How Bad the Oil Crisis Has Become

Experts say oil is running out, and we need to find alternatives for it fast! In the Gulf of Mexico, US oil companies have found oil deep in the ocean, but that compared with our annual consumtion is pennies. In the Middle East, we all know the Arabs are sitting on all the oil, but the instability of the region makes it hard to keep a steady flow of supply. A Chinese airliner, in all their mathematical wisdom, has calculated it takes a liter of fuel to flush the toilet at 30,000 feet in the air. They are urging customers to use the bathroom before boarding. But what if we could use that water in the toilet as our fuel. The fact is we can! We have the resources and supply (5 oceans), then why aren't we jumping for joy? The fact is until the oil has not completely run out, interest groups in Washington will continue to lobby against such measures. Oil is a very profitable industry, its scarcity makes it even more popular. So hurry, use the oil, so we can get to the water.
(Picture: Toilets (w/o paritions), see the power of the flush, picture it in your car)

The Wrap Up

Todays top stories are:

• Iraqi force can take over by June 2007. In an exclusive interview with ABC News Prime Minister al-Maliki of Iraq said his government and forces will be able to take over security commandy by June 2007. The transcript released by ABC says "I can say that Iraqi forces will be ready, fully ready to receive this command and to command its own forces, and I can tell you that by next June our forces will be ready."
  

• Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. CNN.com calls him a "Washington outsider with heartland appeal." Senator Hillary Clinton still remain the Democratic front-runner.
  

• Bodies were found today near Baquba, Iraq. Official say that at least 80 bodies were found in mass graves with sign of torture and gun shot wounds.
  

• Former President Bill Clinton's foundation anti-AIDs initiative has achieve success. Today Clinton and two Indian pharmaceutical companies came to an agreement to cut prices of HIV and AIDS treatment for children. The foundation says the plan will allow treatment to reach children for less than 16 cents a day.
  

Rice Holds Separate Talks with Israeli and Palestinian Leaders

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talk with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Israel) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Her talks with both sides were in regards to a ceasefire declared in Gaza over this past weekend. She is looking to find a permanent peace agreement in which two countries would be able to live side by side in peace with one another. Rice said:

“Everybody recognizes that the creation of a viable, independent democratic Palestinian state that can live side by side in peace with Israel would be not just a remarkable achievement but a just achievement”

The Prime Minister of Israel said that this is “important step that was likely to both contribute towards calm and advance the peace processes in the region." He continued on urging the Palestinian people and government to move forward with peaceful negotiations and to stop the violence towards the State of Israel.

This is a very important step in the Peace Process, which stopped in 2000 when President Bush took office. Former President Bill Clinton had made significant strides in the region and I think Secretary of State Rice is attempting to pick up where his administration left off.

Iraqi Prime Minister & President Bush Met Today

Today President Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki of Iraq met to discuss different strategies in the increasingly difficult war. CNN.com Reports:

President Bush on Thursday expressed support for Iraq's prime minister and said the United States will speed a turnover of security responsibility to Iraqi forces.

Bush also insisted the U.S. will stay "until the job is complete."

He's the right guy for Iraq," Bush said of al-Maliki after the two met Thursday.

These comments made by President Bush mean several things. First he said that U.S. will stay, he does not mention armed forces, this could mean diplomatic and financial assistants will stay. The reason I mention this is because yesterday the Iraqi study group announced that they plan would include a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. As well Bush attempted to reassure the world that al-Maliki is the "right guy" for the job. This came after parts of the Iraqi government walked out on al-Maliki and memo by a top U.S. official was leaked yesterday concerning his abilities to lead.

I think that President Bush has learned something from the mid-term elections and the mounting turmoil in the Iraq situation. He has learned that in order for his legacy to not be worsened then it has become he must change his policy as well if he wants the Republican party to hold the Presidency in 2008 he must change.

For more information on the Press Conference Click Here

What do you think of the new Bush Policy towards Iraq?

11/30--First Post coming after 10:20 AM

The Wrap Up

Its that time of day heres the run down of what has happened so far in the news:

• President Bush's meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq was postponed after the NY Times published a letter regarding doubts of the Prime Ministers abilities as a leader. The meeting now scheduled for Thursday should be a "robust" meeting according to the White House, the White House also denies that the meeting was postponed due to the letter.
  

• CNN.com reports that 2,700 troops, a total of 3 battalions will move into Baghdad. NO new troops are being deployed. However troops in more peaceful parts of the nation are being sent to the capitol city in order to deter sectarian violence.
  

• The Baker Commission is scheduled to release its report on the Iraqi War to President Bush on December 6th. We will report more on their recommendations when they are released.
  

• President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran today published a letter to the American people. It said that the U.S. should pullout its troops from Iraq. The letter also charged the Bush administration of waging a war based on "coercion, force, and injustice."

• In coming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced today that she will not place leading Democrat Alcce L. Hastings of Florida as chair of the Intelligence Committee. She has decided this due to Hastings tainted past. Pelosi is looking to ensure little scandal fallows the Democratic Parry in the next 2 years leading up to 2008.
  

• NATO leaders who have been meeting in Latvia this week announced today that they will ease some restrictions governing rules of engagement in Afghanistan but only in Emergency situations. According to a NATO spokesmen 26,000 of the 32,000 troop in the country will be more usable.
  

Walmart Not Welcome

Walmat, the retail giant that sells just about everything, is facing hostility as it tries to expand into more metropolitan areas. Just recently the city council of San Diego turned out a bid to establish a Walmart Supercenter in their area. They passed a law prohibiting stores of more than 90,000 square feet that use 10 percent or more to sell groceries. Walmart sells groceries and averages about 183,000 square feet. The Major of San Diego will veto the bill; city council will need a five member vote to override.
San Diego joins New York which also banned a Walmart bid to open in Queens. While many argue Walmart will bring in a lot of jobs and lower priced products for the average family, it also has many negative impacts to consider. Small businesses will be out of business because they will not be able to survive the competition and large retailers lead to more traffic and pollution in any given area.
Walmart - good or bad for the community?
(Picture: Walmart the Movie Ad)

Election 2008 Update

According to the Washington Post Political Blogger Chris Cillizza:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) will not run for president in 2008, according to sources close to the politician. Read more...

Further election updates, in a recent likability poll released by Quinnipiac University former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani is the most liked "possible candidate." I will continue to endorse the McCain-Giuliani ticket, however in recent months Condoleezza Rice has seperated herself so much from the Bush administration. I have not seen her and the President make an appearance together in some time. As well she has stepped up her diplomatic initiative in the political hot bed of the Middle East, could she be doing this for a potential nomination, I am not sure. I think it would be political suicide for the Republican party to nominate her or anyone closely associated with President Bush and his administration.

Below are the poll results for more information click here

1. Rudy Giuliani:       64.2 (9)
2. Barack Obama:        58.8 (41)
3. John McCain:         57.7 (12)
4. Condoleezza Rice:    56.1 (7)
5. Bill Clinton:        55.8 (1)
6. Joe Lieberman:       52.7 (16)
7. Michael Bloomberg:   51.4 (44)
8. John Edwards:        49.9 (20)
9. Hillary Clinton:     49 (1)
10. Bill Richardson:     47.7 (65)

The road to 2008 is still in its earliest days however by January or February of 2007 I expect we will see clear cut answer as to who will and will not be running.

Who do you want to run for President?

Iraqi Prime Minister has a problem.

Just ahead of President Bush's meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Maliki's support is dwindling in the U.S. and in Iraq. Today a report by the New York Times sites a memo written by

"President Bush’s national security adviser expressed serious doubts about whether Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki had the capacity to control the sectarian violence in Iraq and recommended that the United States take new steps to strengthen the Iraqi leader’s position."

What does this mean for the United States policy towards Iraq? It means a few things, first that we will see policy changes in regards to Iraq. Second we will probably see an implementation of the Baker commissions plan, to increase the United States diplomatic initiative in the region. The U.S. is not leaving Iraq in shambles, I feel that we will be there for decades to come. The American people must realize that although mistakes have been made along the way, we must now fix those mistakes in order to make the world safer then it was prior to September 11, 2001.

The Iraqi leader has also lost support in his own government. Just hours after the NY Times report, members of the Iraqi government who support the Mehdi Army militia loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. First of all, I think that its a big problem that his own cabinet is turning their back on him, the Iraqi people need to start taking responsibility for their actions against one another. CNN.com reports:

Cabinet ministers and members of the Iraqi parliament loyal to al-Sadr underscored al-Maliki's shaky position, saying they would stop participating in his government.

The al-Sadr supporters had said earlier they would take such action if al-Maliki went ahead with a meeting with Bush on Thursday in Jordan.

I think its horrible that these government officials do not support the dialog between the U.S. and Iraq. This means that they do not support peace in their country. Both sides of the conflict are going to have to make concessions in order for their to be peace.

President Bush's meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister will probably not change much in the region. It will just be political discussion of what both side, the U.S. and Iraq needs to do in the coming months. President Bush's policy of staying till the mission is complete is something that may hurt the chance of the Iraqi government taking control and responsibility for their own country.

What do you think of these new developments in the Iraq War?

Israel-Palestinian Conflict

The Associated Press reported today:

Jordan's king said he will press President Bush to focus more attention on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict when the two meet this week.

In a speech to Parliament Tuesday, King Abdullah II described the Israeli-Palestinian dispute as the "core" issue in the Middle East.

He indicated that when he speaks with Bush, he would underline the need for the United States to push for peace.

Bush, however, is likely to steer the meeting toward Iraq's deteriorating security when he starts a two-day visit to Jordan on Wednesday for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, hosted by Abdullah.

But Abdullah and the leaders of two other U.S. allies in the Middle East -- Egypt and Saudi Arabia -- argue the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most pressing crisis in the region, and fear Islamic militancy will strengthen if it is not resolved.

This could mean great things for the region if President Bush stays focused on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. All the anger and hatred towards the western world by Radical Islam can be traced back to the conflict. I believe, if it were resolved and both sides were happy with the outcome we would see a dramatic decline in terrorist support by the Palestinian people. Electing Hamas to their government does show that they support the terrorist group. I feel that they do this because, although they use the wrong means, Hamas is the only one fighting for Palestinian rights. I think that the American government must once again step its diplomatic initiative within the region so that we can see peace. Former President Clinton had made significant strides in the region, however when President Bush took office he dropped the ball on this matter.

What do you think will make peace in the Middle East?

Stem Cell Research Tops Senate Agenda

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announed his priorities for the Senate: Stem Cell research, ethics reform, and raising the minimum wage. Stem Cell research, which was past by the 109th Congress, was the only bill to have been vetoed by President Bush. Reid says he hopes the President is willing to work with the new congress, but thus far does not see much of an effort. The Senate, which holds a hairline Democrat majority, lacks to guarantee the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override any possible vetoes. Also, Reid wants to achieve a fiscal overhaul in Congress, much of which he blames the Republican majority for damaging. "Citizens Against Government Waste, a taxpaper watchdog group, said there were 9,963 such projects in the spending bills for the 2006 budget year, costing $29 billion." As far as the minimum wage, he hopes to raise it from $5.15 to $7.25. This is the only proposal that the White House has shown any interest in.
(Source: Associated Press)

Bush Won't Pull Out

Despite news from the "coalition" in Iraq that they may be pulling out, President Bush remains adamant about remaining there. "There's one thing I'm not going to do, I'm not going to pull [out]," Bush stated in a speech on his oversees tour leading up to his meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister. Earlier this week Britian, Poland and other nations who still have troops stationed in Iraq said they may have complete withdrawal by the end of 2007.
(Source: Yahoo! News)

President Bush meeting with Iraqi Leaders

According to the Washington Post:

President Bush said Tuesday morning he will press Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a plan to contain the country's escalating sectarian violence, though he refused to characterize the situation in Iraq as a civil war.

Previewing the message he will carry with him to Amman, Jordan, where he will meet Maliki for a summit later this week, Bush said he will ask the Iraqi leader, "What do we need to do to succeed? What is your strategy in dealing with the sectarian violence?"

President Bush's diplomatic approach to change in Iraq is a more then welcomed event. I see this as to opening the Pandora's Box of Iraqi control. This is possibly the start of transferring the power in Iraq to the Iraqi government. President Bush wants the Iraq Prime Minister to take control and make decisions of what will happen next. I see this as an important step in avoiding the impending civil war, although many media outlets are calling it that already.

What changes do you think need to happen in the Iraqi government in terms of their control over the war in Iraq?

The War in Afganistan over in time for 2008

President Bush is in Estonia today ahead of his meeting with the countries of NATO. There he met with the President Estonia and he began his mission of urging NATO allies to provide the necessary forces to fight the war in Afghanistan. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said at the 2 Day summit that "Afghanistan is Mission Possible," he also said that by 2008 NATO forces will begin transferring power to Afghani security forces. He urged that their will not be a complete withdrawal of allied forces. On Presidents Bush first meeting with NATO since the mid-term upset he said that NATO forces and countries must be prepared for anything in Afghanistan. He is referencing that these types of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan can change very quickly. We may be winning the war in Afghanistan today and tomorrow we may not.

Personally I think that it is amazing how Americans barely recognize that the War in Afghanistan is still happening our media is to focused on Iraq. However I think its interesting that great success is schedule for 2008 right ahead of a Presidential election. This "success" could do 2 things, first it will allow American forces to come home and second it will shift what the American public is watching. Americans who saw the country going nowhere in the "War on Terror" will see us as victorious. As well it will allow American forces to focus completely and solely on the War in Iraq, which I doubt will be over. What do you think the end of the war in Afghanistan will mean for America?

Rice meets with PA

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to meet with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority today in Jordan. The conversation will include topics such as: the ceasefire in Gaza, and Hamas' role in the PA. As well the State Department reports that Rice could meet with both the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority with regards to negotiating a "permanent" peace agreement. According to a report by Reuters Prime Minister Ehud Olmerts has said as of today "there were no plans for him to meet Rice."

This meetings however change daily, we will try to keep you posted.

It's Official: Iraqi Civil War 2006-200?

Major news networks have begun to call the new phase of the Iraqi War - the Iraqi Civil War. President Bush has repeated denounced such a label, which may cause the US to have less of a say in the future of Iraq. In a civil war, diplomatic negotiations are usually dealth with internally or regionally (Iran's hosting of Peace Summit). Rule from across the Atlantic will be less meaningful if the War in Iraq is seen as an internal conflict. However, this in no way means that we cannot support a side. Thus far we have been supporting the Shia majority in Iraq, but this could alienate the Sunni worldwide majority.

The Wrap Up

Its that time of the day, its a little after 5 O'Clock lets see whats going on.

• United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan reports that Iraq is on the verge of Civil War. This news comes at a time when the Bush Administration has begun working harder on its diplomatic efforts to resolve and stabilize the situation in Iraq.

• Vice President Dick Cheney met with Saudi Arabian King Abdullah over the weekend. Meeting notes included; the developments in Iraq, Irans influence in the region, the status of Hamas in Gaza, Syrias diplomatic status, and Syrias role in Lebanon's government.
  

• President Bush will be meeting with NATO later this week. The White House says that he will be asking for more NATO forces to fight in Afghanistan. As well he wants less restriction what these forces can and cannot do.
  

• Iraq's President Jalal Talbini arrived in Iran earlier today to meet with his Iranian counterpart. Their conversation included finding a way to calm the escalating violence in Iraq. These talks also show Iran's growing diplomatic strength in the region.
  

• The draft proposal of the Iraqi Study group came out. It sets forth a Middle East diplomatic initiative including face to face talks with Syria and Iran. However it sets no time table for troop withdrawal. Little debate is expected over the diplomatic initiative however the lack of time table will see much debate. Congressional leaders will continue their screams for a troop reduction in Iraq. Members of Congress feel that until the U.S. sets forth a time table for troop withdrawal, the Iraqi government will continue to be slow in creating an effective military force.
  

• Israel and Palestinian leaders have committed to a ceasefire in Gaza.

In Informed Students news we are working on 2 new features for the blog--a podcast version of the Wrap Up and a weekly wrap up live Radio show on the WCDB Albany. They are both in the very early planning stages however we hope to have these features up by the New Year.

Dem's Investigatations Soon To Come

After sweeping the Congressional elections this past month, Democrats have promised to begin the much-anticipated investigations of several "wrongdoings" in Congress. The Chairman of House Energy Committee, John Dingell (D-Mich), announced inquiries his Committee will make to assess the damage the Republicans have caused from the past few years in control. Among the investigations include spending on Government contracts in Iraq and an energy task force overseen by Dick Cheney.
Some Committee leaders such as Charles Rangel have said that he does not wish to fight with Bush, rather prove that the Democrats can govern. The investigations can be key in further damaging Republican credibility for the upcoming Presidential Election in 2008.

Changes in Iraq

The United Kingdom has announced large troop cut backs by the end of 2007, Britain's Defense Minister Des Browne said. Their are only 7,200 British troops in the region currently. This could place mounting pressure on the Bush administration to bring U.S. forces home. Britain has been the United States' longest standing ally in this war in Iraq, once they pull-out the U.S. will be left alone. Unless we see dramatic changes in the war I see the U.S. leaving with out victory before the 2008 Presidential election.

It is funny how politics play into a war. Personally I think that it is only natural for politicians to make decisions for the country based on the politicians own best interests. It is natural for human beings to want for themselves and therefore would base their decisions on that. Although that maybe horrible for the nation at large it is only natural, I feel that politicians find a balance of what is good for them and what is good for the nation. Politicians will always be motivated by reelection. What do you think the impact of the impending Presidential election has on Iraq policy?

Cease-Fire in Gaza

Over the weekend a cease-fire agreement was reached between Israel Defense Forces and militants in Gaza strip. Reuters reports:

Israel will be prepared to release many jailed Palestinians, including long-serving prisoners, in return for a soldier militants seized in June, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday.

In a major policy speech, Olmert said he was reaching out to the Palestinians for peace -- offering a series of humanitarian and economic incentives if violence against Israel ceased.

The cease fire and Olmerts offering may strike up peace talks or even an agreement in the coming weeks. However, I feel that as long as a terrorist group, Hamas continues to control the Palestinian Authority all hope is lost for peace in the region. The cease fire will most probably do two things. It will allow Israeli and Palestinian citizens to return to their homes. And it will allow the militants to rearm themselves and create larger scale attacks across the border, just as Hezbollah has done on Israels northern border with Lebanon. Prime Minister Ehud Omert has made it clear however that peace talks will only happen if certain steps are taken by the Palestinian Authority, the PA must form a Unity Government based on the requirements set forth by the west.

• It must recognize the state of Israel.
  
• Renounce violence.
  
• Except existing peace agreements.

Personally I think nothing will change dramatically in the region. It looks at this moment that peace in the region is nearly impossible after the ceasefire was signed Saturday, more rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza.

It has been said that the only way to reach peace in the Middle-East is to resolve the Israel Palestinian conflict. What do you think about the chances for peace in the Middle East?