"McCain Calls for 'Common Sense Conservatism'"

Thursday, November 16, 2006
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-11-17T002429Z_01_N16567717_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-POLITICS-MCCAIN.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage2
Senator John McCain of Arizona offered his advice for the Republicans to regain control in 2008. He called for a return to “common sense conservatism.”

“We increased the size of government in the false hope that we could bribe the
public into keeping us in office,” McCain said, adding Americans “still prefer
common sense conservatism to the alternative.”

McCain stated that Republicans first have to reinstate their principles in order to regain the majority. These include things such as “strong defense, strong alliances, limited government, individual rights, low taxes, free trade, and open markets.” He calls for an era with principles like those of the conservative Ronald Reagan. Senator McCain mentioned in his speech that Republicans need to stop worrying so much about their incumbency and focus on more important things such as the war. Like President Bush, Senator McCain reassured the American people that there is still hope for Iraq. However, he backed his statement up with reasoning and a plan. Without more troops, we cannot win. I agree with Senator McCain’s statements and appreciate his comments on the situation in Iraq. He was truthful about the situation being dire, but he also had a plan of action.

"Key Democrats Oppose Creating New Military Draft"

Monday, November 20, 2006
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-11-21T025215Z_01_N20280714_RTRUKOC_0_US-DRAFT.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1

An incoming Democrat, Rangel, who has been appointed as the chair for the House Ways and Means Committee for 2007, has sparked up some dynamic conversation in Washington. He has mentioned his desire to reinstate the draft. Rangel stated that,

“If we’re going to challenge Iran and challenge North
Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can’t
do that without a draft.”

Reaction from others, has not been so great. Incoming Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, proclaimed that the draft situation is not one of their priorities in this upcoming session. They will focus more on healthcare, minimum wage, and financial aid for college. Is she asleep? Our nation is currently at war with Afghanistan and Iraq with the possibility of fighting North Korea and Iran. The two present wars obviously require a lot of troops, not to mention adding the possibility of two more wars. Perhaps Pelosi is too concerned with pleasing the people by giving them more money instead of protection. Even though the U.S. has not declared war on North Korea or Iran yet, there is always the possibility, so we need to have a plan ready to go into effect. I believe that things will be most effective if the troops overseas actually have the desire to fight for their country, but if worse comes to worst and more troops are needed, the draft will have to reinstated.

"Lebanese Christian Politician Killed"

Tuesday, November 21, 2006
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/21/lebanon.shooting/index.html

Lebanese Cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel -- a key member of the anti-Syrian
majority in the Lebanese parliament -- has been shot dead in an assassination
that raises tensions between opponents and allies of Syria.

Pierre Gemayal was killed in a Christian Lebanese neighborhood on Tuesday. Gemayal was an important member of the anti-Syrian majority in the Lebanese Parliament. While President Bush extends his condolences and concerns by denouncing the murder, he has not yet pointed his finger to blame Syria for this deadly act. He acknowledged “that Syria and Iran were trying to undermine the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.” Both Gemayal’s father (a former Lebanese President) and the current Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, referred to Gemayal as a martyr for freedom in Lebanon. Truly, Pierre Gemayal was a martyr for his country. He had to have known there were risks involved with the position he held on Syria. The Syrians do not want the government of Lebanon to approve a United Nations tribunal to prosecute those responsible for former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination. If you are guilty, you obviously do not want to be tried. The Syrians are doing everything they can to gain more power and control, even if it means taking the life of someone else. This is never right. There have been too many innocent lives already taken by these Syrians who want more control and a solution needs to be created for this horrible problem.

"Bush Shows Support for Indonesia Amid Protests"

Sunday, November 19, 2006
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-11-20T132607Z_01_JAK223731_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDONESIA-BUSH.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage3

U.S. President George W. Bush showed support for a U.S. ally in the war against Islamic militants on Monday with a visit to Indonesia which generated angry protests in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

During President George W. Bush’s recent visit to Indonesia, he endured an excessive amount of protest. Indonesia is a key ally of the United States in the War on Terror and Bush had to keep that in mind as he visited there on Sunday. President Bush met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia to discuss various pertinent issues as well as receive advice about Iraq. Yudhoyono did not try to say what Bush wanted to hear. He was honest. His advice to Bush was to create a timetable for Iraq sometime in the very near future. I believe President Bush’s silent response to Yudhoyono’s advice did not completely express disappointment (as most of the media has said), but his concern for the right decision to be made in the Iraq situation. Bush has one of the biggest decisions in the world to make. I know I would be concerned about making the right one. However, I believe President Bush should follow the advice of Yudhoyono and create a timetable. It would certainly help calm the dissension of the American people about what to do in Iraq.