Rep. Conyers Looking Forward To Revising Patriot Act

John DuBois, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that he looks forward to reworking aspects of the U.S. Patriot Act to make the legislation less “extreme.”

“We have a real opportunity before us to fix some of the most extreme provisions of that law and bring a better balance,” said Conyers during a markup of the USA PATRIOT Amendments Act, a piece of legislation concerning provisions in the original act that expire this year.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) expressed concern with some aspects of the new act.

“The bill repeals the lone terrorist provision,” Smith said. “Once this provision expires, all al-Qaida will have to do is publicly disavow one if its members ... claiming that the target of an investigation is not affiliated with the terrorist group and intelligence officials will be prevented from conducting surveillance on that lone terrorist.”

New included provisions to the USA PATRIOT Amendments Act puts more control on the use of National Security Letters, a form of subpoenas that require no probable cause, to ensure people’s constitutional rights.

“Since 2005, I have introduced legislation to curb these abuses, to put some more controls on the use of NSLs and more judicial supervision on the gag orders to ensure people’s constitutional rights,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.)

The Patriot Act was passed in 2001 with the intention of granting law-enforcement organizations more authority to investigate terrorism.

Officials From DOD, DHS Say Communication Between Agencies Will Soften Disaster Effects

By Courtney Costello- Talk Radio News Service

A number of preparedness experts from the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security emphasized the need for a better communication network between all federal agencies that have a hand in disaster prevention and relief during a House Armed Services Subcommittee hearing on “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives (CBRNE) Consequence Management.”

Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) detailed the necessity for a “framework of guidance” that would comprehensibly lay out the “roles and responsibilities of local, state and federal responders." Smith went on to describe that integration of federal agencies like the FBI, DoD, DHS, and FEMA as the cornerstone of efficient disaster prevention and relief in the U.S.

"Our efforts at NorthCom to prepare for and to assist in the aftermath of a CBRNE event, are apart of a combined national response framework. Our collaboration with federal and state partners, government and National Guard are all key to this homeland response strategy and to our level of preparedness as well," said General Victor Renuart Commander at the U.S. Northern Command.

The panel pointed to the government's response to Hurricane Katrina as an example of the need for preparedness across all lines of disaster relief.

Petraeus: Beating Terrorists Requires More Than Counterterrorist Operations

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

General David Petraeus, Commander of the United States Central Command, warned that military missions against terrorist groups are comprehensive and require more than force.

 “Countering terrorism requires more than counter-terrorist operations,” said Petraeus today in a speech to the Center of a New American Security.  The General went on to discuss the implications of shifting military attention from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan and how the U.S.’ experience in Iraq should optimize the efficiency of military operations in other countries.

“As we turn and shift our focus to Afghanistan and Pakistan it is very important to reflect on what we learned from Iraq and to remember that you have to apply what was learned there with a very nuanced understanding...of local circumstances,” said Petraeus.

Petraeus was one of the leading figures during the 2007 surge of U.S. troops in Iraq, a move that increased U.S. military capability in the Middle East by more than 20,000 soldiers and additional brigades. The surge was instrumental in the counterinsurgency mission that would help secure the region. Petraeus completed his work in Iraq by rebuilding the Iraqi army. 

Petraeus highlighted the success of the U.S. army in improving security conditions, stating “We’ve gone from a situation in which June of 2006 or 2007 saw 160 attacks per day on average. in Iraq it is now between 10 and 15 attacks per day and has been that way for about 6 months now; in fact in the low end of that in recent weeks.”

However, Petraeus did concede that last month was an exception. There were over 400 attacks in May, the highest in the country’s post-invasion history.

The General touched upon the peacekeeping role that the army has recently acquired with the Iraq mission and named the safety of the civilian population as a major priority.

“The overriding mission of a military force in counterinsurgency has to be to secure the people and...be seen as securing and serving them. This is hugely important,” said Petraeus.

Petraeus explained that once security has been established throughout the country, the U.S. would not be able to leave Afghanistan until they have assured that the established government follows a peace-ensuring criteria.

Pelosi: Democrats Stand By The IMF

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

Despite the uncertainties that Congressional Republican leaders have on the efficacy of the reform of the International Monetary Fund, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is adamant that “The IMF will have a strong support from the Democrats.”

Pelosi defended the international organization today at her weekly press conference where she also mentioned the success of her recent bipartisan trip to China.

House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Whip Eric Cantormay, backed by other House Representatives who fear that Democrats are fusing two very different entities, the IMF and a bill, together, said that "Weighing down this critical legislation with non-defense spending will only drag this process out further and cost it essential Republican support needed for passage."

Cantor added that “We should not be having this discussion. IMF funding has no business being included in the war supplemental bill,” while adding that the funding may result in helping terror-sponsoring states such as Pakistan.

The debate over funding of the IMF has stemmed from President Barack Obama’s announcement at the April Group of 20 meeting that $100 billion will be granted to the IMF as part of the U.S war-bill which should further the fight against the global economic crisis.

Obama also said that the U.S would support the IMF as it sell 400 tons of gold, whilst Pelosi reminded that “It [the IMF] has been reformed so that it will help the poor. They wanted to sell gold, we said you can, but the proceeds have to go to help the poor.”

Responding to Cantor’s allegations, Pelosi said “I don’t know why anyone would say that the money is going to the hands of terrorists, it’s simply not based on facts and is a scare tactic.”

Pelosi also said “There are two contradictory things: one says that one shouldn’t be on war funding, which is our responsibility to support our troops in the war in Iraq, end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home and fight terrorism where is it a threat to our country, which is in Afghanistan, and we know that we have to do that." She added that “The IMF, in its reformed state, can be a force for alleviating the despair amongst people in the world. It’s a very important national security initiative.”

“The issue of the IMF, I think, has strong support on the Democrats’ side; not any support we’re hearing on the Republican side,” Pelosi said.

This war-bill, which involves military and diplomacy costs for Iraq and Afghanistan, will skyrocket to over $100 billion.

“The Most Dangerous Credit Card in the History of the World”

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)
Photo by Michael Ruhl

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called congressional voting cards “the most dangerous credit card in the history of the world”, because then enable Congress and the president to engage in reckless spending. This was not Boehner's first criticism of Obama, but his statement came on the 101st day of the Obama Administration, a time which Boehner has criticized as being pock marked with excessive borrowing, reckless spending and a massive growth in government.

Boehner said that Democrat’s “record on spending and debt is staggering, but our economy is growing weaker, and it’s not going to get any better by growing the size of the government here in Washington.”

Boehner believes that the Democratically controlled Congress has enabled and contributed to the recklessness, and thinks it is up to the Republicans to put a stop to it. Republicans must be “the party of better solutions” if they are going to stand up to the Democrats in Congress, Boehner said, adding that he hopes Democrats will be committed to a bipartisan policy approach..

Citing the elections of 2008, Boehner said “out brand has been tarnished”, but to help the party serve the American people, Republicans must stand up to the Obama Administration when disagreements arise, and to offer alternative solutions.

Leader Boehner applauded President Obama on his strategy towards Afghanistan and Iraq, but showed concern at Obama’s greater national security policy.

“The big question continues to be: what is the Administration’s overarching plan to fight terrorism? Judging from their recent decision to release 30 terrorist detainees with no plan on where to put them, it continues to beg the question,” referring to Obama’s closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center without knowing where the detainees will be sent.