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الخميس، 10 نوفمبر 2011

Lincoln Tribune

Republican Candidates Decry Intervention in Debt Crises Abroad
At least four killed in post-election violence in Nicaragua
Alleged Mastermind of Cole Bombing Arraigned in Military Court
Alleged Mastermind of Cole Bombing Arraigned in Military Court
Obama Asia-Pacific Trip Part of US ‘Refocus’ on Region

Republican Candidates Decry Intervention in Debt Crises Abroad

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 03:10 AM PST

Wednesday night's Republican debate, at Oakland University in Michigan, focused on the economy. Candidates largely agreed that the United States needed to cut spending and focus on domestic actions that they say could spur job growth and improve the economy.

The federal deficit and high unemployment are major issues of concern among U.S. voters, but the first question of the evening was about the global economy - namely, how the United States should respond to economic troubles abroad, such as those in Italy.

Georgia businessman Herman Cain told the debate audience on the CNBC television network that the United States needs to concentrate on issues at home if it wants to avoid the massive debt that is plaguing Italy.

"Focus on the domestic economy or we will fail," he said. "So, yes, focus on the domestic economy first."

Cain says there is not much that the United States can directly do for Europe's third largest economy because Italy's debt is simply too huge.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said during the CNBC debate that Europe is able to take care of its own problems.

"My view is no, no, no. We do not need to step in to bail out banks either in Europe or banks here in the U.S. that may have Italian debt," he said.

Romney did say that the United States should continue to play a role in global financial bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul says the United States will most likely bail out Europe, which he said would "be a real tragedy."

Candidates, including former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, spoke of the need for job growth and greater competition in the marketplace. They generally agree that the United States needs to overhaul regulations and tax codes, and reduce the size and scope of government. They also spoke of their opposition to government bailouts of private industries.

Back on the international economic front, Romney took aim at China. During the CNBC debate, Romney accused China of "playing by different rules."

"One, they're stealing intellectual property. Number two, they're hacking into our computer systems, both government and corporate, and they're stealing by virtue of that, as well, from us. And finally, they're manipulating their currency, and by doing so holding down the price of Chinese goods and making sure their products are artificially low priced," said Romney. "It's predatory pricing. It's killing jobs in America."

Romney says, if he is elected president, he will take the issue of currency manipulation to the World Trade Organization and also apply tariffs to Chinese goods.

During the CNBC debate, former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman characterized the Sino-American relationship as troublesome, problematic and complicated.

"You start a trade war if you start slapping tariffs randomly on Chinese products based upon currency manipulation," said Hunstman. "That's not a good idea."

Overall, the candidates did not spar with one another, but, on occasion, took issue with moderators for asking questions about complex topics that had to be answered in 30 to 60 seconds.

It was businessman Cain's first debate since accusations of sexual harassment against him surfaced. The audience booed when moderator Maria Bartiromo raised the subject and linked it to questions of character and judgment. Cain again said the allegations were unfounded and that Americans deserved better than to be tried in the court of public opinion.

A moment of the debate that is likely to stick out in viewers' minds came when candidate Perry proposed eliminating three government agencies, but found himself unable to recall the third agency he would cut. During the course of the debate, he remembered that he would abolish the Department of Energy, along with the Departments of Commerce and Education.

A Gallup poll conducted last week and released on the day of the debate says Republicans predict Romney is most likely to be the party's presidential nominee, with 45 percent of Republicans polled predicting his nomination. In second place is Cain, with 13 percent.

At least four killed in post-election violence in Nicaragua

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 01:00 AM PST

MANAGUA (BNO NEWS) -- At least four people were killed on Wednesday during clashes between supporters and opponents of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who won Sunday's presidential election amid widespread claims of fraud.

Four people were killed in the north of the country while at least forty-six police officers were injured in clashes which erupted after the opposition denounced the election result as fraud. It follows Monday's announcement by election officials who declared Ortega the winner of Sunday's general election.

Three opposition supporters were shot dead in the town of San José de Cusmapa, which is located in the Madriz Department. Police said the opposition members were from the same family, but gave no other details about the shooting.

Police Commissioner Fernando Borge said the fourth victim died in a clash in Siuna, a municipality in the Autonomous Region Atlantic North Department. He was identified as Donaldo Martínez, the political secretary for Ortega's Sandinista party.

Borge added that six police officers were critically injured during the clashes among rival political groups and promised to launch an investigation to determine whether security forces fired directly on protesters.

There were unconfirmed reports that several other protesters were also killed.

According to Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council (CSE), the 65-year-old Ortega, who is the leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), received 62.45 percent of the more than 2.2 million votes during Sunday's election.

Ortega was followed by Independent Liberal Party (PLI) candidate Fabio Gadea Mantilla, who received 31.06 percent of the vote, according to CSE President Roberto Rivas. The Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) received just under six percent of the votes.

However, Gadea Mantilla has refused to concede defeat amid increasing allegations of widespread election fraud, and the official CSE website showed earlier results which totaled up to 100.01 percent. Gadea Mantilla said the results as presented by the CSE do not reflect the people's will but rather the power of the government.

The United States previously expressed concern regarding the election, but said it would wait with a formal comment until the election has been certified. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, however, strongly condemned the vote.

"Sunday's so-called election in Nicaragua was a complete sham," Ros-Lehtinen said in a harsh statement. "Daniel Ortega made sure of it."

The U.S. official said Ortega was, according to the Nicaraguan constitution, not eligible to run for a third term as president. "But he forced his way onto the ballot through a corrupt scheme that trampled over Nicaraguan constitutional mandates," she said, referring to a 2009 Supreme Court decision which declared the country's two-term limit invalid.

"And once he forced his way onto the ballot, Ortega pulled out more tricks to make sure that he would win," Ros-Lehtinen added. "He denied countless Nicaraguans the right to vote in order to stack the deck in his favor. He has clearly learned from his dictatorial buddies in the region, like Chavez, who is an expert at trampling democracy."

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland noted that the Nicaraguan government had denied access to international election monitors. "Frankly, if the Nicaraguan Government had nothing to hide, it should have allowed a broad complement of international monitors," she said on Monday.

However, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev did congratulate Ortega in a personal message which did not address claims of fraud. "Your solid victory in the election demonstrates that the Nicaraguan leadership's socioeconomic policy and consistent position in international affairs are successful and widely supported by the people of your country," Medvedev wrote in a letter.

He added: "Russia considers Nicaragua an important and reliable partner. We highly value the constructive nature of our political dialogue, as well as our efficient cooperation on the international arena and on a wide range of bilateral issues."

Ortega first assumed office in January 1985 until April 1990. He then ran for a second term in 2006, leading to his inauguration in January 2007.

In 1998, Ortega's adopted stepdaughter Zoilamerica Narvaez alleged that she had been systematically sexually abused by Ortega since 1979 when she was 11 years old. Despite releasing a 48-page report to describe her allegations, Ortega had immunity from prosecution as a member of parliament and the five-year statute of limitations for sexual abuse and rape charges was judged to have been exceeded. Both Ortega and his wife have denied Narvaez' allegations.

Alleged Mastermind of Cole Bombing Arraigned in Military Court

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 07:00 PM PST

The alleged al-Qaida mastermind of the 2000 terrorist attack on the USS Cole, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, was arraigned Wednesday in a military courtroom in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Nashiri, dressed in a white prison uniform, appeared confident as he strolled into the court and waved to spectators.

He smiled as Army Colonel James Pohl, the military judge, spoke to him through an Arabic translator.

Nashiri was arraigned on charges including murder, terrorism and conspiracy in the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen. The attack killed 17 sailors and wounded dozens more.

In the courtroom, families of the victims saw Nashiri for the first time.

John Clodfelter's 21-year-old son Kenneth was killed in the blast. "Because I wanted to be able to face him, face to face, if nothing else to let him know that 'Hey, you haven't gotten away with it.' As far as I am concerned, I'd just as soon see them give him the death penalty because I think the lives of 17 sailors are worth it," Clodfelter said.

Nashiri was captured in 2002, interrogated in secret CIA prisons overseas, then transferred to the U.S. detention center at the Guantanamo Bay naval station.

His attorneys argue Nashiri should not be prosecuted because interrogators subjected him to mock executions and the near-drowning technique called waterboarding.

The judge turned down a defense motion to force prosecutors to say that, if Nashiri is acquitted, the government is not likely to release him. Instead, the defense says, Nashiri will likely remain at Guantanamo.

Richard Kammen is the lead defense counsel. "I can't imagine in today's political environment or next year's political environment or the political environment in two or three years where, if he is acquitted, any president would authorize his release,"Kammen said.

Nashiri is the first detainee to face a military tribunal here since U.S. President Barack Obama ended a freeze on the proceedings earlier this year.

Army Brigadier General Mark Martins, the chief prosecutor, says Wednesday's arraignment proves the system is fair.

"I am confident the military commission that was convened here today to try the charges against Mr. al-Nashiri referred to it will answer the call with fairness and with justice,"Martins said.

The defense says Nashiri's treatment while in custody will be an issue during this trial. The attorneys predict it will take several years for the case to be resolved.

Alleged Mastermind of Cole Bombing Arraigned in Military Court

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 07:00 PM PST

Obama Asia-Pacific Trip Part of US ‘Refocus’ on Region

Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:38 PM PST

President Barack Obama leaves on Friday for Hawaii, where he will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC] leaders summit. The APEC meeting, along with Mr. Obama's travels to Australia and a summit of East Asian leaders in Indonesia, are part of the president's effort to reassure allies and economic partners of America's commitment to remain a major power in the Pacific region.

U.S. officials have sketched a multi-faceted effort by Mr. Obama to underscore U.S. economic and security engagements and the importance of key alliances that he will reinforce at the two summits, in bilateral talks, and his visit to Australia.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney recently spoke about another key purpose for the president's trip, to reinforce the link between the Asia-Pacific region, and U.S. economic recovery and job creation.

"The APEC summit as well as the East Asia summit, and the other elements of this trip reinforce this president's commitment to the kind of rebalancing and refocus that he has long-believed is necessary. And it goes right on the economic front to his goal to double our exports and increase our trade, specifically with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region," Carney said.

Mr. Obama's first stop in San Diego, California to attend a Veterans Day holiday college basketball game on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Osama bin Laden's body was buried at sea from the carrier in May.

On Saturday in Hawaii, the president is scheduled to host a meeting of nine nations in APEC, negotiating a smaller emerging free trade group called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

APEC set a goal in 1994 of achieving free and open trade and investment in Asia-Pacific industrialized economies by 2010, and in developing economies no later than 2020.

The president will hold the first bilateral meetings of his trip, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Chinese President Hu Jintao. Mr. Obama's state visit to Australia will spotlight the strength of the bilateral alliance on the 60th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty. He is scheduled to address Parliament in Canberra, visit Darwin in the north, and address Australian troops.

Although White House officials will not confirm it, Mr. Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard are expected to announce a new agreement to give the U.S. military expanded access to Australian military bases.

In Bali next week, Mr. Obama will attend a series of bilateral meetings with regional leaders, beginning with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy includes an effort to encourage India's "Look East" policy. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns spoke about it at a recent discussion here in Washington.

"The president has said that India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century. We also want it to be one of the defining partnerships in the Asia-Pacific," Burns said.

In contrast to the APEC meeting, which will focus on economic issues, the East Asia summit will deal with political and security challenges.

Analysts say regional worries over Chinese intentions in the South China Sea will be among issues on the minds of leaders in Bali.

Michael Green of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies says the summit will be a delicate balance of concerns, sensitivities and agendas.

"What a lot of the members of the East Asia summit will want is for us to speak softly and carry a big stick [i.e., pursue diplomacy while maintaining U.S. military commitments]. They are going to want us to be clearly there maintaining a stable balance as they trade with China and with us. But they are not going to want us to wave that stick in China's face and put them in a difficult position."

Mr. Obama is scheduled to return to Washington only a few days before a November 23 deadline for a congressional committee to agree on $1.2 trillion in government spending cuts, with wide-ranging implications for the U.S. economic recovery.

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes says Mr. Obama knows that Asia-Pacific leaders will be watching the situation in Washington, but that Mr. Obama will bear assurances that the United States will continue to play an indispensable role in the region, even during a time of tight federal budgets.

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الخميس، 10 نوفمبر 2011

Lincoln Tribune

Lincoln Tribune

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