha Agreement was a victory for Syria because it strengthened Hezbollah in Lebanon.

He said that the main problem the international community is facing is lack of cooperation. Ramon said that in order to defeat radical Islam all moderate nations must cooperate against the radicals, because they are the biggest threat to freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

Ramon also outlined four issues that were key in the Israel Palestinian peace process. They include: the Palestine Israel border, Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, and security arrangements. These four issues are part of the two state solution that the Deputy Prime Minister supported in his speech. The solution calls for two states, with Jerusalem in both.