Month: August 2010 Page 2 of 4

Here is your R&D for August 20th:

More tough economic times forecast by CBO from Reuters
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), high unemployment will continue to plague the American economy, increasing the risk that we are headed for a double dip recession.  The CBO also weighs in on extending the Bush tax cuts.

U.S. reviews options after Colombia court voids base agreement from the Washington Times
The Colombian Constitutional Court recently voided the nation’s base agreement with the United States.  Find out what this means for the future of U.S. military cooperation in the area.

On Midterm Stump, Clinton Is Defender in Chief from the New York Times
With President Obama being seen as a liability by some Democrats, former President Bill Clinton is on the campaign trail stumping for Democrats across the country.

Arming Hizballah? U.S. Military Assistance to Lebanon from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
U.S. military assistance to Lebanon has come under fire after the shooting of an Israeli Defense Forces officer in early August.  Analysts worry that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) might have too many ties to Hezbollah.  Part one of this two part piece helps to explain the history of U.S. support for the LAF and helps to sort out the messy Lebanese political situation.

Have your Roma back from the Economist
France is expelling hundreds of Roma, many of whom are Romanian nationals.  Find out what this expulsion might mean for Romanian society.

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Here is your R&D for August 19th:

General Motors Files for an Initial Public Offering from the New York Times
General Motors has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) so that it can repay taxpayers for the bailout that the company received last year.  The IPO should reduce the government’s ownership of GM but is GM acting too soon?

100 facts about the coalition’s first 100 days from the Guardian
Great Britain’s governing coalition has been in power for 100 days.  This article provides a valuable summary of budget cuts the coalition has made, its top ten quotes, foreign policy iniatives, surprises, and more.

Chad:  Beyond Superficial Stability from the International Crisis Group
Chad has in a perpetual state of crisis for over the last five years.  With elections approaching, Chad has the opportunity to reestablish democracy and shore up its internal stability.  Will it accomplish this?  This International Crisis Group report breaks down the issue.  (Make sure to print the report!)

Last U.S. combat convoy has left Iraq from CNN
After being on the political radar screen for seven years, U.S. forces are gradually drawing down their presence in Iraq.  The departure of this last combat brigade brings the number of U.S. troops in the country down to 56,000.

Americans Divided About Future Gulf Drilling from Gallup
The capping of BP’s oil well has reignited a debate over whether the Obama administration’s moratorium on offshore oil drilling should remain in effect.  Since extempers will run into questions about this issue during the year, having recent public polling data on the matter doesn’t hurt.
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Here is your R&D for August 18th:

Reviving California’s economy: Meg Whitman versus Jerry Brown from the Los Angeles Times
The California gubernatorial campaign is one of the major national races in 2010 and one that extempers may get questions about in September and October.  Similarly, questions about the California economy are bound to come up as well.  This article critically examines the California economy and describes what one of the largest economies in the world needs to do to revive itself.

Conflicting Objectives for U.S. in Afghanistan from the Council on Foreign Relations
In this interview piece, the Council on Foreign Relations describes how long the U.S. might remain in Afghanistan and evaluates the current U.S. counter-insurgency strategy there.

Many Blagojevich jurors disappointed from the Chicago Tribune
Need an article for your Blagojevich file?  You might as well get a source for the trial’s verdict from the state where it happened.

With mosque remarks, Obama purposefully walks against the traffic from the Washington Post
President Obama has come under fire from Republicans and some Democrats for his remarks about the mosque being built near Ground Zero.  This article examines the political fallout of Obama’s remarks and what this means for the public’s perception of the administration.

China targets U.S. troops with arms buildup from the Washington Times
Bill Gertz of the Washington Times, who has written an interesting book on China’s military capabilities called the China Threat, pens this piece that warns of China’s military buildup in the Pacific.
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Here is your R&D for August 17th:

Why Development Aid for Africa Has Failed from Der Spiegel
Extempers are familiar with questions concerning the impact of foreign aid on Africa’s economy.  This is a good article for answering those questions, which will emerge in the 2010-2011 season.

US breast cancer drug decision ‘marks start of death panels’ from the UK Telegraph
The US Food and Drug Administration’s decision to remove an endorsemnt for Avastin, the world’s leading cancel drug, in treating breast cancer has come under fire.  Critics allege that its the first step in rationing care in the United States.

Protesters in Bolivia’s Potosi region end blockade from the BBC
Protestors in Bolivia’s Potosi province have been lifted their blockade of roads and the region’s airport.  The protest started because locals believe that President Evo Morales has not lived up to his campaign promises.

Some Democratic candidates distance themselves from Obama from the Washington Post
Are Democrats afraid to have President Obama campaign for them?  Obama’s impact on some 2010 midterm races is discussed in this article.

Unification tax proposal sparks debate from the Korea Herald
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has proposed a “unification tax” to fund the reunification for the two Koreas.  See the political impact this proposal has had in South Korea in this article.

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Here is your R&D for August 16th:

Zero Tolerance in the Fight against ETA from Der Spiegel
Spain’s fight against the ETA doesn’t get the coverage that it deserves from the U.S. press.  This article from Der Spiegel discusses the steps being taken in the Basque country and how it will impact national elections this November.

South Korea and U.S. Begin War Games from the New York Times
The United States and South Korea have begun war games drills off of the South Korean coast.  Both nations have ignored North Korea’s threats of retaliation.

China surpasses Japan as world’s No. 2 economy from the Washington Post
Japan’s economic slowdown has pushed it behind the United States and China on global economic tables.  Find out what’s wrong in the Japanese economy in this small news piece.

Is public opinion on gay marriage ahead of the Supreme Court’s? from the Los Angeles Times
Most analysts concede that the Supreme Court will soon decide a case on the constitutionality of gay marriage.  This opinion editorial by professor Michael Klarman of Harvard Law School is a plea to Justice Anthony Kennedy to vote with the Court’s four liberal members when that time comes.

Unauthorized Immigrants and Their U.S.-Born Children from the Pew Research Center
The issue of “anchor babies” has now entered the immigration debate and some politicians have called for a re-evaluation of the 14th Amendment, which defines U.S. citizenship.  This Pew poll evaluates births in the United States to illegal immigrants and how the public feels about re-evaluating the 14th Amendment.

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