Karzai Pledges To Fight Corruption, Grant Anti-Crime Units Independence

Afghan President Hamid Karzai promised Friday to step-up the fight against corruption within his country by allowing his country’s anti-crime units to operate independently.

“With regard to the anti-crimes task force and sensitive investigation body, which is of concern to the international community … we will make sure that these bodies are run in accordance with Afghan laws, under the Afghan Constitution, and are sovereign as Afghan bodies and independent – absolutely, in full terms – as Afghan bodies, to continue to fight against corruption,” Karzai said during remarks from the Gul Khana Palace in Kabul.

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.), who joined Karzai Friday, applauded the announcement.

“I was very heartened to hear the President and the members of his Government re-commit themselves to significant efforts in the days ahead to guarantee the independent operation of their major crimes unit,” Kerry said.

U.S. Says Iran Is Not An Imminent Threat To Israel

The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration convinced Israel that an Iranian nuclear attack is unlikely, for now.

Despite suggestions from Israeli intelligence that Iran would be capable of manufacturing nuclear weapons within months, American intelligence steers away from that possibility and alludes to the point that it would take much longer.

According to the report, if Iran were to scramble towards creating a nuclear weapon, they would need at least a year to do so. Officials added that even if Iran took the appropriate steps in creating nuclear weapons, current technologies would be able to detect any such activity within weeks.

“We think that they have roughly a year dash time,” said Gary Samore, President Obama’s top adviser on nuclear issues.

As a result of this assessment, members of the Obama administration believe that prospective Israeli attacks on iran’s nuclear bases has faded.

CBO Projects $1.34 Trillion Deficit For 2010

The federal deficit for 2010 will likely reach $1.34 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

In a report released Thursday, the CBO projects that the deficit will be $71 billion less than last year’s, but still the second highest in 65 years.

The report also estimates that unemployment will not reach 5 percent until 2014, even if the economy picks up steam.

The report can be read in its entirety here…

Sebelius Announces Plan To Ensure U.S. Is Prepared For Health Emergencies

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently proposed a five-pronged approach for ensuring that the nation has the vaccines and other supplies it needs in the event of an emergency.

According to a Hill report, the overhaul prepares America for natural and man-made public health emergencies and, according to Sebelius, is a five-pronged approach in ensuring the country has access to adequate vaccines and supplies in the event of a nationwide pandemic. 

The new plan calls for: 

- making a “significant investment” in the Food and Drug Administration so federal regulators can more quickly review — and approve — new discoveries;

- establishing “Centers of Innovation for Advanced Development and Manufacturing” that would create “manufacturing platforms” to help innovators produce their medications or vaccines;

- helping young companies get their product to market, in particular by creating “sherpa teams” at the National Institutes of Health to “identify promising research and facilitate its translation into vaccines, drugs and treatments that keep Americans safe”;

- upgrading flu vaccine manufacturing; 

- and creating a strategic investment fund that would help small companies attract investors.

The new plan is set to be coupled with the current BioShield program in an effort to reach out to smaller, developing businesses innovating new vaccines.

Reid Comments On Last Brigade's Iraq Exit

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement on the last U.S. combat brigades’ departure from Iraq:

“Today is an important day for the people of Iraq and for the brave men and women who have defended American interests in Iraq for the last eight years.  As our last U.S. brigade combat team leaves Iraq, we salute them for the heroism, courage and dignity that they have displayed since the beginning of this conflict.  In Nevada, we lost 36 service members during the course of our involvement in Iraq, and we still grieve with their families every day.  Our troops and security forces have done everything that has been asked of them and beyond, and now is the time for the people of Iraq to take the lead in defending their young democracy. 

 “We know that today’s developments do not end our involvement in Iraq completely.  We still have tens of thousands of men and women on the ground that will support the Iraqi forces and we know they will continue to face serious threats on a daily basis.  We will support these troops to ensure they are able to perform their duties and remain safe. We stand united behind our forces as they continue to defend our nation bravely and defeat terrorists around the globe. 

 “We are ever mindful of the challenges that lie ahead to complete our mission in Afghanistan.  President Obama and his national security leadership team have put in place a plan that has already yielded some positive results in Afghanistan, and I will continue to work with the President to ensure that he has the necessary support to protect our nation and that our troops can be successful in their mission.”