With Congress and President Bush entering negotiations over the next tranche of war funding, via an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, now is a good time for a little emergency check.

As the lead editorial in today’s Washington Post, Not an Emergency, points out, “[f]ive years into paying for two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s outrageous that so much of the financing continues to be approved outside the normal budget process, through ‘emergency’ spending bills that must be passed, must be passed in a hurry…”

So, five years to the month after “mission accomplished,” after half a trillion dollars in war spending through supplementals, maybe it’s time to focus attention on a budget reform proposal that has been circulating in Washington for, well, at least five years. It seeks to end a practice, which, as we have said “obscures or distorts important aspects of the fiscal impact of federal spending and, therefore, undermines the general fiscal responsibility of the federal government.” Read the rest of this entry »

While China is not an enemy of the United States, it is a potential adversary.  At the moment, history is repeating itself with the Chinese playing the role once assigned to the Russians. The United States is selling virtually whatever the Chinese want even as these sales increase Chinese military strength.

Overlooked by the American business community — that has invested over $800 billion on the Chinese mainland — are the following considerations: a military defense partnership with Russia; control of the Panama and Suez canals through a privately held Chinese company; sale of nuclear technology to rogue states; deployment of Chinese agents in Venezuela; financial support for Burma; rapid military buildup including attack subs, sealift naval crafts, and a blue water navy capable of neutralizing American forces in the Pacific. What the Chinese cannot buy, they often steal.  There is little doubt that the small nuclear bomb deployed on U.S. subs was stolen from our laboratories and installed in newly commissioned Chinese subs. It is remarkable that these developments are occurring under the radar screen.

Moreover, despite claims that items sold and money invested are not in the military sector, the Chinese do not recognize the distinction between military and non-military assets.  Holding American bonds or unloading them causing havoc in our markets is a weapon. The Chinese military puts a premium on asymmetrical warfare in which vulnerabilities in the American system are sought and inexpensive measures deployed against them.  As Sun Tsu noted centuries earlier the height of success in war is defeating an enemy without spilling blood. Read the rest of this entry »

I urge the leaders of the world to listen to our collective voices when it comes to the genocide of our brothers and sisters in Darfur. Ending suffering, and the pursuing of peace are not exclusively Christian, Jewish or Muslim values; but shared values by all.  Our human response to the suffering in Darfur must be a united drive to end the conflict, meet humanitarian needs, and ensure the promise of a better future for all.

The extensive and widespread devastation left this weekend by the cyclone in Burma has claimed over 60,000 lives and millions more have seen their homes and communities destroyed. I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Burma struggling to recover from this catastrophic disaster.

Through tragedy, there may be some hope for the future for the citizens of Burma. After years of being isolated from the rest of the world, the United States along with the international community can use this opportunity to assist Burma and demonstrate good will towards the Burmese people.

The time is ripe to move beyond the strategy of isolation and sanctions and toward the goal of opening up Burma. I am hopeful that the administration will move forward in that spirit and that the Government of Burma will accept the outpouring of international aid and allow international relief organizations access throughout the country.

In his first inaugural address on March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson said, “The minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.” This statement was ironically included in Speaker Pelosi’s document “A New Direction for America.”

Speaker Pelosi also said in “A New Direction for America:”

• “Every person in America has a right to have his or her voice heard. No Member of Congress should be silenced on the floor…guaranteeing that the voices of all the people are heard.”

• “Regular meetings between Chairs and Ranking Members of committees and staff should be held.

• “Members should have at least 24 hours to examine bill and conference report text prior to floor consideration. Rules governing floor debate must be reported before 10 p.m. for a bill to be considered the following day.”

Well, the most recent supplemental appropriation bill is proving that these statements are raging falsities. Read the rest of this entry »

Five years ago today, President Bush addressed our nation and the world from the USS Abraham Lincoln, only forty-two days after he ordered the invasion of Iraq. He declared “Mission Accomplished.” 1,827 days later, the U.S. occupation of Iraq continues, and our “mission” remains undefined and open-ended.

President Bush went to war on a flawed rational without a well-defined strategy or clear-cut and achievable goals. I was skeptical about giving the President authorization to go to war in 2003, but I gave this President the benefit of the doubt. That decision was a mistake.

In Vietnam, we never had a strategy to win. In Iraq, we have never had a strategy.

What this Administration does not understand is that there is a limitation to military power. We learned throughout the last century that political, economic and diplomatic challenges are equally, if not more, important to achieving stability on the ground. And as we’ve learned over the past five years, we must ultimately win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

We must begin a redeployment from Iraq, and we must refocus our attention to the threats down the road. The longer our military remains in Iraq, policing their streets, providing weapons, training and funds to whoever our alliances are for the moment, the longer and bloodier their war will be. If security and stability is our new “mission accomplished,” then it will never happen under a continued U.S. occupation or the continued propping up of a paralyzed Iraqi government.

Rep. Kilpatrick is chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, has been overwhelmed by malnutrition, famine, poverty and violence. Haiti is our neighbor and deserves prompt food aid, debt relief and Temporary Protective Status (TPS). We have sent a letter to President Bush and spoken with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to convey the dire urgency of crisis and appeal for expedient relief. Read the rest of this entry »

Bob Cusack, managing editor of The Hill, gives a preview of the week ahead on Capitol Hill. Cusack previews the Iraq war supplemental, a possible farm bill vote, an elusive budget deal, and Saturday’s special election in Louisiana.

Yesterday’s hearing was focused on the NATO alliance and the recent summit in Bucharest.  There were several key decisions made at that summit — including the invitations to Albania and Croatia to potentially become member states.  Additionally, I am grateful for the military support French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to provide in Afghanistan.

They follow in the footsteps of other nations like Bulgaria whose troops I had the privilege to meet during a recent visit to Kabul.  As co-chair of the Bulgaria Caucus, I am grateful for Bulgaria’s sacrifice.  I hope to see continued support from NATO members for promoting security in Afghanistan.  Al Qaeda is truly a global threat, and they have already perpetrated attacks on our NATO allies.  Any safe haven for terrorists is a threat to the civilized world everywhere. Read the rest of this entry »

I am proud that the United States was one of the largest international humanitarian and peacekeeping supporters in Sudan and Darfur, but the recent actions by the Administration are completely unacceptable. The United States should not be meeting with Nafi Ali Nafi, the man responsible for many of Sudan’s domestic atrocities and a link to international terrorism. Meetings like this send the wrong message to the international community and terrorist organizations. I will continue to condemn these actions and speak out for the oppressed people of Sudan and Darfur while in Congress.