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The past few weeks media attention has focused primarily on whether to extend the Bush era tax cut, but another issue largely forgotten is that in the coming days the Afghan troop surge assessment will be released.
Over the past weeks we have seen the July, 2011 date when U.S. forces are to start the withdrawal, and it seems to have been moved back to 2014, but the president appears to be silent on what the intentions of the U.S. are.
Public support for the war in Afghanistan has been rapidly declining, and most Americans feel that the economic situation faced by our nation is also a direct result of our presence in Afghanistan. The public perception seems to be that we are spending too much money in Afghanistan when should be spending it here in the U.S.
The president needs to use the power of the bully pulpit, which he has failed to do, and articulate why we need to be in Afghanistan and what we are trying to accomplish. So far he has failed to do so.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Russia%20and%20Eurasia&subcategory=Central%20Asia
These past few weeks the debate which has galvanized Washington is whether to extend the Bush tax cuts, but one story that seems to be missed is the results of a global survey, which ranked the U.S. in the middle of educational achievements in relation to other countries.
After intensive efforts over the past fifteen years, in which both Democratic and Republican administrations have spent hundreds of billions of dollars, the U.S. still ranks in the middle of the pack in achievement in relation to other countries. In a new global survey of 15-year-old student achievement: average in reading, average in science and slightly below average in math.
Both Republicans and Democrats will spin this to fit their own ideological agenda, but the fact remains, we are not educating our children to meet the demands of a global economy. If we want to compete with other nations then we need to start expecting more from our children.
Again, both sides will begin pushing and supporting an outdated educational model instead of focusing on real reform. Over the years Democrats claim we need more funding, Republicans push for more accountability, but still the nations spends billions on education with the same results. Mediocrity!
The U.S. should have the best educational system on the plant. But sadly, after spending billions, studies show that we still have a mediocre system. How sad!
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics
Wikileaks is at it again, by publishing a list of companies and installations crucial to the security of the U.S. The question again is why does this continue? Considering the U.S. just this past year approved Lt.Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, and to also head the military's recently created U.S. Cyber Command.
It seems odd we are spending billions on this new Cyber Command, and we can't stop it or Julian Assange?
Why can't we stop Wikileaks? Why is the president silent on this subject? These continued revelations make the U.S. seem powerless, which if continued will make us look week in the eyes of the world; if it hasn't done so already.
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Military%20Intelligence
The unemployment rate jumped in November and rose to 9.8 percent from 9.6 percent, creating only just 39,000 jobs last month.
The longer unemployment remains high the greater threat to the nations economic security, as this places further strain on an already ballooning federal debt. The high unemployment places further pressure on Congress as the debate intensifies on whether to extend all of the Bush era tax cuts now being debated.
This should be no surprise to anyone as small businesses across the nation are reeling from actions by governments of all level's; help small business and you help America.
Debate has intensified for the Congress to lift its 17-year old policy on ending the military's controversial Don't Ask Don't Tell policy which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces.
This debate comes on the heal of the just released Pentagon report which showed most service personnel have no problem with overturning the ban.
Democrats seized on this report and our pressing their leaders to overturn the ban while Republicans are balking at reversing the ban.
There are still many questions left unanswered on how overturning the ban would affect various elements of military policy. Housing comes to mind! Another aspect is - will the military be required to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month as stated in the Presidential Proclamation by President Obama in May of this year. We celebrate Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month and the contributions they played in the U.S. Military.
Will we be doing the same thing by celebrating Gay Pride Month?
For those who have never served there may still be a lot of answered questions! This is bound to stimulate endless interesting discussions.
The leaders of President Obama's Deficit Reduction Commission just released its finding on how it would reduce the huge ballooning federal debt, which if not addressed will seriously undermine the economic stability of the U.S. One only has to look across the Atlantic and witness what is going on in Europe.
Two of the most controversial items in the Deficit Reduction Commission findings are changes to entitlement spending and sharp cuts in military spending.
There will be many who are against any reduction in military spending, especially while the U.S. is engaged in two wars, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately those proponents against reduction in military spending fail to understand the waste that is associated presently with current Pentagon spending. Instead of just slashing spending as some proponents advocate for. The time has come for real reform to hit the Pentagon.
Why does it take years for new weapon systems to come on line? The Pentagon has been debating replacing the aging KC-130 tactical air refueling tanker since 2002. We still have no replacement for the KC-130, how many billions have been spent so far, and who's district is reaping the profits of these tactics?
How long did it take for the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey used currently by the Marine Corps to begin operations? It was first proposed way back around 1982, when I first entered the Marine Corps. How many billions of dollars went into this program? It's time we look at serious reform, otherwise Congress will make the reductions for us.
Everyone should read the speech given by U.S. Marine Corps Lt.Gen John F. Kelly, currently Commanding General of Marine Forces Reserve Command. As you read this it is not bluster from a Marine General, but from a father who lost his son four days before in Afghanistan. Lt. Gen Kelly gives an excellent example of the caliber of the brave men & women currently fighting to keep us free. To bad America never knows about the sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform.
This speech is given by a dedicated Marine, but also a grieving father.
Read it at http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Letter%20from%20Iraq%20Afganistan
