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National Security

Torture Commission: A Gift to the Republican Right?

Hoyt Hilsman | Posted 06.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, John McCain, Cia, Terrorism, President Obama, Truth Commission, 9/11, Iraq, Congress, Detainees, Abu Ghraib, Dick Cheney, Education, Human Rights, National Security, Nancy Pelosi, Waterboarding, Neo-Conservatives, Health Care, Republicans, Torture, Gop, Politics News
Hoyt Hilsman

It is a bitter pill to swallow that those most responsible for the terrible abuses of the past decade are those who are most likely to benefit from an investigation into the truth.

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A Progressive Case for the Supplemental

Lorelei Kelly | Posted 06.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Strategy, Military, National Security, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Progressives, Obama Administration, Counterinsurgency, Politics News
Lorelei Kelly

This is an excruciating vote for many on the Left who want to support their new president, but decry the fact that less than 10% of the funds will go to non-military items. What to do?

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Who Do You Despise More, Dick or Liz?

Jacob Heilbrunn | Posted 06.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Meghan McCain, Conservatives, Liz Cheney, National Security, David Brooks, David Frum, CIA Torture, Neoconservatives, Cheney Torture, Liz Cheney Dick Cheney, Obama National Security, Obama Torture, Republican Party, Torture, Republicans, Dick Cheney, Politics News
Jacob Heilbrunn

The Cheneys are seeking to lay the groundwork for a "Who Lost America?" debate should there be another terrorist attack during the Obama presidency.

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Obama Caving on Gays in the Military

Aubrey Sarvis | Posted 06.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Sandy Tsao, Haaretz, Daniel Choi, President Obama, White House Correspondents Dinner, Karen DeYoung, Obama Dont Ask Dont Tell, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Beltway Insiders, George Stephanopoulos, Rachel Maddow, National Security, Washington Post, General James Jones, General Petraeus, Adm. Mike Mullen, Politics News
Aubrey Sarvis

In Washington, we know about commissions and study groups and promise-them-anything when you're trolling for votes. But after the election... well, memories fade.

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Obama Needs to End Silence on Biggest Civil Rights Move of Our Time

Steve Clemons | Posted 06.07.2009 | Politics

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in Military, Aaron Belkin, Gay Rights, Colin Powell, National Security, Rick Warren, Sam Nunn, Jake Tapper, John Aravosis, Robert Gibbs, Civil Unions, Barack Obama, Gay Marriage, Evangelicals, Politics News
Steve Clemons

There is no excuse at all -- none -- for the White House to allow the bigotry and harassment of gays and lesbians in the armed forces to stand. Gays populate the armed services now.

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GOP Pollster: Our National Security Attacks On Obama Make Us Look "Irrelevant"

The Plum Line | Posted 06.06.2009 | Politics

Read More: Barack Obama National Security, GOP Polling, National Security, Obama National Security, Tony Fabrizio, Barack Obama, Gop Polls, Politics News

A high-profile and well-respected GOP pollster is strongly criticizing the new effort by the GOP Congressional leadership to revive the party's nation...

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Why Vets Are Backing Clean Energy

Jon Soltz | Posted 05.31.2009 | Politics

Read More: Energy, Energy Efficiency, American-Clean-Energy-and-Security-Act-of-2009, Edward Markey, Alternative Energy, National Security, Terrorism, votevets.org, Renewable Energy, Clean Energy, Henry Waxman, Green Energy, Votevets, Veterans, Al Qaeda, Politics News
Jon Soltz

Why would veterans get involved in a fight over renewable energy and efficiency? Well, for those of us who served, fighting terrorists and insurgents, this support is a no-brainer.

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100 Days and Obama's Achilles Heel

Taylor Marsh | Posted 05.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Israel, National Security, Barack Obama, 100 Days, Politics News
Taylor Marsh

We all know he can bring people together, but can he confront on issues and push forward implementing what's needed?

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National Security: Is Obama Making Progress?

Gordon Adams | Posted 05.30.2009 | World

Read More: Usaid, Budgets, Defense Spending, National Security, State Department, Foreign Policy, World News
Gordon Adams

The first 100 days of the Obama administration have been promising, but to paraphrase Death of a Salesman, 'Attention must [continue to] be paid.'"

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One Hundred Days

Madeleine Albright | Posted 05.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: First 100 Days, National Security, Obama First 100 Days, 100 Days, Madeleine Albright Obama, Obama Foreign Policy, Barack Obama, Madeleine Albright, Politics News
Madeleine Albright

The first one hundred days in a presidency are roughly comparable to the first one hundred yards in a mile race. Our president may not have won anything yet, but he is off to a reassuring start.

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Getting our Game Back: The First Hundred Days

Lorelei Kelly | Posted 05.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Army, National Security, First Hundred Days, Pakistan, President Obama, Iran, Defense Spending, Legitimacy, Israel, Afghanistan War, Politics News
Lorelei Kelly

If we kill people, we lose the war. The most significant achievement of the Obama Administration thus far is a consistent and systematic understanding that security as we know it has fundamentally changed.

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Transparency in the First 100 Days: Grading the Obama Administration

Elizabeth Goitein | Posted 05.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Transparency, National Security, Barack Obama, Torture Memos, 100 Days, Truth Commission, State Secrets, Politics News
Elizabeth Goitein

In cases where people seek accountability for government misconduct the administration's commitment to transparency falls by the wayside in every instance.

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100 Days, 100 Foreign Policy Achievements

Ilan Goldenberg | Posted 05.28.2009 | World

Read More: Russia, Foreign Aid, Latin America, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Guantanamo, Mexico, Iran, Iraq, State Department, Barack Obama, National Security, Human Rights, Nuclear Weapons, Financial Crisis, Pirates, Defense Spending, Europe, Terrorism, Foreign Policy, Cuba, Torture, World News
Ilan Goldenberg

In 100 days, the Obama administration has taken more than 100 actions that are reshaping American foreign policy, reversing the failures of the Bush administration, and renewing America's standing in the world.

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The Tortured Past

The Progress Report | Posted 05.24.2009 | Home

Read More: Iraq-Al Qaeda Link, National Security, Barack Obama, Torture, Iraq, Home News
The Progress Report

by Faiz Shakir, Amanda Terkel, Satyam Khanna, Matt Corley, Benjamin Armbruster, Ali Frick, Ryan Powers, and Pat Garofalo To receive The Progress Repo...

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The Gates Revolution

Adam Elkus | Posted 05.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Obama Defense Budget, Robert Gates, National Security, US Military, Department of Defense, Military, Army, Politics News
Adam Elkus

Gates is doing something far more radical than just canceling big-ticket weapons programs: he's finally fusing theory and policy.

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How It Is: Psychiatrists, Physicians, and Torture

Dan Agin | Posted 05.21.2009 | Politics

Read More: Psychiatry, Terror, National Security, Guantanamo, Torture, Politics News
Dan Agin

If the design of torture at Guantanamo came from psychiatrists, they should bear the full brunt of public condemnation.

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President Obama Spoke to Chavez - Oh no!

Patricia DeGennaro | Posted 04.23.2009 | World

Read More: South America, Hugo Chavez, National Security, Foreign Affairs, President Obama, Roxana Saberi, Hillary Clinton, Iran, Obama, Barack Obama, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Obama Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy, Chavez, World News
Patricia DeGennaro

President Obama caused a media frenzy when he not only shook hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, but he smiled at him. A photo of this spec...

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Who's Responsible for Torture?

Jim Selman | Posted 05.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Nuremberg, Obama, Richard Nixon, National Security, Gerald Ford, Eric Holder, Torture, Politics News
Jim Selman

What should be done about the despicable and unjustified actions of people who, in the name of National Security and following directions from higher authorities, committed these acts?

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Pirates and Poverty

John Graham | Posted 05.15.2009 | World

Read More: Pirates, Poverty, National Security, Terrorism, Somalia Pirates, Piracy, Somali Pirates, Somalia, Global Poverty, Afghanistan, Pakistan, World News
John Graham

Piracy in Somalia, like terrorism, is an act of violence fed not just by ideology or greed, but by the indifference of the developed world to the fate of poor, distant, lawless places where desperation grows unchecked.

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North Korea Does Not Matter

Eric C. Anderson | Posted 05.15.2009 | World

Read More: Breaking Politics News, China, National Security, Foreign Policy, North Korea, Beijing-China, World News
Eric C. Anderson

It's time Washington ignored Kim Jong-il... and his neighbors acted as though they understand North Korea fundamentally is their problem.

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Why We Pay Attention to Piracy

Marcia DeSanctis | Posted 05.10.2009 | World

Read More: Energy, Obama Diplomacy, Africom, Somalia Pirates, National Security, Africa, Nigeria, Pirates, Obama National Security, Diplomacy, Gulf of Aden, Captain Phillips, US Navy, World News
Marcia DeSanctis

There is no government in Somalia to speak of, and the pirates are self-governing anyway. It is dramatic, challenging, surprising and odd place for a test of America's strength in the post-Bush world.

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Seize the Net: Save the Net

Leslie Harris | Posted 05.04.2009 | Politics

Read More: Cybersecurity, Commerce Department, Internet, Steel, Harry Truman, President Obama, Intenet, National Security, Computers, Politics News
Leslie Harris

Earlier this week, two Senators introduced a bill that gives the President the power to seize and shut down the Internet or any other "critical infrastructure " in the "interest of national security."

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Time for Courage and Leadership, Mr. President

Aubrey Sarvis | Posted 04.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, General Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, President Bill Clinton, President Obama, Global Economy, National Security, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, Defense Department Budget, Admiral Mahan, Campaign Promises, Fox News Sunday, Politics News
Aubrey Sarvis

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a wrong that can be made right. Just say what you said in your campaign, Mr. Obama, and what's on your White House web site. Do what you said you'd do.

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Calling Doctor Obama (How America Can Commit National Suicide)

Frank Schaeffer | Posted 04.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama, Media Critics, Republicans, Democrats, National Security, Economic Crisis, 100 Days, Politics News
Frank Schaeffer

While your doctor is quietly and reassuringly telling you what his plan is you yell: "You're going to fail!" "Your plan for saving my life sucks!" "Do it my way, or no way!"

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The Case for a Middle Path in Afghanistan

Ilan Goldenberg | Posted 04.24.2009 | World

Read More: John McCain, National Security, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Terrorism, Escalation, Obama, Joe Lieberman, World News
Ilan Goldenberg

It's simply too early right now to move into containment mode and dramatic escalation is not a viable option. The middle path is not a good option, but it is the best of a number of bad ones.

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