Entries

Chavez "Strong" After Surgery But Won't Be Home Soon

Reuters reports : Nearly two weeks after surgery in Cuba, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is "stronger than ever" but will not rush home until he is ready, his defence minister said on Thursday. "I call him every day to give him news, he is making great improvement," General Carlos Mata …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Sudanese Spies Pose as Aid Workers in UN Camp

The Associated Press reports : An internal U.N. security report says intelligence agents from northern Sudan posed as Red Crescent workers and ordered internally displaced persons to leave a U.N.-protected camp. The report, obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, said agents from the …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Karzai Welcomes Afghan Drawdown

The New York Times reports : President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan welcomed the decision to withdraw more than 30, 000 American troops over the next year, calling it the “right decision for the interest of both countries.” “The Afghan people’s trust in the Afghan Army and police is …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Poll: U.S. Worse Off Under Obama

Bloomberg reports: Two years after the official start of the recovery, the American people remain pessimistic about their current economic circumstances and longer-term prospects. Fewer than a quarter of people see signs of improvement in the economy, and two-thirds say they believe the …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

GOP Split On Niche Tax Breaks

The Hill reports: An internecine fight has broken out within the Senate Republican Conference over tax expenditures, putting Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), the senior Republican on the Finance panel, at odds with colleagues. Hatch, who will likely face a conservative challenger in next …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

EU Races To Avert Greek Default

The Daily Telegraph reports: European Union leaders gather in Brussels today keenly aware that they are in a race against time to stop Greece defaulting on debt and preventing the euro from collapse over the next week. Over a dinner tonight, the EU will begin negotiations on a second …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Kerry Praises Obama Plan

The Associated Press reports: Sen. John Kerry is praising President Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, saying it will allow Afghans to “make their own choices about their own future.” Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CBS’ …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Qaddafi Calls For UN NATO Probe

CNN reports: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi called Thursday for the U.N. Security Council to carry out an independent fact-gathering mission on Monday's NATO attack in the city of Surman, which resulted in civilian casualties. "The Security Council should hold an urgent meeting to discuss …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Biden Talks Irk Legislators

The Hill reports: Lawmakers are expressing frustration with the lack of information they have received from Vice President Biden’s debt-limit negotiations. The growing restlessness comes as Biden and six members of Congress are aiming to release the framework of a bipartisan deal by July …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Huntsman Eyes Independent Voters

Politico reports: Jon Huntsman sketched out a path to the Republican nomination Wednesday that transcends " the conservative base in key early states, an exercise in needle-threading that hinges on his ability to capture a large swath of independent voters. In an interview with …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Syrian Refugees Flee Troops

The BBC reports: Hundreds of Syrian refugees are fleeing across the border into Turkey to escape an assault by Syrian troops in the area, witnesses say. Tanks and snipers have entered the village of Khirbet al-Jouz - a base for makeshift refugee camps. One group of people broke …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Mobster Whitey Bulger Arrested

The New York Times reports: James (Whitey) Bulger, a legendary Boston crime boss indicted in 19 murders and who is on the F.B.I.’s 10 Most Wanted list, was arrested by federal authorities Wednesday night in Santa Monica, ending an international manhunt that had gone on since Mr. …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

U.S. Pullout Concerns Afghans

The Wall Street Journal reports: President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw one-third of U.S. forces in Afghanistan over the next 14 months conjured up uneasy memories for Afghans concerned that their American allies could leave the country before the job is done. Across the political …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

UK Bank Debate A Reminder Bailouts Worked

Britain's discussion over how to return bailed out banks to the private sector is a reminder that the original financial bailouts did not pour money down the drain. Britain is preparing to return to private ownership the banks bailed out during the 2008 financial crisis. Chancellor of the …

Written by David Frum on Thursday June 23, 2011

France To Begin Afghan Drawdown

CNN reports: France will start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, following a timetable similar to the one U.S. President Barack Obama announced, the French president's office said Thursday. "This withdrawal will be done in consultation with our allies and with the Afghan authorities," …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Marijuana Bill Goes To Congress

Agence France-Presse reports: A group of US representatives plan to introduce legislation that will legalize marijuana and allow states to legislate its use, pro-marijuana groups said Wednesday. The legislation would limit the federal government's role in marijuana enforcement to cross-bor…

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Frum: Learn Sweden's Lesson

David Frum reports for Marketplace: While they riot in Greece, it's calm in Sweden. Well, that may sound like the ultimate dog-bites-man story. Isn't it always calm in Sweden? But wait a minute. We often hear that the Greece story is a story about excess government spending leading to …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 23, 2011

Health Mandates: OK For Perry, Not For Romney

Mitt Romneys's Massachussetts health care program is an unpleasant reminder to some of the Republican Party's once uncritical acceptance of the individual mandate. I was watching the debate between Conn Carroll and Noah Kristula-Green yesterday morning and I was struck by a question that Noah …

Written by Paul Talley on Thursday June 23, 2011

Geithner Cut GM Employee Pensions

The Daily Caller reports : New emails obtained by The Daily Caller contradict claims by the Obama span style="color: green;"> administration (General Motors not eager to be political talking point in 2012) Government Spending

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday June 22, 2011

Dems Disappointed with Obama's Afghan Plan

The Huffington Post reports : Democratic lawmakers who have been pressing for a sizable and significant withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan almost universally expressed disappointment with President Barack Obama's speech on Wednesday night. The president told the nation in a …

Written by FrumForum News on Wednesday June 22, 2011