Month: January 2011 Page 3 of 6

Here is your R&D for January 17th:

UK Government Plans Major Health Care Reform from the Associated Press (courtesy of ABC News)
British Prime Minister David Cameron promised significant changes to the British public healthcare system today.  Cameron’s reforms will focus on reducing red tape and improving treatment options.

Conservatives form movement to draft Rep. Mike Pence for president from the Hill
Indiana Representative Mike Pence is seen as a potential 2012 presidential candidate by the Republican base and several Republican Congressmen are trying to persuade him to run by kicking off a “Draft Pence for President” movement.

Who could lead Palestinians better than Abbas? from Haaretz
As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas begins what might be his last year in office, experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are wondeirng who may replace him and how that may impact future peace talks.

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Here is your R&D for January 14th:

Behind Tunisia Unrest, Rage Over Wealth of Ruling Family from the New York Times
Riots have broken out in Tunisia, as the population is blaming President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and his extended family’s riches for the country’s jobless rate.  The U.S. is watching the protests closely because Tunisia is a ally in the war on terrorism.

Taking Flight in Africa: Air Travel, Soft Power, and Development from the Atlantic
Howard W. French of Columbia University argue in this article that the United States is losing soft power foreign policy opportunities in Africa.

Wisconsin 1, Illinois 0 from the Wall Street Journal
Illinois recent tax increase is not without consequences.  Wisconsin has unleashed a media barrage in Chicago in an attempt to get some Illinois businesses to migrate farther north.

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Here is your R&D for January 13th:

President Obama’s speech in Tucson, Arizona
Here is the text of President Obama’s speech at a memorial service last night in Tucson, Arizona.  The memorial was a tribute for the six people killed and fourteen wounded in the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Most Doubt Political Rhetoric a Major Factor in Ariz. Shootings from Gallup
In a move that may give pause to legislative moves against incindiary political speech, a recent Gallup poll shows that only 20% of Americans believe that heated political language was a factor in the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords over the weekend.  42% believe that it was not a factor, while 22% thought it was a minor factor.

Lebanon: the Berlin Wall of the new Cold War from the UK Telegraph
After Hezbollah caused the collapse of the Lebanese government, the UK Telegraph poses an intriguing question:  is Lebanon a 21st century Berlin Wall between the West and Iran?

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Here is your R&D for January 12th:

Congress readies new gun-control bills after Gabrielle Giffords shooting from the Christian Science Monitor
The gun control debate in America has been mute for over a decade, but in the wake of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shooting, it has taken on a new significance.

Castro in state of confusion from the Miami Herald
As Cuban President Raul Castro tried to create a hybrid socialist and capitalist economic model, he is running into several problems.  Cuba’s authoritarian past may make it difficult to encourage the entreprenurial spirit the Cuban economy will need to succeed.

‘Europe Needs Growth to Prevent a Collapse of the Euro’ from Der Spiegel
According to economist Nouriel Roubini, the only way for the euro to survive is for Germany to provide more money to defend the currency and allow the European Central Bank to loosen monetary policy.

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