The Political Conundrum!

Many have called it the most substantial improvement to veterans' education benefits since World War II. Others see it as the nation making up for what it didn't do for those who returned with little thanks after serving in Vietnam. But whatever the sentiment, on August 1, more than a year and a half after it was introduced in the Senate, the "Post-9/11" GI Bill is going live.

Many have called it the most substantial improvement to veterans' education benefits since World War II. Others see it as the nation making up for what it didn't do for those who returned with little thanks after serving in Vietnam. But whatever the sentiment, on August 1, more than a year and a half after it was introduced in the Senate, the "Post-9/11" GI Bill is going live.

A U.S. Army adviser to the Iraqi military argues in an internal memo that the U.S. should "declare victory and go home" next year. Col. Timothy R. Reese wrote that the American effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces has reached a point of rapidly diminishing returns.

A U.S. Army adviser to the Iraqi military argues in an internal memo that the U.S. should "declare victory and go home" next year. Col. Timothy R. Reese wrote that the American effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces has reached a point of rapidly diminishing returns.

Defense officials are looking into a military-wide ban on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook because of security concerns related to the Internet portals.

Security forces personnel have received dozens of calls in the last 10 days reporting a 3-foot, 65-pound intruder on Misawa Air Base. With its gray fur and pink face the Japanese macaque -- or snow monkey -- isn't too hard to spot. Turns out it's much harder to catch.

The United Nations said Friday the number of civilians killed in conflict in Afghanistan has jumped 24 percent so far this year, with bombings by insurgent and airstrikes by international forces the biggest single killers.

The latest U.S. missile defense test, conducted Thursday evening in Hawaii waters, was deemed a success as tensions continue with North Korea over that country's missile program.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on the subject of "Minimizing Potential Threats from Iran: Assessing Economic Sanctions and Other Policy Options." Senator Lieberman addressed the committee first, followed by Ambassador Nick Burns, myself, Suzanne Maloney, and Danielle Pletka.

As I noted in my testimony, while some question the wisdom of employing sanctions when the administration is actively seeking to pursue engagement with Iran, and others question the wisdom of employing sanctions that might give the regime a straw man and scapegoat to blame for all of Iran's ills, my own conclusion is just the opposite. This is exactly the time to use financial tools to build leverage for diplomacy.

With the hardline regime so significantly delegitimized -- to the point that both moderates and hardliners have overtly questioned decisions of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- the regime's ability to easily deflect criticism over the state of the Iranian economy or sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program has been significantly undermined. Indeed, the regime faces a far greater legitimacy crisis over its handling of the sham election, the Basij crackdown targeting Iranian citizens, the demonization of protestors by senior leaders, and the incarceration of protestors. Given that Iran's nuclear program continues to progress, the one thing that is clear is that we do not have the luxury of time. The question is not whether or not to use sanctions, but what sanctions, targeting which entities, using which tools and authorities, and in what order?

My complete testimony is available here.

Teflon Don is a long time blogger that I have a loose connection with via The Sandbox. This soldier/writer has a heck of a way with words. He does not post as much anymore but when he does they are something to read. The  one he has up now is about a friend of his who has gotten himself into trouble. It serves as an example of how things go wrong when a returning combat vet does not get the help he needs. It is called Shadows of War. I encourage you to click below and read it.

http://acutepolitics.blogspot.com/2009/07/shadows-of-war.html