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Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), the 2000 Democratic Party vice presidential nominee, during the Friday Fox Business Network broadcast of “Mornings with Maria,” warned that the United States is headed toward another “Cold War.” Lieberman, who was responding to the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to take over the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, called on the United States to “remain strong” militarily and economically to combat the Asian superpower’s increasing provocation.

The past year has generated one of the most unusual primary election campaigns in American history. The Republican frontrunner has shifted back and forth, with four candidates still in the race just four months before the party convention in Tampa. Meanwhile the incumbent president has faced no opposition from within his party and has spent his time preparing for what promises to be an intense, expensive, and acrimonious fall campaign. The nationwide survey by Barna Group asked a sample of likely voters who they would vote for if the election were held today, evaluating the relative strength of the three...

Dennis Kucinich said he was unwilling to encourage Americans to have illegal immigrants arrested. NPRThe Bryant Park Project, December 5, 2007 · On issue after issue, says Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, Dennis Kucinich's views have gone from fringe to mainstream. That pattern became apparent again at NPR's Democratic presidential debate yesterday, Wolffe says. Kucinich notions that once seemed crazy to the Democratic Party ended up front and center Tuesday, Wolffe says, and NPR's debate format gave the Ohio congressman a chance to shine. Kucinich is generally considered among the darkest of dark horses in the race. Yesterday, he spoke out...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2006 – Despite a recent increase in violence in Baghdad, Iraq is not on a path toward civil war, the commander of U.S. Central Command said yesterday. Army Gen. John Abizaid recently visited Baghdad and talked with Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the highest-ranking military commander in Iraq, as well as Iraqi government officials. He also had the opportunity see the situation in Baghdad firsthand while moving around the city with coalition forces. Abizaid said he left confident that progress is being made on the Baghdad security plan. “It’s still too soon to say how the...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq, Aug. 24, 2006 -- Seeking a unified province free from terrorism and sectarian violence, leaders of groups in Babil came together Aug. 20 in Hillah, Iraq, to reconcile and denounce sectarian violence. Tribal sheik leaders from the Babil province sign an oath in Hillah, Iraq, Aug. 20, declaring their pledge to work hand-in-hand with all sheiks and leaders from the province, regardless of religion or affiliation. The reconciliation conference was organized by Iraqi Maj. Gen. Qais Hamza, Babil provincial police chief, in an effort to unify the province and make a commitment to stop...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2006 – Army Spec. Crystal Davis proved her steely grit the night the up-armored wrecker she was driving in Iraq hit an improvised explosive devise. Trapped in the destroyed vehicle with her right foot nearly severed, she told her cohorts she’d hoist herself out rather than risk having them come in. “I think about it every day,” Davis told country music singer-songwriter Rockie Lynne Aug. 18, at a dinner for wounded servicemembers and their families. “Every moment that goes by a part will flash back. I tell it differently every time because I remember different things as...

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2006 – The idea of the services operating jointly with fewer aircraft platforms that share common features is the key to the modernization effort taking place throughout the military aviation community, the Army Aviation director said here yesterday. Army Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Mundt called the trend toward jointness a key driver in aviation modernization programs. "It's critical we work together. It's a joint world," he said. "There is no way that this nation can afford for everybody to have their own specific capabilities and be redundant across the board." But Mundt told Pentagon reporters he's concerned...

Democrat Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday criticized the Republican-led Legislature's push to pass a sweeping bill to bolster border security and counter illegal immigration. The bill awaited a House vote after being approved by the Senate on Tuesday. Napolitano said Wednesday that legislators should have paused their consideration of the bill to review actions being taken at the federal level. Those include President Bush's decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to support the Border Patrol along the U.S. Mexico border. While legislative leaders said they wanted to negotiate an immigration bill that Napolitano would sign, "they have not...

WASHINGTON - The Senate moved Wednesday to approve the first major change in lobbying and ethics rules in more than a decade, the latest effort by Congress to restore its plummeting reputation with voters before the fall elections. Under the bill expected to pass by a wide margin, senators would no longer be able to accept gifts or meals from lobbyists and lobbyists would be required to reveal more information about their contacts with lawmakers. But the bill, to the chagrin of many pushing for more fundamental change, does not ban privately funded travel. Nor would it establish a new...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2006 – The past year showed a significant increase in the number of trained and equipped Iraqi security forces and in the capability of these forces to conduct independent operations, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said today. A year ago, there were 127,000 trained and equipped members of the Iraqi security forces. Today there are more than 227,000, which reflects a 78 percent increase, Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said at a news conference. These Iraqi forces are becoming more capable and are taking the lead in operations, Lynch said. One Iraqi...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2006 – The horrific attacks against those trying to build a new Iraq and against innocent Iraqis are to create fear and doubt in the people of Iraq, a Multinational Forces Iraq spokesman said in Baghdad today. Speaking to Pentagon reporters via satellite, Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Alston said the terrorists targeted innocent Iraqis in the recent string of attacks in Karbala, Baghdad, Muqtadiyah and other areas. The terrorists are not slowing the drive toward democracy, he said. He also spoke of the coalition and Iraqi successes against the threats of car bombs. The general said...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31, 2005 – This has been a year of strong progress toward a freer, more peaceful world and a more prosperous America, President George W. Bush said in his weekly radio address today. "This year we watched the Iraqi people defy the terrorists and suicide bombers and hold three successful elections, voting to choose the only constitutional, democratic government in the Arab world," Bush said." We also saw the people of Afghanistan elect a democratic parliament in a nation that only a few years ago was ruled by the Taliban. "These are amazing achievements in the history of...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2005 – Those who question why it seems to be taking so long to build Iraq's security forces don't fully understand the magnitude of the challenge, a general who recently returned from training them explained during a recent interview with the Pentagon Channel and the American Forces Press Service. Creating highly trained Iraqi security forces involves far more than simply channeling recruits through a basic training course, said Army Brig. Gen. Richard J. Sherlock, who recently took the reins as the Army Reserve's deputy chief. The task requires building leadership capabilities at all levels and molding members...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2005 – The staff of the 8th Iraqi Army Division was certified today in counterterrorism operations and tactics, which means the Iraqis can plan and conduct operations against enemy forces with limited support of coalition forces, military officials reported today. Division units now are striving to achieve full combat readiness, officials said, adding that final coordination with local and central administration will be completed soon to finalize the process of battlespace transfer. Long-term training, including exercises and combat operations, officials noted, preceded the certification process. Before the division staff was certified, six battalions and two brigades of...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 6, 2005) -- Like many of his brothers-in-arms wounded in the line of duty, Lance Cpl. Brandon Love stoically accepts his fate while looking to the future with hopeful eyes. Love, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, was presented the Purple Heart Medal Nov. 30 for wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Iraq’s Al Anbar province in September. But despite the heavy weight of what this award represents, the 19-year-old native of Charlottesville, Va. spoke only of recovering and getting back in the fight. “I’m still motivated, and I hate...

COMMENTARY Base Transfer Part of March Toward Democracy By U.S. Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. Multinational Force-Iraq Commanding General BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 23, 2005 — The other day, Coalition forces transferred the largest base in Tikrit, Forward Operating Base "Danger" to the Ministry of Finance. Also known as the Tikrit Palace Complex, FOB Danger is perhaps the most significant of all the installation transfers. About 30 military compounds have changed from coalition to Iraqi control. The massive complex is more than 1,000 acres with 136 buildings. In addition to the buildings, there are more than 60 additional structures...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2005 – People who wonder why it's taking so long for Iraqi security forces to become capable of providing for their nation's security need to look at what's happened since coalition forces toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a Nov. 8 radio interview. Speaking with Samir Nader on Voice of America's Radio SAWA, Rumsfeld pointed to the progress evident today in building Iraq's security forces from scratch. "First of all, it's not taking so long," Rumsfeld said. "It's been two and a half years, and we've gone from zero to 210,000 Iraqi...

SAQALAWIYAH, Iraq (Oct. 24, 2005) -- The room is small and furnished with only a desk, two small sofas and a few file cabinets, but this doesn’t stop the police chief here from conducting daily business. A new Iraqi flag hangs behind his worn desk on a wall desperately in need of repairs. Yet, he selflessly speaks only of his concerns for a safer and better Iraq. “Baghdad is only 30 miles away, but we are about 70 years behind in growth,” said the police chief. The Saqalawiyah Iraqi Police are currently working with members of the 6th Civil Affairs...

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who enthused activists and unnerved business leaders with many of his early appointments to top environmental slots, is increasingly favoring industry officials for key jobs protecting California's forests, air and water. Schwarzenegger's effort to be a green Republican has been one of the principal ways the governor has depicted himself as being above Sacramento's traditional partisan divides. But in a reversal from the beginning of his tenure, it is now environmentalists who are objecting that Schwarzenegger has bent too far to one side. --snip-- "We have seen a change in the wrong direction," said Bill...

The Los Angeles Unified School District is again considering building a $49 million parking garage for top brass and their staff a year after the plan ignited an outcry over finances. The 1,734-space garage at the corner of 3rd Street and Beaudry Avenue would serve district headquarters and be paid for out of the general fund using money currently spent on leased parking for employees and visitors. "It's a rent or buy decision -- leasing costs versus ownership costs -- where we get to a break-even situation in three years. We believe it's good business to invest in purchasing the...