Gushes over Obama
Paltrow hosts a Democratic fund raiser with Barack Obama as the guest of honor at her home in Brentwood. Paltrow gushes as she introduces Obama:
I am one of your biggest fans, if not the biggest. You’re so handsome that I can’t speak properly.
Party isolates president
0 CommentsSeeing the president as a liability to their campaigns, Democrats running for office this Fall choose to isolate President Obama. While the President spoke at fundraising events in Manhattan and plans to attend a backyard gala at the home of Gwyneth Paltrow, he will not receive invitations from Democratic senators like Mark Pryor in Arkansas. He’s been spurned by congressmen in Colorado, North Carolina, and Virginia where he had considerable wins during both presidential elections in 2008 and 2012. The democratic Senate nominee in Iowa does not want him to speak at party events. Senior aide to the President Dan Pfeiffer explains:
Every campaign has got to figure out — and this is true in this election, and it’s going to be true for every election going forward for Democrats for as far as the eye can see — is which Democrats are only going to be able to win if they turn out enough of the Obama coalition, whether we’re in a midterm or a presidential …. And the campaigns and the candidates are working through how best to go about doing that.
Leon Panetta interview
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Panetta criticizes the President for not making earlier strides to fight Syria and act upon intelligence to thwart the ISIS threat.
Too often, in my view, the president relies on the logic of a law professor rather than the passion of a leader.
War Powers Dispute
Senator Tim Kaine continues to put pressure on President Obama’s authority to wage war on ISIS forces. Kaine has been battling the President on his unilateral decision to fight ISIS since June, and a “spirited discussion” between Kaine and Obama confirms the dispute is ongoing.
I could not disagree more. You don’t ask people to sacrifice their lives until the nation has debated and committed to the mission. It’s immoral.
Bilateral talks
Modi meets with Obama at the White House for a bilateral discussion. The two democratic countries have been trying to rekindle a bilateral relationship that had been flagging. Obama:
We … reaffirmed that as two of the world’s largest democracies that we have so much in common it is critical for us to continue to deepen and broaden the existing framework of partnership and friendship that already exists.
The talk made no mention between differences in policy with Ukraine and Iran, nor any indications on how to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Economics was the theme of the talk. Modi:
The President and I spoke about many of our common economic strategies.
However, there were no indications of reforming a tax law that has made investors reluctant to invest in India, and no mention of India’s refusal to honor a new World Trade Organization pact unless the organization addresses Delhi’s issues with food security.
UN climate change speech
0 CommentsObama tells the UN that no nation is immune from the Climate Change. He asks for cooperative change among nations.
We cannot condemn our children and their children to a future that is beyond their capacity to repair.
Obama: ‘Exercise of democracy’
Obama congratulates Scotland in a statement:
We welcome the result of yesterday’s referendum on Scottish independence and congratulate the people of Scotland for their full and energetic exercise of democracy. Through debate, discussion, and passionate yet peaceful deliberations, they reminded the world of Scotland’s enormous contributions to the UK and the world, and have spoken in favour of keeping Scotland within the United Kingdom.
Approves aid to opposition
Congress votes 78-22 to approve training and arming the Syrian opposition. The new authorization to train the moderate Free Syrian Army expires Dec. 11. The bill does not decide on whether Congress will extend the training authorization or take up a broader authorization of military force against ISIS. Some senators are also pressing to add a passage that resembles a declaration of war to an annual defense policy bill pending in the Senate. House leaders oppose the addition, and the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee could begin drafting their own authorization of force as soon as next week. Obama:
We are strongest as a nation when the president and Congress work together … These terrorists thought they could frighten us or intimidate us. Americans, we do not give in to fear.
Will expand Ebola program
Obama is expected to announce the expansion of a $763 million U.S. plan to help West African nations combat the Ebola virus later Tuesday during his visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Officials say the administration has asked Congress for an additional $88 million for the program. The Department of Defense, which is heading up the program, has requested the re-programming of $500 million. The expansion will include deploying 3,000 troops to the Liberian capital, according to a White House statement:
U.S. Africa Command will set up a Joint Force Command headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia, to provide regional command and control support to U.S. military activities and facilitate coordination with U.S. government and international relief efforts. A general from U.S. Army Africa, the Army component of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), will lead this effort, which will involve an estimated 3,000 U.S. forces.
The White House says ‘many’ of the troops will be stationed at an ‘intermediate staging base’ where they will supervise movement of medical staff, supplies and heavy equipment.
‘Barbaric murder’
Obama says the killing by ISIS of British aid worker Haines is a ‘barbaric murder,’ and reiterates plefges to ‘degrade and destroy’ the group.
"The United States strongly condemns the barbaric murder of UK citizen David Haines by the terrorist group ISIL." pic.twitter.com/iscj8GSB5h
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) September 14, 2014
Condemns third beheading
Cameron:
This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker. It is an act of pure evil. My heart goes out to the family of David Haines who have shown extraordinary courage and fortitude throughout this ordeal. We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes.
Obama:
The United States strongly condemns the barbaric murder of UK citizen David Haines by the terrorist group ISIL.
UK, Germany: No air strikes
A day after President Obama tells American that the US will be joined by “a broad coalition of partners,” Britain and Germany announce they will not be participating in airstrikes against ISIS. British foreign secretary Philip Hammond says Parliament decided against participating in airstrikes in 2013, and it won’t be “revisiting” the matter. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his country would not participate either.
To be quite clear, we have not been asked to do so and neither will we do so.
Coalition signs up against ISIS
Governments in the Middle East are signing on to President Obama’s coalition against the Islamic State. Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and even the Gulf Cooperation Council, pledge to ‘stand united’ and willing to contribute with the US war effort against the ISIS threat. Some complications consist of exactly what effort each Arab nation provides and if Assad allows US air power to cross Syrian airspace without retaliation. A former officer of the US navy believes that Assad’s air defenses are overrating. Harmer:
Once they turn on the tracking radar … we’re going to have a dozen anti-radiation missiles go after it. I can’t imagine the Assad regime would be dumb enough to impede our progress.
ISIS speech
Obama addresses the nation in a televised speech on ISIS from the State Floor of the White House (full text). He says the U.S. will take action against terrorists wherever they are:
First, we will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we’re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense. Moreover, I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq.
The U.S. personnel deployed to Iraq in June have completed their mission of supporting the security forces now that the country has formed a new government, and an additional 475 servicemembers will be sent to provide training, intelligence and equipment to Iraqi and Kurdish forces. The U.S. will also support the development of National Guard units to help Sunni communities secure their own freedom from ISIL’s control.
Congress must authorize assistance to Syrian opposition:
In the fight against ISIL, we cannot rely on an Assad regime that terrorizes its own people — a regime that will never regain the legitimacy it has lost. Instead, we must strengthen the opposition as the best counterweight to extremists like ISIL, while pursuing the political solution necessary to solve Syria’s crisis once and for all.
The U.S. will chair an international summit under the UN banner to mobilize international support and to provide humanitarian aid to Sunni and Shia Muslims as well as religious minorities:
Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts to cut off [ISIS’s] funding; improve our intelligence; strengthen our defenses; counter its warped ideology; and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East.
The strategy depends on engagement with the international community and support from the U.S.’s coalition partners:
Secretary Kerry was in Iraq today meeting with the new government and supporting their efforts to promote unity. And in the coming days he will travel across the Middle East and Europe to enlist more partners in this fight, especially Arab nations who can help mobilize Sunni communities in Iraq and Syria, to drive these terrorists from their lands.
Congressional support will be welcomed:
My administration has also secured bipartisan support for this approach here at home. I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL, but I believe we are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together. So I welcome congressional support for this effort in order to show the world that Americans are united in confronting this danger.
The conflict will not be another Iraq war:
It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years. And it is consistent with the approach I outlined earlier this year: to use force against anyone who threatens America’s core interests, but to mobilize partners wherever possible to address broader challenges to international order.
Schedules ISIS speech for primetime
The White House says Obama’s ISIS speech is scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT and will be delivered from the State Floor. The speech was previously expected to be scheduled outside primetime slots. Press secretary Josh Earnest:
[Obama will] discuss with the American people the threat posed by ISIL and to lay out the United States’ strategy for degrading and ultimately destroying the terrorist group.
Authorizes $25 million aid
Obama authorizes $25 million in immediate military aid to the Iraqi government, including the Kurdistan Regional Government, to help with military education and training. A White House memorandum says the funds are intended…
…to aid their efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
‘Has the authority to act against ISIS’
The Obama administration says he will ask Congress to quickly authorize training and arming Syrian opposition forces in his prime-time speech on his anti-ISIS strategy due Wednesday night in Washington. The President will push forward on other areas of the anti-ISIS strategy without formal approval from lawmakers, potentially including widening airstrikes in Iraq and possibly expanding the air campaign to Syria. Following an hour-long meeting with congressional leaders, the White House says Obama told them he ‘has the authority he needs to take action,’ but will still welcome action from action from Congress that would…
…aid the overall effort and demonstrate to the world that the United States is united in defeating the threat.
Backs anti-ISIS measures
House Speaker Boehner, R-Ohio, tells Obama he will back aggressive measures against ISIS including improving the Iraqi army and training and arming moderate Syrian opposition groups. The expression of support comes during a briefing by Obama of Boehner and the other three congressional leaders — House Minority Leader Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Reid, D-Nev. and Senate Minority Leader McConnell, R-Ky. A Boehner aide:
[Boehner] would support the president if he chose to deploy the military to help train and play an advisory role for the Iraqi Security Forces and assist with lethal targeting of [ISIS leaders]
Poll: ‘Obama is failure’
A Washington Post and ABC News poll finds that Americans say Obama’s presidency is a ‘failure’ by a margin of 52-42. Among registered voters, the split is 55-39 with 41% saying they ‘strongly’ believe Obama has been a failure. It finds that 25% of Democrats say the presidency has been a failure, as do 29% of liberals and 92% of conservative Republicans. But 22% of conservatives and 48% of moderates say Obama has been a success, while only 44% of moderates say he has been a failure.
Sources: Prepared for Syria strikes
Obama is prepared to expand airstrikes to Syria in order to combat ISIS and does not believe that he needs approval from Congress, people who participated in talks on the issue say. They say Obama discussed his plans at a White House dinner with a bipartisan group of foreign policy experts and said he has authorization that striking the group on both sides of the Iraqi border to protect U.S. national security. Center for a New American Security CEO and former undersecretary of defense Michèle Flournoy:
This is not an organization that respects international boundaries. You cannot leave them with a safe haven. . . . I expect him to be very candid.
…essentially operating in a virtual safe haven in Syria. That’s a dangerous situation.