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Crude oil prices broke through the $100-a-barrel barrier on Thursday, before settling just below that mark by the end of the day. The rise in oil prices is a direct result of the turmoil in the Middle East, but more recently over the chaotic situation in Libya.
The president is currently in discussion with our European allies formulating a coherent strategy as the situation in Libya continues to become more uncertain with each passing day. The dramatic rise in oil prices will greatly affect the fragile U.S. recovery, which is just beginning to bounce back from recession. The nation is already experiencing a rise in food, and other commodity prices.
This sudden turn of events will have a huge impact on the economy but also on the political landscape in the U.S., as the next year the president will be facing re-election. If oil prices continue to rise, the U.S. could be in for a double dip recession, which will send unemployment higher. Thus affecting the president's re-election chances.
The coming months will be crucial for the situation in Libya, but also for the U.S. economy as it heads into the spring and summer months.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Energy&subcategory=Energy%20Security
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa
The crisis in Libya is now reaching a crisis point, and governments around the world have now been condemning actions taken by Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi. For the first time President Obama spoke out in response to the situation in Libya. The president has dispatched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Europe to meet with our European allies and will travel to Geneva for a meeting with the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Unfortunately, this same council is the same one that Libya is a member of. The question I would ask the president is, "is this the best option we have"? why hasn't the president been better prepared with alternative options before now? In an interview, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has not held any discussions with our N.A.T.O. partners yet; Why?
Throughout the crisis in the Middle East and in North Africa, the president has been slow, or not responded at all, even after the atrocities being perpetrated by Libyan forces against its own people. The president stated, "It is imperative that that the nations and the peoples of the world speak with one voice". He said, "that has been our focus." Why has the U.S. been the last to respond?
The U.S. I know and serve faithfully stands up for democracy! What is the president waiting for?
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa
The turmoil in the Middle East and in North Africa has skyrocketed oil prices over the instability in Libya and other Middle Eastern countries. The Chaos and turmoil in Libya, with leader Moammar Gaddafi vowing to continue, and coupled with the instability of Bahrain, has fueled a spike in the cost of oil on world markets.
The Obama administration is facing daunting challenges to stability in the Middle East and a major strategic overhaul of U.S. Middle East strategy is now long overdue. In Libya, the U.S. has few options, as we have minimal economic interests in the country and few contacts with elements inside the country. The U.S. needs to exert leverage over our European allies who have substantial economic and political influence inside the country.
For years European countries have criticized the U.S. for its hegemonic approach to international problems; well now is the time for the Europeans to take the lead. If they fail to do so, then they should stop complaining when the U.S. leads the way.
Currently the president has been silent on the situation in Libya, as his Middle East strategy is in disarray. The president needs to lead or subsequent events will begin to overtake the administration.
Leadership means you have to lead!
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Energy&subcategory=Energy%20Security
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa
Since the end of January, demonstrations have rocked the Middle East and North Africa, first toppling the long time leader in Tunisia, then Egypt. The past few weeks violent demonstrations have turned Libya into a war zone, as the Libyan people are struggling to over through long time Libyan leader, Moammar Gaddafi.
The situation is very tenuous and unpredictable. Unlike Egypt, the U.S. has little influence inside Libya, as Gaddafi's forty year rule has left it without any viable political parties or opposition groups. The chaos inside Libya has sent shock waves through the oil markets as oil prices spiked up 9% because of the volatile situation.
This event has not been confined to just Libya, we are seeing the same situation in Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco, and other Middle Eastern Countries.
The Obama administration has to begin formulating contingency planning and revamp its Middle East strategy in light of these new developments. The U.S. has to understand change is coming to the Middle East!
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa
Today, the nation celebrates the birthday of our first president and remembers the contribution he gave this nation. Let's also take the time and remember and reflect on the contribution of the United States Marine Corps and what the Marines have given this country and continue to give to America.
View photos of the United States Marine Corps in action.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Letter%20from%20Iraq%20Afganistan
The news lately has centered around the situation in the Middle East, or the latest attempts to rein in federal spending, thus reducing the U.S. federal debt. What has not been reported is what U.S. forces are doing in Afghanistan.
Get the chance to see the latest video's of U.S. troops operating in Afghanistan and their impact on that nation.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Letter%20from%20Iraq%20Afganistan
The real threat to the nation's security is not from any outside force, and the U.S. still faces threats from international terrorism, but our real threat is the national debt. Monday, the president unveiled his fiscal 2012 budget, and with it failed to address entitlement reform. The president punted the ball when it came to the tough choice. Republicans have stated that they will unveil their version of a budget in April, and it will have entitlement reform in it. I am not holding my breath.
Both political parties are playing election politics as all eyes are on the 2012 presidential election. Neither party wants to address the issue, because as soon as they do, opposition to entitlement reform becomes heated and intense. The cancer of fiscal irresponsibility has now spread to the states who are wallowing in red ink and facing protest over how reductions should be made.
Today, protests are happening in Wisconsin, whose governor it trying to rein in spending by reducing the budget for public employee's. If you look at the states with the largest budget debt, you will find massive abuse of spending which many public employee's have benefited from. One only has to look at California!
If the nation is to remain economically secure, it has to live within its means and revive the economy. Washington, as well as the individual states, had better heed this warning!
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Defense%20Policy%20and%20Budget&subcategory=National%20Security
For the past few weeks the world has witnessed the awaking power of dissent in the Middle East, long known for despotic rulers, who only enrich themselves at the expense of their people. The question remains and still is left unanswered is how the world will respond to this changing dynamic?
The United States had been completely taken by surprise, and the Obama administration's position on these traumatic events keeps changing by the day, depending who was giving the brief and whether they had a different position. To the rest of the world it seemed the U.S. was clueless on what approach to take.
The events in Egypt reached a somewhat peaceful conclusion with the military taking control and President Hosni Mubarak forced from power. The real lingering question is what will the future bring in the coming months, and how does this change the dynamics in the Middle East?
Right now demonstrations have spread to other Middle Eastern nations such as Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and now Iran. Iran experienced its own democratic revolution in 2009, but the U.S. was slow to respond to the brutal repression by the Iranian regime.
Let's hope the U.S. has a coherent strategy for the Middle East, because right now its current strategy is a chaotic mess.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Middle%20East
We know that our troops in Afghanistan are fighting in the most despicable conditions on the plant in which military operations could be conducted. But how many of us understand what our armed forces go through just to remain clean from all the dust, dirt and grime of fighting in Afghanistan.
Well now get the chance to view for yourselves what our military personal do just to remain clean. check it out.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Letter%20from%20Iraq%20Afganistan
Today, President Obama released his budget for fiscal year 2012, which would have the government spending $3.7 trillion dollars, eliminating 200 different federal programs, with key investments in education, transportation and research. The president plans on paying for his budget priorities with almost an additional $1.6 trillion in taxes, mainly on the wealthy and businesses.
The president faces challenges from congressional Republicans and from members of his own party, and it's interesting to note that Washington is currently operating under continued budget resolution to keep the government operating. This after Democrats who controlled Congress, Senate and the Executive branch, failed to pass any budget appropriation bills last year.
This budget submitted today by the president still fails to address the enormous federal debt, as both political parties still have not come to grips with entitlement reform. Each party is waiting for the other too act on the third rail of politics and not touch Medicare and Social Security.
Too bad both parties have failed in leadership, not excluding the president. We need a leader, but all we have got is a partisan politician, I guess this is what change we can believe in!
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics
President Hosni Mubarak resigns power as Egypt's leader turning power over to the military.
With the change in the situation in Egypt how will the president respond to this new development?
http://militarybriefingbook.com/
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is set to step down ending his 30 year rule over the country, with Vice President Omar Suleiman slated to take over. The unknown factor is will this satisfy millions of Egyptians who have protested the last few weeks over Mubarak's despotic rule.
There are still many unanswered questions such as, what significance did the armed forces play in this announcement, as there has been reports of a crackdown or a possible coup by the military.
The U.S. has been caught off guard by the entire situation in Egypt and throughout the broader Middle East. Even right now the administration is split on what policy should the U.S. pursue. Too often the administration has been sending conflicting messages and continues to be unsure of what course the U.S. should follow with Egypt and the Middle East.
The U.S. has to tread lightly as not to alienate the Egyptian people, but at the same time splinter the Egyptian armed forces, who are the only segment of Egyptian society that has wide popular support.
The administration had best tread carefully.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/
Since the violent uprising by the Egyptian people two weeks ago, and continuing, the U.S. has sent conflicting signals on how it should respond to the crisis. As the crisis was unfolding, both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joesph Biden praised the Mubarak regime in stating the Egyptian government is stable, with the Vice President commenting that Egypt was not a dictatorship.
Last week, influential Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations State/Ops Subcommittee, made reference to cutting off military assistance to Egypt, all the while the administration has been praising the Egyptian military for its restraint.
The Obama administration throughout this entire crisis, has been sending conflicting messages in its response to the situation in Egypt. The president has commented on the restraint shown by the Egyptian military, and how the only segment receiving universal respect by the population is the military. Comments by Senator Leahy have tremendous impact in Egypt and severely undermine U.S. efforts to bring resolution to the crisis.
If aid is curtailed or cut off it could splinter the Egyptian military into factions, force them to back a unsuitable replacement or maintain the status quo. The U.S. has to tread carefully as not to force a situation that will hamper U.S. regional security in the future.
This administration needs to speak with one voice and not let others speak for the U.S.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Middle%20East
The situation in Egypt has challenged U.S. foreign policy, and in the wake of popular discontent over high inflation, unemployment, surging food prices and lack of jobs, has forced that country to the brink. The question must be asked in foreign policy circles-could the same thing happen in Pakistan?
Many of the same problems which sent millions of Egyptians to the streets in protest against their government, are the same issues facing millions of Pakistani's. The situation in Pakistan is markedly worse, with Islamic extremists controlling territory along the volatile border with Afghanistan, which the Pakistani government rarely operates.
Pakistan and Egypt are vital to U.S. security in both regions, and these countries know that and are able to extract massive amounts of U.S. aid. A different approach has to be found as U.S. policy cannot continue with massive economic and military assistance to both countries, while at the same time they continue to play both sides.
For the president the world is not what he hoped it to be, but he must deal with the world as it is.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Asia&subcategory=South%20Asia
