Month: April 2011 Page 1 of 3

Here is your R&D for April 29th:

Debt ceiling: More Democrats threaten to vote against raising borrowing limit from the Washington Post
More Senate Democrats are threatening to go against the White House and join Republicans to vote against raising the debt ceiling.  The Democrats who might cross the aisle are those like Joe Manchin of West Virginia who face re-election battles next year.

What happens if Congress blows the debt ceiling? from CNN
And speaking of the debt ceiling, what will happen if Congress doesn’t raise it by July 8th?  This article lays it out for you.

Aljazeera: One Organization, Two Messages from the Washington Institute on Near East Policy
Is Aljazeera a beacon for reform in the Middle East?  Not according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy because while it appears moderate to its English-speaking audience, there are different standards when coverage is providing in Arabic.

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Here is your R&D for April 27th:

AP sources: Panetta to Pentagon, Petraeus to CIA from the Associated Press
According to sources within the Obama administration, current CIA Director Leon Panetta will replace Defense Secretary Robert Gates and General David Petraeus will take over at the CIA in a reshuffling of America’s national security apparatus.

Seventeen years after freedom came to South Africa, a status check from the Christian Science Monitor
Yesterday marked the seventeenth anniversary of black South Africans earning the right to vote for the country’s political leadership.  This article examines the challenges that South Africa still faces and how far the country has come since the end of the apartheid era in 1994.

Paul makes move toward 2012 run from the Des Moines Register
Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee yesterday.  The move will allow Paul to fundraise and participate in the first GOP presidential primary debate on May 5th.

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Here is your R&D for April 26th:

How Haley Barbour’s move shakes up 2012 from Politico
Yesterday, Misssissippi Governor Haley Barbour announced that he would not be running for president.  Barbour was considered as one of the favorites to win the nomination if he had pursued it.

Washington on the rocks from Le Monde Diplomatique
Is the Arab Spring a sign that America’s reign over global affairs it at an end?  The answer is yes according to this article from Le Monde.

Messina Provides a ‘Sneak Peek’ at Obama’s Strategy for 2012 Re-Election from Bloomberg
Jim Messina, who is in charge of Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, has shared some tidbits with the media concerning what strategies the President may adopt to return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Here is your R&D for April 25th:

The Ultimate Ally from Foreign Policy
According to his piece in the May/June 2011 edition of Foreign Policy magazine, America needs Israel more than ever because of its strategic location and its ability to help America’s intelligence and defensive capabilities.

Indonesian Jihadism: Small Groups, Big Plans from the International Crisis Group
Jihadists in Indonesia might be small when compared to their Middle East counterparts, but they have big plans to wreck havoc across Southeast Asia and beyond.  This summary and accompaying report from the International Crisis Group provide excellent information for your files on Islamic radicalism in this region of the world.

In shift, US considers sanctions against Syria’s Assad regime from the Christian Science Monitor
After Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched more violence against protesters over the weekend, President Obama’s staff began drafting sanctions against Syrian government officials.  More than 100 protesters were killed last Friday in Assad’s crackdown.

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Here is your R&D for April 22nd:

Apple, Google Collect User Data from the Wall Street Journal
It has been revealed that Apple’s iPhones and Google’s Android smartphones transmit the locations of users back to each company.  Privacy rights advocates say that this is a clear invasion of privacy and raises questions of who should have access to this data.

John Ensign to Resign Friday, Heller Likely Replacement from the Las Vegas Sun
Embattled Nevada Republican Senator John Ensign is planning to resign today.  His move allows for Republican Governor Brian Sandoval to name Congressman Dean Heller to the seat and improve Heller’s position for a bruising 2012 election battle that could determine the control of the Senate.

Evidence Aside, State Lawmakers Debate ‘Birther’ Bills from the New York Times
The birther controversy will not go away and half a dozen states are debating “birther” bills.  Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed a similar measure last week.

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