- Famine combined with violence has made a bad situation worse, as Somali militiamen, armed by Kenya, but unpaid, prey upon refugees fleeing the famine in the horn of Africa.
- Forces loyal to Qaddafi launched an early morning offensive near the town of Zlitan, pushing the rebels back to an undetermined line at this point.
- The Iraqi government has agreed to begin talks with the U.S. about the possibility of retaining military trainers beyond the end of this year, which will see the draw down of most of the remaining U.S. forces in the country.
- Hosni Mubarak and his sons have pled not guilty as they facing charges of corruption and murder in an Egyptian court today. Mubarak gave his plea from a hospital stretcher.
- Italy moves closer to joining France and Belgium in banning burqas from being worn in public.
Domestic
- As Congress goes on vacation, the FAA will have to operate until at least early September without funding clarity. The abandonment of the issue leaves 4,000 FAA workers furloughed.
- Despite the debt ceiling deal getting done, major stock indexes fell yesterday over worries about overall economic health. Reaction to the deal internationally has been about as positive as it has been domestically. China's ruling party notes the "debt problem remains unresolved." Meanwhile, political attention will turn to the supercommittee that will be tasked with finding over $1 trillion more in deficit reductions before the end of the year.
Pundit's Corner
- Will Wilkinson and Andrew Exum are right, the Tea Party aren't terrorists.
- Andrew Exum also makes the point that a robust defense budget will require more taxes.
- E.G. writing in at Economist.com asks if the defense budget cuts means the U.S. will return to isolationism. I remain unconvinced, but isn't it a bit interesting that Republicans have been trying to cut foreign aid and the State Department budget for years, but not until the Pentagon budget gets cuts that we talk about a return of isolationism, as if we only project power through the Pentagon.
Have never understood the logic that defense cuts=isolationism. Apparently unless we are invading/bombing countries around the world we are disengaged and isolationist.
ReplyDeleteI would even take it a step farther and say that the notion that we couldn't bomb a country because of defense cuts means we're growing isolationist.
ReplyDelete