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By Jamie Crawford
Editor's Note: Over the next week, CNN's national security reporters and producers will be looking at some of the most poignant differences between the two candidates on the most pressing foreign policy issues. Watch for the stories all week on CNN. More from Election Center
The protests and violence at American diplomatic missions across the Middle East and North Africa last week steered the 2012 presidential race into somewhat unchartered territory - a debate over U.S. foreign policy.
While the topic certainly has not been absent in the rhetorical sparring between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, most of the campaign's focus thus far has been a battle over who has the best prescription to jolt a seemingly sluggish economic recovery.
But that changed last week. Romney's charge the United States was too quick to condemn a film that insulted Muslims before condemning the violence directed at American diplomatic missions abroad spurred Obama's claim that Romney had a tendency to "shoot first and aim later." And all this talk has opened a window on an area that is sure to consume a great deal of attention for whomever sits in the Oval Office next January.
The list of foreign policy challenges facing the United States is daunting - including an awakening in the Arab world with a direction still unknown, a looming nuclear crisis with Iran and an uncertain future in Afghanistan (and neighboring Pakistan) once U.S. troops withdraw in 2014.
And let's not forget a bloody civil war in Syria, where the fate of thousands of biological and chemical weapons also hang in the balance. Then there are fiscal issues, from debt crises plaguing Europe to economic and geo-political challenges posed by a rising China.
Here is a look at some of the most pressing foreign policy issues facing the United States, and how the candidates who seek to lead the country approach them.
As the tension over Iran's disputed nuclear program ratchets up in the face of Israeli discord over the pace of current sanctions designed to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, both Obama and Romney agree that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
"We are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," Obama said in a press conference earlier this year alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron.
More: What are your top election issues? Weigh in now
The Obama administration and European Union have launched parallel sanctions designed to squeeze Iran's petroleum sector and bring the economy to its knees as an incentive to get Iran to give up any military dimensions to its nuclear program.
In a recent interview with ABC News, Romney said he would draw the same line as Obama when it comes to Tehran's nuclear capacity.
"My red line is Iran may not have a nuclear weapon," he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "It is inappropriate for them to have the capacity to terrorize the world."
What ultimately constitutes that red line, though, is seemingly different for both men. For Obama, the Iranian government would have to take direct steps to actually acquire a weapon (which U.S. intelligence does not believe has happened yet), while Romney has said merely having a "nuclear capability" without actually moving ahead to produce a weapon would be a tipping point.
More: Netanyahu urges U.S. to set 'red line' for Iran
In Syria, where the carnage of the last year and a half has claimed tens of thousands of lives, the fate of the country's large stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and whether to arm the opposition forces battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has drawn out differences between the two candidates.
What would trigger either overt or covert military involvement from the United States inside Syria?
"We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to the other players on the ground, that a red line for us is (when) we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized," Obama said in a White House press conference last month. "That would change my calculus. That would change my equation."
More: CNN/Facebook's 'I'm Voting' app, take the pledge
As to supporting al-Assad's opposition, the administration has provide funds and non-lethal equipment like communications gear. In addition, the CIA is aiding in vetting rebel members for other countries who may be providing arms on their own.
For Romney, the Obama administration's policy of not providing arms to the Syrian opposition - whose character and composition is still uncertain, according to administration officials - is a mistake. The former Massachusetts governor supports greater American involvement in Syria.
"Instead of watching what's happening in Syria from a dispassionate distance, I would be leading in Syria by encouraging our friends there like the Turks and the Saudis to provide weapons to the insurgents in Syria," he said at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual briefing this summer.
More: Syria explained: What you need to know
And Barbara Starr on Obama and Romney's red lines for Iran and Syria.
No single foreign policy issue has bedeviled more U.S. presidents than the search for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Unlike previous presidents, for whom Mideast peace was mainly a focus in their second term, Obama entered office determined to work with all parties involved in the process to find a workable plan. But the effort did not go far, as the Israeli government continued to construct settlements in Palestinian areas and a unilateral quest for statehood by the Palestinians at the United Nations brought talks to a halt.
The relationship between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is cool, and while they have put on a public face of U.S./Israeli solidarity when they meet, it is understood the two don't have much of a personal rapport. Romney and Netanyahu, on the other hand, have a relationship that goes back decades from the time they were colleagues at the Boston Consulting Group.
While the style and rhetoric of Obama and Romney's approach to the Middle East may differ, there are rather modest differences in the substance of their positions on the conflict's root issues. Both men say their personal view is that Jersualem is the capital of Israel, but that issue must be negotiated between the Israelis and Palestinians - a policy shared by previous presidential administrations, from both parties.
In a May 2011 speech at the State Department, Obama called for a two-state solution based on borders that existed before the 1967 Six-Day war. He also proposed "mutually agreed swaps" of land as a basis of negotiations. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer during a visit to Jersualem this past July, Romney would not comment on what borders he'd propose, but said, "I will leave that to the negotiating parties themselves."
Throughout the campaign, Romney has accused Obama of "throwing allies like Israel under the bus" and not giving due credence to Israeli concerns over Iran. He has also pledged Israel would be the first country he would visit as president.
But while the personal relationship between Obama and Netanyahu is well documented, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told CNN in July that the bond between Israel and the United States are "stronger and deeper than ever" under Obama.
Both presidential contenders have said they respect Israel's sovereign right to defend itself against perceived threats - an apparent reference to Israeli apprehensions over Iran's nuclear program.
With the war in Afghanistan set to enter its twelth year in October, U.S. forces are on schedule to end their combat role by the end of 2014. The current plan calls for only a small number of American troops to remain to train Afghan forces.
After years of military focus on Iraq, Obama ordered a surge of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in December 2009. At its peak, there were about 100,000 U.S. forces in the embattled country, intent on wrestling back control of areas in southern and eastern Afghanistan that had been taken over by the Taliban. That boost of troops was temporary and, by the end of September, all 30,000 extra troops will have been removed.
While Romney has called Obama's policy in Afghanistan a politically timed retreat, there is little evident daylight between them as to how they'd approach the U.S. military effort.
"Our goal should be to complete a successful transition to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014," Romney said this month in a speech before a National Guard Association meeting in Reno, Nevada. "I will evaluate conditions on the ground and solicit the best advice of our military commanders," he said.
That's not much different than what Obama said last month, during a visit to the Army base of Fort Bliss in Texas.
"Next year, Afghans will take the lead for their own security. In 2014, the transition will be complete," he said then.
It's what happens once military operations cease where differences between the two candidates come into view.
"We are pursuing a negotiated peace. In coordination with the Afghan government, my administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban," Obama earlier this year, explaining his administration's policy of supporting reconciliation by all elements of Afghan society so long as minority and women's rights are respected, and violence is renounced.
Negotiating with the Taliban is a dangerous prospect, according to Romney.
"We don't negotiate with terrorists. I do not negotiate with the Taliban. That's something for the Afghans to decide how they're going to ... pursue their course in the future," he said last year during a Republican primary debate.
More: 'Green on blue' attacks in Afghanistan | Attackers wore U.S. uniforms
As commander in chief of the U.S. military, President Obama differs from Romney on what they see as the types of weapons and numbers of troops needed to defend the country.
In his remarks and position papers released by his campaign, Romney champions a large conventional force supplemented by 100,000 extra troops, which would bolster the entire military force to over 1.5 million.
"We must have a commitment," he said last week at an event in Virginia, "not just to more ships and more aircraft, but also, in my view, to more members of our armed forces."
In addition to extra troops, Romney has pledged to increase the Navy's shipbuilding rate from 9 to 15 new vessels a year, modernize existing weapons systems and establish a multilayered ballistic missile defense system. Romney has not said how he would pay for any of these measures.
With the war in Iraq over and military operations in Afghanistan winding down, Obama has said he wants to cut $500 billion in defense spending over the next decade. He does not support a second round of $500 billion in cuts that may take effect in January if Congress cannot reach an agreement on the federal budget.
The cuts in Obama's budget would get rid of older ships while delaying the construction of newer ones. His military would place more emphasis on small special forces teams that can deploy to hotspots worldwide, as well as the continued use of unmanned drones.
While drones and special forces would also play a role in Romney's defense strategy, the former governor says a strong and robust military is necessary to preserve America's leadership position in the world.
More from Barbara Starr on Obama and Romney's competing proposals for the U.S. military
From the early days of his campaign up to the present, Romney has maintained that China - through its monetary policy and trade practices - is cheating Americans out of good jobs and opportunities, as well as stealing its intellectual property and know-how.
"If I'm president of the United States, I will finally take China to the carpet and say, 'Look you guys, I'm gonna label you a currency manipulator and apply tariffs unless you stop those practices," he said at a campaign event earlier this year.
Like previous administrations, Obama has not taken the step of designating China a "currency manipulator" out of concern such a move could start a trade war with a nation that enjoys a $200 billion trade surplus with the United States and holds even larger sums of U.S. debt. But Obama has brought lawsuits against Beijing at the World Trade Organization.
"We're going to continue to be firm in insisting that they operate by the same rules that everybody else operates under," he said last year at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.
On the sensitive issue of Taiwan, Obama has signed off on arms sales to the island - which China considers a renegade province - but he has refused to sell them advanced F-16 fighter jets. Romney has said he would sell additional arms to Taiwan and confront China more forcefully on its human rights record.
More: Obama and Romney differ on approaches to China and Russia
With Russia, Obama came to office looking to "reset" a relationship that become strained when George W. Bush was president. He negotiated a new arms control agreement, and Russian assent to opening crucial supply lines for coalition forces in Afghanistan.
As to Romney, earlier this year, he told CNN that Russia was, "without question, our number one geopolitical foe." He has said he will re-evaluate the arms control treaty, and will confront the Kremlin on its human rights record.
"Under my presidency, our friends will see more loyalty and Mr. Putin will see a little less flexibility and more backbone," Romney said at the recent Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
Romney has taken issue with the Obama administration's cancellation of plans, under Bush, to put missile defense components in Poland. But it should be noted that the United States is involved with, and supports, a NATO-sponsored missile defense shield that would host interceptors, ships and radars in Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey. Russia has repeatedly voiced its disagreement with the NATO plan.
For an issue that was front and center for the past decade, and took the country to war, terrorism has not gotten the attention it once did on the campaign trail.
The Obama administration has emphasized the use of unmanned drones to take out terrorists in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere. They have been used more frequently than during the Bush administration, and are seen as an effective tool of counter-terrorism that does not put U.S. troops in harms way.
But while the use of drones has expanded, Obama said deciding to deploy them presents significant challenges.
"That's something that you have to struggle with," Obama told CNN's Jessica Yellin in a recent interview. "If you don't, then it's very easy to slip into a situation in which you end up bending rules thinking that the ends always justify the means. That's not been our tradition. That's not who we are as a country."
And while he moved to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay at the beginning of his administration, those efforts were blocked by Congress. He supports military tribunals for accused terrorists, but says he would like to see justice in federal courts.
For Romney, terrorists should be treated as enemy combatants, jailed at Guantanamo and tried by the military. He has said he would also allow more aggressive interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects.
Obama eliminated the enhanced interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration such as waterboarding, labeling such practices as torture. Romney has not specified what type of techniques his administration would employ.
the US should support israel diplomatically and with nonviolent assistance, but there is zero support here for fighting for israel. certain american jewish groups (AIPAC, Jewish Republicans) claim that it is a "moral obligation" of the US to fight for israel, but only their own members actually believe that, and they never send their sons to serve. in the end, if it is in the US' interest, there may be an attack on iran, but i feel that the US will not go to war for israel.
Didn't Romney reverse every stance to agree with Obama in the third debate? There is no difference on foreign policy between the two now, right? Or is Romeny the kind of person that would say anything to get elected? Don't let that empty suit into office. OBAMA 2012!!!
It's a big shame on us Americans that we ignore the huge influence Israel has in our government. Our politicians constantly declare Israel "our best friend, our closest ally"! I truly respect Obama for his strong efforts to keep Israel from starting our next war. Israel is not our "friend"! Israel rants and raves about Iran, who they claim wants Israel wiped off the map! Meanwhile, Israel continues its efforts to wipe Palestinians off the map! Surely not a stated goal, but in practice this is what is truly going on. Israel can't wipe Iran off the map so they conjure up schemes to get us to do their dirty work! Vote for Romney and you vote for war against Iran! Soley for Israel's benefit!!!
Who eva wins doesn't mater. Let God deliver America frm herself. The US healing coms wen her president seeks d God of their fathers who establised d nation on God's Word.
Godcil, I'm a 56 years young black female, And I have to say, I care about who wins. But your comment touched my heart, and you're right! Whom so ever wins!! Let them put GOD first and formost!!! Then if by chance Romney/Ryan win, If they put God almighty first, the country second. then this world may have a chance to survive. I think after the election the whole Nation should stop take a moment and Pray for the world, and the people running it.( OBAMA/BIDEN I'll pray before the election that my canidates r re-elected )Lets have A National Prayer Day!!!!
The truth is that the US is falling down speedily and China is rising up quickly. The day the US president wl seek help from the God of their fathers who established their nation, that is when their domestic troubles wl diminish and the foreign nations posing a threat wl giv a listening ear. May God deliver America frm herself.
Just look at all the good things happening. Al Quaida making a strong comeback, The Middle East in disaray, We won't even admit when terrorist attacks are striking our very own embassies and killing our Ambassadors, not to mention we have a stronger relationship with Iran, Venezuala, Syria, and now the Muslim Brotherhood than ever before. Why wouldn't we vote for Mr. Obama. Think how much better it will be after another four years. It is a great time to be a terrorist.
Obama or Romney, both work and die for Israel , they do not represent the United States, they represent only the jews, screw them both, where is the truth American Patriot RON PAUL!!! The only American willing to fight for Americans and will not back down from the terrorist state of Israel
The muslium brotherhood is a front for the musluim army wing of the musluim reglion its designed to kill infidels (that be You ) our policeys in the world is withdraw and reteat Obama is a man who believes we as a nation is to powerful and need to be trim down to size that why his libya veiw got four american kill if re elected we will be at the mercy of the UN.Maybe you believe that to be good ,but its not consitutional.
We should all be asking can we afford another war if sovote for Rommey. We have one now were trying to get out of we need to really think about this.
If we would just mind our own business and keep all out money home paying towards the debt for 5 years, we would be out of trouble. If the rest of the world wants to live like that and continue supporting corrupt governments, then let them. Let's feed our own people before we go around feeding children thousands of miles away. Medical care too!
Round 3 TKO, President Obama will win. Mitt Romney don't know a thing about foreign policy except eager to start another way so he can keep filling his off shore bank accounts. Condalisa Rice is following Paul Ryan around schooling him on Foreign Policy-lol. Why wasn't that Romney idiot arrested for President Obama. Caught on camera saying he wants to take a swing at President Obama is no joke, should have been classified as a threat.
We honestly just need to stay out of foreign affairs, rase tarrifs, and improve homeland security. That will create jobs, and keep business in the US.
Indeed sir indeed.
i think B.Obama win.
People don't do a whole lot of research. Obama created a committee dedicated to investigate illegal trade practices in China, while Mitt Romney on the other hand has packaged jobs and put a nice bow on it for Chinese sweatshops. The only thing romney supports is his magic underwear and personal profits at the expense of others
It makes little differences who wins the debate or the presidency. The biggest lobby in the history of America "AIPAC" always runs the USA......How long will the people tolerate this?
I think it is a shame how ill informed the majority of our society is. This current administration has zero foreign policy. Everyone criticized W. Bush for the poor standing we were in with the world- we are in a worse state currently under Obama. Leave the country, go to Europe, serve in the military- and you will see how absolutely foolish we look. We have zero respect. There are no "negotiations" with the Taliban. That is an absolute joke. There is no "good relationship" with Isreal. And there is a huge difference in what Romney said vs what Obama said regarding afghanistan. Romney said take advice from ground leaders. Obama said it WILL end. They WILL assume responsibility. "more special forces..." good luck with that. and we will be where Bill Clinton left us. In a huge troop deficit. In case you all forgot- the armed forces provides JOBS! Full time jobs with benefits! Shut it down, and 18 year old kids are unemployed. Military installations provide JOBS. Ships and aircraft= JOBS. We are in bad shape you guys. Wake up. Romney isn't great, but stop believing Obama is.
That is true – the only government job the President doesn't like is a military one.
At $100,000 dollars each (enough to cover the cost, training, and salary included, of a fresh recruit), Obama's "shovel ready" 700 billion stimulous could have employed 7 million soldiers (creating 7 million new jobs), or doubled our current number of troops for his entire tenure (1.5 million jobs, but held for 4 years).
That would have stimulated the economy, given education and job skills to the lost generation of 20-something men now living with momma, and turned the Afghanistan push into a pounding.
Your theory sound good to you, except for the fact that these 20-somethings DO NOT want to enroll in military training. The option is there RIGHT NOW. The problem that you are missing is the fact that people CHOOSE NOT to become a "fresh recruit". And not because there is no money for the "fresh recruit" job.....
I don't think 18 year olds being out of a job is something to cry about. They can live at home like all the other 18 year olds. Our economy will not know the difference.
That's very selfish of you. In order for you to have a job, you are willing to sacrifice other american lives – policing the world in NOT USA job. It's the UN. Ck ...ck..ck. No more unnecessary war. Let other countries take care their own problems. We have enough domestic problems.
I'm guessing the most appropriate following question would be "Who provides most of the UN funding and troop backing?". Probably the world police...United States.
Ann, you live in the dungen for too long. Bin Laden is dead. Iraq war was over, our soliders came home. Afghanstan war is closing too.
You don't need to believe anything, no one ask you to. Just one thing, believe in facts, as stated above.
Let the Middle Class grow again, without the burden of war.
Military jobs add nothing to our GDP! We cannot grow a domestic economy by super charging the military!
Romney's plan would require starting another war. I think that most of us "taxpayers" are fed up with this! Our wars resolve nothing! Iraq now goes back to what Iraq has always been. Afghanistan cannot be "converted" along as Karsai could care less about his own people. Pakistan is another "hopeless cause". Egypt, Lybia, Syria and even Israel will never be anything close to what we have in the USA. These people really have no true desire to "fix" their country's problems. All that matters is getting free money from the US which the elite deposit in Swiss banks!
OBAMA IS VERY SOFT TOWARD CHINA. IF Obama win this coming election US will lost in Asia for coming years. Obama win China gain.
Isn't it time for the media to report facts? I'm an independent woman voter who voted for President Obama. I've managed to obtain facts and realize now that fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. The lying it seems has been coming from the Obama Administration. I can admit I made a mistake.
Can anyone see the similarity between Romney and Bush? Both republicans want war. That'll only bring us into an even bigger debt. Obama will raise taxes on the wealthy, he could possibly end the war because he isn't so ignorant as Romney. Boom the world could be in better shape if we Americans make the right choice.
Why do you say so? It was Obama who started bombing Libya for more than 60 days without being approved from Congress.
Libya wasn't even remotely a war. How about the first Bush that put us in on bombing Iraq regularly until we decided to topple Saddam when he took office. People forget we pretty regularly bombed Iraq since desert storm.
That Libya action was much more like the Clinton Tomahawk attacks on numerous theaters.
Obama is a complete failure it must not be given a second term.
and you're an idiot.
No you are an idiot if you really think Obama has done a good job. Lol
Daivd, your're a complete moron!
The worst experience that I ever had in my life said Mitt the Twit Rob-Me was when my dad said I could not have that inexpensive $120,0000 dollar horse I had just seen ten minutes ago because times were tight and bought me a cheap $50,000 horse instead. That was when I learned ow it felt to be a middle class American.....
r. sucks big time.
the people he backs are jewish 1 percent and war-mongering croonies and puppets.
he does not care at all about the servicemen and women, the veterans, nor their families.
the guy sucks so bad that if he is elected president – i may have to shun the news for a few years just to keep my sanity and my breakfast down.
o. and his lackeys give me severe heartache – but i cannot stand the thought of waking up to a country run by mccain who picked palin over romney (were his tax reports not good enough then – or was he not good enough) the first time around. what clowns and fools. there is absolutely nothing redeeming about them.
Call for desperate measures!
Obama will win the war about it .This is a easy question ,the big is China and US where wants to go in next 4 years.
There are the big countrys in the world.What is the goverments's job?As one of the people ,what is good for us.
hilarious. I think by definition, the midlde class is the midlde three quintiles of American earners. That makes up 60% of America right now, and the wage range is somewhere in the neighborhood of $25,000 per year up to $200,000 a year. If you make more than $200,000 per year, you are not midlde class.
Are dead just knowing that, he has no idea what he's into but just want to be a president
Are dead just knowing that.
It's unbelievable! But not unexpected that Obama's Biased Liberal Media would attack Romney and not the Obama/Democrat Islamist comrades who trampled American property and killed American citizens in Libya. In another disgusting affront to the American people, Hillary Clinton appologizes for the cause of these heinous acts of hers, Obama's and their Democratic Islamist friends as "hurting the feeling of the Muslims". What about the feelings of all the Christians KILLED by the Obama Islamist friends?! But Obama's Biased Liberal Media themselves have jumped the gun purposely to blame a little known and viewed film. As it turns out now, the evidence is that the Libya and other atttacks were planned: Libya arrests 50 over US envoy killing, blaming the Benghazi attack on foreign extremists and claiming it was pre-planned. And where was Obama? Fundraising again! Where is your outrage America?!
OBAMA FUNDRAISES AS LIBYA BURNS! This shows the true face of the anti-god, Marxist, Muslim Obama and the nature of his Liberal Democratic supporters who also hate America. CHARLOTTE, Sep 4, 2012 4:33pm: Democrats Shift Language on Israel, Remove 'God-Given' From Platform. For Democrats, there is no God in 2012 — at least as far as the party's platform is concerned. Nor is there a Jerusalem.
Three years after the Fort Hood killing of 13 unarmed American soldiers, Obama still has not prosecuted his Islamist friend U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan.
CAIRO,Sun Jul 8, 2012 4:56pm EDT: Obama invites Egypt's Islamist leader to U.S. On an Egyptian website, the Muslim Brotherhood's Egyptian president, Mohammed Morsi, stated that Christians will be forced to "convert, pay tribute, or leave" and that his goal was to "achieve the Islamic conquest of Egypt for the second time, and make all Christians convert to Islam". Morsi also stated that he would restore "the United States of the Arabs" and that "the capital of the United States of the Arabs will be Jerusalem, Allah willing." In July 2012, Morsi reinstated the Islamist-dominated parliament that was disbanded earlier. In August, 2012, Morsi asked Mohamad Hussein Tantawi, head of the country's armed forces, and Sami Anan, the Army chief of staff, to resign.[ Mohamed Morsi fired two more high-rank security officials on August 16, 2012: intelligence chief Murad Muwafithe and the commander of his presidential guards.
Huffington Post, August 12, 2012, 11:33 PM: At a Ramadan celebration at the White House, Obama promoted religious freedom at his annual Muslim Iftar Dinner in the White House after he forced Catholic organizations to pay for abortion and birth control coverage with his HHS mandate. The mandate officially violates religious freedom in the United States. Obama also repeated the hoax that Thomas Jefferson held an Iftar Dinner there. Obama also rewrote history and showed his true Islamic faith by declaring that "Islam — like so many faiths — is part of our national story". Obama didn't mention the three US Marines who were betrayed and gunned down by an Afghan police officer on the same day.
Wong, you are making a terrible mistake, whatever you hate God has a reason for creating it, and know you will never correct God. But you can correct yourself. may be your first son may later be a Muslim who knows ? so be careful on what you hate, you might end up deeply in it. after all Islam needs guys like who can extend the religion to others using wisdom.
Les i do not think you understand the situation on the ground. This notion of America of bullying everybody is no longer an option when it comes to international politics. Your create more enemies of America, some of them are hot heads they do not comprehend the dynamics of democracy
@Les Wong something tells me even Fox News must seem like a communist politburo outfit to you. Heck, just about everything must look like a communist plot once you get that far out in Glenn Beck territory.
What happened in Libya was certainly a terrible tragedy, and it is being looked into just as it should be. Al Qaeda or other extremists may very likely have been involved and that has been widely acknowledged, including by the State Department. Noone is denying that. As you yourself said, Libyan authorities are investigating and arresting people suspected of involvement, exactly as should be happening – it is the host country who is responsible for securing embassies and consulates. The notion that there is some coverup going on in regards to the attack on the consulate is simply absurd.
You could the US into an absolute police state and still not prevent any/all attacks from occuring. Just out of curiosity, what WOULD be the proper response, in your mind, for this attack? Carpet bomb Libya or the whole Middle East or something? Doing so would only put us on the same level as these terrorists we are seeking to defeat – killing innocent people to achieve our goals. Fortunately most Americans have higher morals, and clearer heads, than you do.
Only the strong can pretend to be weak. The weak can never pretend to be strong. America is the strongest nation in the world. Mitt,America does need to be perpetually at war with the weak. Please tone down the the rhetoric about Obama being a weak leader. On the contrary your lust for war shows that you are weak and ever ready to bully those who do not agree with you.
Only the strong can pretend to be weak. The weak could never pretend to be strong. America is the strongest nation in the world. Mitt,America does need to be perpetually at war with the weak. Please tone down the the rhetoric about Obama being a weak leader. On the contrary your lust for war shows that you are weak and ever ready to bully those who do not agree with you.
Your desk about Bo Xilai and thin guagua statement reported that the cause of widespread interest and concern of the world. There may be some Confidential difficult insight. The CPC 18th largest in full swing to Xi Jinping from the Diaoyu Islands in the storm, "'illness mysterious disappearance"' throws devil Bo Xilai until the eve of National Day, foreign analysts extensive analysis reported accordingly. Borrow Diaoyu Island incident hype to divert the line of sight of the domestic and foreign, the 18 big powers, routes, factions and facing the beleaguered struggle and Game, although Duhen tricky the Bo Xilai event and the Diaoyu Islands incident, however, Nang outside must first be peace well, the economic downturn, the real estate bubble, the crisis of confidence of the political scandal, and the new Left's desperate counterattack with orthodox reformist radicals and with big genre between the fierce fight between the conservatives is obvious. Not a Bo Xilai and a crisis of the Diaoyu Islands incident, but the political stability and economic to maintain the stability of the major crisis. Chinese idiom speaks to us Europe and the United States is not very proficient in the operation of China's political and risks where "ulterior motives, lies in the Landscape", so, to be proficient in Chinese and Chinese political indeed takes effort. Media scholars, European and American Sinologist colleagues share. prof. jerome geneva 2/10/2012
Clearly you're an idiot.
Can I order two Kungpao chicken?
i think obama is suitable candidate for the post of usa president. because his foreign policy is better and bring peace in world. where as romny pollicies will produce war.
Mr. Obama subscribes to the Alinsky doctrine. When you are losing, attact personally. He blames successful people who employ us. We own the goverrnment. It does not own us.
....to MichellePasadena.....Its a shame that you repeat the proven lies that Mitt blabs. How can you believe a man who says"He won't show you his taxes, but says trust me". Would you play poker with someone who won't show you his cards but says "Trust me, I win". He has done everything legal but what he does is NOT ethical. Bernie Madoff said 'Trust me" to a lot of very smart people and we know what happened there. Anyone that says "Trust me" but won't show proof of what he says is running a con. Mitt has already said what he thinks about the 47% of us. Are you going to forget this. He is supposed to president of ALL the people. Mitt has failed the smell test.
Tax returns, blah blah blah. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
Only in faux news world is Romney ahead. Watch some real news and get the truth. You can't go through life being gullible all the time.
If my memory serves me correctly, it's Mitt and alike that move jobs overseas for cheaper labor.Do you want to know why? Because American workers ask for too much to talk on the phone. Plus benefits – 15 days paid off, health care, Short term disability, Maternity leave, and so on... So it's not that President hates rich people, rich people cares more about bottom line. And you are nothing but a 'binder'
You know that's Ann Romney you responding to. Also, the job creator, such as mitt romney has 8 million dollars vested in the company that just put 200 people out of work to send more jobs to China. This is how he creates jobs, jobs overseas. What is wrong with these people that they see what he has just done and continue to support this liar?
Have you been paying attention to current events?
Michelle, I am very worried the way some people reacts to issues, why will you say something like this; I believe for best interest try to understand the issues before you jump into conclusion. President Obama is only asking them to pay their fair share in their income tax like everyone else does. They pay less than 14% while some people less privileged pay up to 25 to 30%, they are the one breaking the tax law and it has nothing to do with Obama thank you.
Obama most not be given another term he dose not like Israel
I've heard Presidential candidate Mitt Romney supports a 15% tax break for the richest 21 people while President Obama does not support this idea. I would like to see more discussion on this issue because I think this may be the defining reason who gets elected in November and how that reason will affect millions of US citizens living below the poverty line. The normal citizen is looking at the national debt crisis right now and thinking this is going on, so how is this huge gigantic debt problem going to be resolved and that Presidential candidate Romney will tax all the people below the wealthiest people more instead to solve the debt economic problem.
Once again the flip flopping romney has flipped. He now claims he concerned about that 47% he dissed at his for wealthy white people only fundraising dinner. Do we believe the new mitt or the one who told us how he really feels back in May. Frankly, I don't believe anything that comes out of his mouth. He has been caught in lie after lie. What does he do when he gets caught in a lie. He continues to repeat it as if it is the truth. He lies are easy enough to verify, but that doesn't stop him. This man is so not trustworthy.
Ghazi, what do you know about politics, Obama has done more and very much concern about their relationship than Bush and Republicans they are just playing politics with them.
Obama, has already won the election "my friend be happy" or do you prefer the man who is alienating 47% of Americans? The same token he is going to alienate 47% of the world….Mitt slow down.
This is the best policy any President in 20 years has had with Israel! It is about time that the USA stop supporting all the idiot polocies and actions the Israelies pursue! Israel has no shame in insulting the USA at every opportunity they get! Israel is NO ally (no better than Pakistan)!
Be careful what Mitt Romney "talks about"! He would never send his own children (spoiled rich kids) to fight a war for Israel! Mitt would happily volunteer all the 47% he despises to go to war! Then finance his "war for Israel" with generous tax cuts for his wealthy friends!
I bet you are also on handouts if I'm not mistaking, the basic help the government give to the poor or less privilege is now been politicize to benefit the Right. Some people are just very naïve, you have just forgetting how the Republicans are blocking everything the President had ever proposed including the Job Act; because their goal was to make him one time president. They do not care if the rest 99% goes down the drain.
It is no secret that Hitler and his Nazi cronies sought inspiration from Indian extremist groups including the branding of his Nazi Party by adopting the Swastika, a traditionally Hindu symbol and representation of Hindu god Ganesha, as its marketing tool. The thesis being that like the Norwegian massacre the Jewish holocaust orchestrated by Hitler was inspired by the inherently violent cult of Indian Hindus and the manifesto of its then extremist/terrorist groups still in existence today. These groups are now the successors to and carrying out the vision of Al Qaeda all over the world albeit in a clandestine manner.
Can you post the source of this info. I don't think anyone ever heard about this.
That is because no one really has heard any of it Have we finally evolved into human beings with absolutely no common sense?
Shall we describe this as an "evolving" event, once again. Tomorrow is another day and we will receive further "updates" on the facts according to the election campaign.
For me I'm hopeful the MSM will continue to announce the election is in the bag for Barry. I enjoy surprises!
stupid argument and your thesis, wat is the source of your statements ? ... hinduism doesnt invoke violence and hatred. The representation of lord ganesha and his weapons means to eradicate evil ( source hindu scriptures) , not in the literal sense of killing people and promoting violence and hatred.
You are totally wrong. There is no violent Hindu group with swastika or Ganesha as a party symbol. Please don't confuse people.Is there are any violent groups in India they are small and their violence is confine to small areas. Don't try to connect Hitler with Hindu religion.
Youre right. To add to that, The swastika is used in the Hindu religion as a symbol of love. It has been used like that way before Hitlers days. It was only tainted when he came into power
Wow!, the Indian Hindus are taking over for Al Qaeda. Now that's news, but I recommend not telling the Muslim world, it might set off even more violence that the Hindus are trying to take over. You should try traveling more, and reading about cultural differences. Nazis, Hindus and Al Qaeda, oh my! Do you have the slightest clue how massive and diverse the Hindu nation is? . . . And this has to do with the differences in Obama's and Romney's foreign policy how?
People like you create misunderstanding and promote violence. Violence between two communities in is common but Hindus have never gone out to promote violence or hatred in the name of a religion or political views.
People like you create misunderstanding and promote violence. Violence between two communities is common but Hindus have never gone out to promote violence or hatred in the name of a religion or political views.
I smell Paki-porky crap in your diapers!
You are an idiot!
Do you know what "American Exceptionalism" is? It's knowing everything without having knowledge of anything. In other words; the God given right to be ignorant!
mmaybe we should cut or not increase offense or i mean defense.. we have a debt , maybe they want us broke for new world..but what if that doesnt work ..what a mess right... so detract a little in areas we dont need to be ..save money.. also we should just take care of irans buildings in 2013 , like how they did with osama in pakistan..just defuse it safely .. break the computers ..or something that isnt full on war ..but simply taking out or messing up the progress of a nuke.
Obama will beat Romney hands down in this election. Americans already know who he is, but for Romney, his policies are only in his chest and he would surely make a whimsical president.
Who is President Barack Obama? Please enlighten us.
Obama; is your president (the president of United States of America)
After reading 200 of these opionions i have something to share. The psychiatic centers in the United States should be ready for a influx at any time.They can not cure" stupid", so no need to visit your family doc.There are many folks who can not read nor do you hear, so with what has been written, it must be the voices in your own head. Psychiatrist every where must be jumping with joy reading these boards.Wake up people....Obama is the right man for the job. If you do not think so, please read bills he passed, how your republican congress wanted a one term president and how they have blocked the economy from progressing...this is not the President at all. Vote out your congress!!!
you're very correct he's for the rich and his foreign policy will do more harm than good to USA :-)
You left out that Obama has given 1.5 BILLION dollars of taxpayer's money to the Muslim Brotherhood. Obama by-passed Congress's vote and just gave it to a terrorists link group. What a solid foreign policy!!
Actuall Congress voted long ago on providing the Foreign Military Financing of which that was a major portion. The Obama Administration only waived the Democracy requirements, which you, as a Republican, you probably really don't mind. The vast majority of this goes to the military for use in buying American defense industy equipment and services. Very little can stay in Eygpt, but some does, and their economy needs it. Most comes back home to America. And, it keeps their military going, which isn't always in the back pocket of the Muslim Brotherhood, in an area of the world where the Military often is the strongest arm of government. Oh, and yes, some Liberals suck, but so do some Right Wing Conservatives, especially when neither of them have done their home work. Just an American!
There they go again. In an attempt to make it sound incendiary, republican are calling the finacial assistance given to Egypt, a contribution to the Muslim Brotherhood.
I do Not think Obama's Foreign Policies are working.
Crisis in the Middle-East, Uprisings since 9/11/12
Obama does not seem to know if Egypt is an Ally or not.
Obama does not seem to want to have a meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel.
Bin Laden is Dead But al-Qaeda and other militant Islamist organizations seem to be holding their own.
American TRAINED AFGHANISTAN Soldiers/Police are turning on US Soldiers and killing them.
"Obama does not seem to want to have a meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel."
I agree with Obama! When Israel gets a "leader" who will respect our President (instead of insulting him every chance he gets), then a meeting would be appropriate! Meanwhile it is best to ignore him!
Those who do nothing face the same consequences.
When is Mitt the Twitt Rob-Me going to stand up for the brave veterans murdered on the USS Liberty by Israel and demand that their testimony be taken under oath by Congress instead of always bowing down to master Nutty-Yahoo. It looks like Mitt Rob-Me looks lhe wants to outsource the job of the President of the USA to Israhell and Nutty-Yahoo. Well Americans are not going to forget the veterans of teh USS Liberty no matter the lying decitful behaviour of Israel-Firsters in America. Readers should google the web site of survivors of the USS Liberty and link it to their Facebook page and place tyhis link on as amany locations as they can.
Dont forget Lavon affair In 1954, Israeli agents working in Egypt planted bombs in several buildings, including a United States diplomatic facility, and left evidence behind implicating Arabs as the culprits. The ruse would have worked, had not one of the bombs detonated prematurely, allowing the Egyptians to capture and identify one of the bombers, which in turn led to the round up of an Israeli spy ring.
that's right
You are upset about resourcing......but you don't acknowledge the most recent outsourcing by Obozo.......the buses purchased out of TN..........over 1mil a copy...........1 was made in Canada...........In IL there is a bus manufacturer that wasn't good enough for his buses...........before you complain about anything about Romney first take a look at your precious hero in the WH. With his continued bumbling and campainging instead of working......ie; all year he has fund raised and campaigned..........how about working for a change, like what he was hired for.......that is why we need someone to work for us and not your stupid notions that you have stated here.
Romney won't be working for anyone but the wealthy! He has made this extremely clear! He dispises 47% of Americans, and promises to enrich the 2%!
All Obama cares about is the muslims, at least Romney is an American. Not a closet muslim.
Do you not realize how stupid you sound? He killed more Muslims than the cowboy bush. Seriously...go back to watching Nascar.
Really? You sound just as dumb.
Jerry, do you not realize that WE The American Taxpayers are on to the scams used by Israel-Firsters to betray America. If you love IsraHell so much, why don't you go live there, Jerry, instead of acting like a Jonathon Pollard clone?
People really do get dumber everyday as evidenced by this idiot. I suppose you are one of those silly birthiers. If President Obama had been born in Kenya, his mother's passport would have let that cat out of the bag a long time ago. I'll bet you've got some asinine answer for that as well.
He's a Mormon. So he is just as bad.
You are dead wrong check your facts very well .
....to Jerry.....I guess with your rant it proves Jerry = 10 Pinocchios. Time to take your meds.
Rom cares for Islam not even Muslims more than Obama. wanna know why ? that's the reason he hides his intentions.
Romney doesn't care about 47% of the citizens of the USA! Are these all muslims? I don't think so!
Be very careful who you vote for! Any vote for Romney is a vote for the richest 2% who is really all he cares about! The rest of us are on "on our own"! Did you get a pay raise this year from your "rich" employer? You won't next year either!
Trollers have already rineud the game, Troll. You just made my point. I have a registered nic I prefer to use. If everybody else follows the same rules its a fair game if not the rules have to change. Thanks for ruining a great site Troll, we USED to have interesting conversations here. Funny, it was Tracy Briggs endorsement that brought you here. Wish she hadn't done that.
Forget about foreign policy. Mitt Romney is a blatant racist, a bigot and a deceitful shameless hypocrite who believes that 47% of Americans are nomads and out casst of society. I wish Romney and his family were the ones slaughtered at our consulate in Benghazi. But perhaps his day will come soon. As a hard working tax paying American who have worked two jobs for many years to pay off student loans and other debt, I find Romney's comments to be very appalling and disrespectful to say the least But what is even more outrageous about Romney's comments about the 47 % he argued are going to vote for President Obama, Mitt Romney has deliberately ommitted the millions of white Americans on welfare who vote republican. So are these white Americans better and more decent and responsible than the Americans he say collect welfare and vote for the President? Mitt Romney I hate you so much I hope you get assassinated.
Always amused when racist liberl filth, that continue to support Obama purely because of infatuation with the color of his skin, try to put the "racist" label on somebody else.
blah blah blah.......Romney/republicans EVIL anti-christ.................O'bonhead/democrats...........GOOD/actually Christ.........get a grip already. Your racist rant shows what an idiot, kool aid drinking RACIST that you are..................look inside your soul...
Whooooa....calm down. Excellent that you're a great guy who supports Obama, but seriously, don't make yourself look back in time, and think "jeez, what a pretty stupid rant & rave I went on about the Romney idiot".........Know what I mean?
I hope you're what I think you are – a conservative troll. Can't say I've ever heard a anybody use that degree of reckless language.
Romney doesn't care about people or dogs for that matter(strapping his dog Seamus on the top of his car) he cares more about his cars.
Yes.. it was so much worse for Romney to put the dog carrier on the roof than it was for Obama to torture, slaughter and eat dogs..
This is a serious election. However, if you want to get into minutia, I'd rather be on the roof of a car than the roof of a mouth. President Obama has been our president four nearly four years. When you and/or I screw up work do we blame our predecesors? I only wish I knew more about Obama before I voted for him the first time.
Romney doesn't care about 47% of the population?!WOW!!
You hate Romney and I think Romney made a mistake about the 47% not paying taxes but I would Not vote for Obama.
Obama's idea about making money is printing it Romney's idea about making money is creating it.
Obama knew 3 days before 9/11 that Libya was going to have problems at the embassy.
Obama on 9/12 goes out fund raising to Vegas campaigning for donations.
How can you be so blind about Obama, he gives away our money like it was nothing and he thinks nothing of printing it. I do not understand why the media is so Obama when he even says he believes in redistribution and that is what he wants to do. Listen we are getting to the point of what the Bible has said all along a loaf of bread will be a day's wages.
I have no problem with another democrat but this democrat has most fooled, he will take America down and that is what he wants to do. As far as Romney goes he has made some stupid comments but he loves this country and when he is talking tax cuts so people will open small businesses and get back to work. Listen no matter who is the next president America will fail because of the deficits but with Romney it will take a little longer because he will cut spending he will try to save America. I say Jesus will be back a lot sooner than people think and our election is in God's hands and I pray he will have mercy on us all!
If He's going to be back sooner than we think, maybe we shouldn't worry so much about running up the debt.
you have the right to express your views about anything you wish. However, the ideas you spout are are not factual.
Romney has no foreign policy.
Why should he, he is not the President of the United States...................................yet!!!!!
Foreign policy knowledge is not something that you recieve as "on-the-job training". He needs to understand the relationships of all foreign countries that we have issues/business with...even right now.
Romney's only foreign policy is to talk about how he would support Israel! He has not yet experienced how Israel can, as does, insult the US and our President every chance they get! So far, Obama has kept Israel from attacking Iran. Will Romney do this? Romney doesn't have a clue yet! All he wants today is Jewish votes! "Bebe" is a dangerous man, Romney doesn't know this yet!
And Mr. Obama does? Remember Hillary Clinton's 3 am ad? Mr Obama wasn't sleeping, he was at a fund raising campaign on Las Vegas.
I am not too sure about Romney's foreign policy, all he talks about is israel. Actually he talks about israel more than the ones who are running for election in israel
I think he is has some connections with them.
Mitt the Twitt Rob-Me is an Israel-Firster who would sell out the USA for his Precious (said like Golem in the Lord of the Rings), IsraHell. Unfortunately politicians from both political parties have sold out the USA for their PRECIOUS. No wonder Pat Buchanan calls Congress "Israeli-occupied territory"..
Can you please provide a more cogent comment. You are dealing with intelligent people here sir/madam. Crickets
Because he doesn't know what to say no agenda
Ron Paul might be the best fit for President, but realistically hee2€™s not going to get the nomniation because the actors are already on the stage and hee2€™s not.While saddening, I fully agree with this. A cursory study of the will show how controlled it is, and easily explains why certain people receive overwhelming media attention (Anna Nicole Smith, Bald Britney, etc.) while others who should, do not (Ron Paul, Ignacio Ramos, Jose Compean, Security and Prosperity Partnership, and a host of other important people, policies, and events).Thank God for the internet.
The real Mitt Romney loves the fat cats billionaires and hates the middle class. I already knew this now it should be more clear to the whole society.
Are you REALLY that ignorant? Just read it again..............and YES you are...
This morning as I was watching the state of the union I could not believe that Candy Crowley admitted that she herself is taking advantage of the IRS tax loop hole, as she was interviewing two senators this morning in reference to Mitt. 14.1% tax paid for 2011. In reality what does this mean and the message to tax payers; so we all should do the same. Is very ironic that some people can do or say something and is alright while some other people cannot do likewise (it will be considered a crime). "If tax loop hole is good for the rich then IRS should start paying back some money to those who followed the rules".
I guess we finally know who the real Romney is now with this tape out. He's a phony in public, but he is honest with the fat cats. I'm really not surprised.
the only problem with Romney, he is talking about people who already paid their share into these programs, and he is the one who is not releasing his taxes
Romney works only for the RICH people to make them more risk starting by himself as Georg W Bush did, now he is working for his pockets, and if he has no LEG in the WEAPON industry why he wants to open TWO WARS (SYRYA and IRAN) to sell his weapons and destroy US economy!, WARS will only hurt Middle and Poor class, Rich people will be fine after all, and I believe that USA = 80%(Middle and Poor class)+20% Rich. I believe that Middle Class has the right in the US more than Rich do. I am Republican middle class and I will vote for OBAMA, PERIOD.
John Carter.................OR.............Jimmy Carter? C'mon Jimmy dont try to hide......
Thank you John, you exactly got what republican is all about, i think this is case closed
There is only one President at a time and if Romney and all of the other pundits would remember that and stand behind this President during this National crisis all would be well. The President is doing right to let this play out this is caused by a few miltants and not all of the people in those countries who wanted to be free from tyranny.
The President has a quiet demeanor and doing a great job in forienge affairs.
Obama is in denial
Obama is campaigning too! He is not quiet in demeanor on the campaign trail . Remember his enemies are his fellow Americans that he exclaimed in 2008 were "clinging to their guns and bibles." He sure didn't show a quiet demeanor against his fellow Americans. Obama is friends with the Egyptians and Hezbollah and is afraid to challenge or demean them in the same way he is American citizens. He is shameful President indeed!
Quite demeanor? Stop drinking your breakfast. What is so quite about the thousands of speeches, fundraisers, press conferences and his inability to not link EVERYTHING back to himself. Maybe his quiet demeanor is when all the liberal tv/cable/newspapers/radio arms of the DNC are constantly picking apart and attacking Romney while they do nothing but praise and praise and praise Obonhead. You dont think all that is orchestrated? Take your head out of the sand – or wherever else it may be....
In India, millions of girls are strangled, slowly starved or simply tossed in the trash. Moreover, in India, at least 1,370 girls are aborted every day. As a comparison, some 250 Indians die every day in road accidents. Terrorists killed about six people, on an average, every day in 2009. In the last two decades of economic progress, 10 million girls have died as such in India.
ACORN??? Are you people serious?................NEWS FLASH, This is not 2008 it is actually almost 2013... mittens got caught yesterday....DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!!
You are not a Republican in any way shape or form. Nice try Democrat!
That's right...deal with the issue that is on the table now...
FORCED GENOCIDE, mk-ultra experiments (Top secret soviet KGB torture techniques) used on the American public daily!!!!! WHY TO ACCEPT LIABILITIES FOR CRIMES WHEN THEY CAN SIMPLY ASSASSINATE(YOU)!!!!! Slovak ethnic cleansing 2.0, american whites are in danger of forced blackmail, extreme terrosim/liberalism/communism across the globe if Obama is elected!!!!!!!!!1
You're an idiot!
That was absolutely ridiculous and has no grounds to stand on. Take a hike.
Obama is running against an empty chair.
What are you running an.your chair is more empty than obama.
See how foolish you are
The Middle East is in turmoil, the economy is tanking, the deficit is at an all-time high, government corruption is rampant etc. etc. etc. and the CNN headline is about some "secret" recording of Mitt Romney telling the truth. Hilarious!
Romney spoke the truth, about time the American Public heard it. Sorry if that hurts people's feelings but there are way too many handouts in this country, wake up and stand up for yourself, Obama/Socialist wants you to feel that you cannot sustain yourself without gov't help, please wake up America and become the Nation that pulls together instead of ripping itself apart.
Dubs, there may be a lot of Americans getting handouts in this country, but the vast amount of those handouts are going to the ultra rich, and that needs to stop! If half this country is doing absolutely nothing but getting handouts, it is truly a pitifull shame that the largest percentage of the handouts still go to the top five percent of the people or less. Maybe that is why the bottom half of this great nation can't afford to pay taxes, according to your ignorant perception of reality. Wake up, dude! We still live in the richest nation on earth, yet the system is slanted to give those with the most even more. Time to correct that terrible error, not by handing out more to the poor, but by stopping giving more handouts to the rich! Every man should have the right to become rich in America, but then to pay back to this great nation that helped them make it. A good capitalist doesn't go to the poor to get money, he goes to the rich. Think about it.
The libs heads are spinning
The point I got from the tape: 47% of Americans are disdained by and have been abandoned by the "flag bearer" of the Republican Party AND many of its members. THAT IS IMPORTANT! When voters decide on WHO will benefit THEM in any "economic recovery", that's an important piece of information.
Age-old standards of banking prudence got thrown out the window. In their place came harsh new regulations requiring banks not only to lend to uncreditworthy borrowers. President-elect Barack Obama's newly appointed chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, served on the board of directors of the federal mortgage firm Freddie Mac at a time when scandal was brewing at the troubled agency and the board failed to spot "red flags," according to government reports reviewed by ABCNews.com.
According to a complaint later filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Freddie Mac, known formally as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, misreported profits by billions of dollars in order to deceive investors between the years 2000 and 2002.The actions by Freddie Mac are cited by some economists as the beginning of the country's economic meltdown.
The federal government this year was forced to take over Freddie Mac and a sister federal mortgage agency, Fannie Mae, pledging at least $200 billion in public funds.
Freddie Mac records have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department as part of its investigation of the suspect accounting procedures.
Emanuel was named to the Freddie Mac board by President Bill Clinton in 2000 and resigned his position when he ran for Congress in May, 2001. abc nov 7 2008
During the course of the elections, a link repeatedly emerged between Barack Obama and ACORN, specifically in reference to voter fraud.
"It is undisputed that ACORN engages in politically partisan activity," the report declared, noting ACORN was paid $832,000 by the Obama 2008 presidential campaign for get-out-the-vote efforts.
How much did Fox News get for their politically partisan activities?
You know their motto is the fair and unbaised news. Part of their cast of characters are also employed by the failing romney campaign. How's that for fair and unbiased. They're not a real news station anyway.
That didn't work for mccain/palin and it won't work for ryan/romney. I guess desparate times call for desparate measures. ryan/romney see the White House is slipping through their lying fingers.
Now we learn or not, what happened in Benghazi. What will the media will do now. CNN, MSNBC, et al will need to now find sometihing to make news. For me, now we have BO returning to office, and the czars and no mandate, let's see what happens. BO has no where to go. Hold on to your hats tolks. Thinngs do not get better.


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|See Other Security Video Recording Software
The RM software allows a new level of control over each of the cameras on a network. Easily control the camera directly from the live video window.
Control the zoom via a mouse scroll wheel or zoom overlay and you can center the camera's view simply by clicking on the area of the live camera view you choose. Easily make finely tuned adjustments to the focus method and the pan/tilt/zoom speed with the convenient camera control panel located next to each camera window. In addition, the control panel can be used to set cameras to react quickly to difficult, low-light conditions by activating Night Mode. Settings for exposure, white balance, and smart shade control can also be adjusted to optimize the video capturing environment.
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subset: commoncrawl


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San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the Golden... Fotografia de notíciasAdidas,Basquetebol,Basquetebol - NBA Pro,Califórnia,Desporto,EUA,Golden State Warriors,Horizontal,NBA,Oakland - Califórnia,Oakland Arena,Pessoas,San Antonio Spurs,Tim Duncan,Uma PessoaPhotographer Ezra ShawCollection: Getty Images Sport 2013 Getty ImagesOAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs in action against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on February 22, 2013 in Oakland, California. The Warriors are wearing new short-sleeved uniforms for the first time. The Warriors won the game in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)


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ALEXANDRIA BAY The Thousand Islands International Bridge could start accepting E-ZPasses by the end of 2014, according to bridge operators.
T.I. Bridge Authority officials approved Thursday an implementation study to replace its outdated, 14-year-old toll system with an electronic tolling system and plans to break ground on the proposed project next fall.
TIBA hired Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international consulting and engineering firm based in New York City, for the $150,000 study and hopes to initiate the bidding process for the project as soon as March.
Officials said the bridges computerized toll system is obsolete. It was installed in 1992 and last upgraded in 1999.
The project calls for new toll plazas, which is why the construction work will take place in fall 2014, after most tourists and seasonal residents have left the area.
We dont want to do this in our busy months, said Robert G. Horr III, TIBAs executive director.
Mr. Horr said none of the 12 full-time toll collectors will be laid off.
Instead, the number of collectors would be reduced through attrition and reassigning of duties.
For the Bridge Authority, this major upgrade which is likely to cost more than $1 million, according to officials is a long-term cost savings measure.
Mr. Horr said electronic tolling is expected to cut transaction costs by half.
Processing cash transactions is expensive, Mr. Horr said, and comes to about 75 cents per transaction.
Currently, passenger or two-axle vehicles are charged $2.75 to cross the bridge connecting Collins Landing to Ivy Lea, Ontario. The commercial rate for trucks and buses is $6.50 for the first two axles and each additional two axles cost $1.50.
Its not just the labor costs for toll collectors. But somebody also has to reconcile it, wrap it and take it to the bank. Thats where the cost derives from, he said. Electronic transactions are much cheaper.
Cash still would be accepted at toll booths, but once the new toll collection system is up and running, the Bridge Authority plans to offer incentives to encourage people to use electronic passes.
Its cheaper for us and more convenient for them, he said.
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Art openings
Santa Cruz Galeria, 1451 Calle Hermanas Dominicas, Santa Cruz, across from La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada, presents an art opening with Andres Martinez, featuring new works and older favorites. For more information, visit galeriasantacruz.com or call 505-747-6926.
Zane Bennett Contemporary Art announces the exhibition of James Harvard, "Staying Ahead of the Beast." This exhibit spans 40 years of painting with an emphasis on his "Abstract Illusionist" era, featuring paintings, archival boxes and sculptures dating from the late 1970s to 2012. The show opens June 29, with a reception from 5-7 p.m. at 435 S. Guadalupe St.
There will be an artist reception from 4:30-7 p.m. July 13, featuring "Domestic Variations," a photo exhibit by Julie Blackmon. The opening will be at photo-eye Gallery, 376-A Garcia St., Santa Fe.
"Other Views," an exhibit of new work by Verne Stanford will open with a reception from 5-7 p.m. June 29 at Mill Fine Art, 530 Canyon Road, Santa Fe. The exhibit will be on display through July 24.
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text: In this look at the secretive world of family court proceedings, a Newport man struggles to reunite with his grandchildren after false allegations throw him into a year long struggle with the state. Sometimes winning is only half the battle. Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Newport Daily Express for April 26, 2013.


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Albany Medical Center Prize
The Albany Med Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research is awarded to a physician, scientist or group, whose work has led to significant advances in health care and scientific research with demonstrated translational benefits for improved patient care. Its purpose is to encourage and recognize extraordinary and sustained contributions to improving health care and promoting innovative biomedical research.
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Two professors honored for landmark discoveries.
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Moderator: Bonn-o-Tron
Tzan wrote:Semaj Nagirrac wrote:Well, I took some land without checking if it was owned by a faction or not. I'm not going to be banned, am I? I can destroy everything if need be.
That's what Hitler said,
in 1938.
stubby wrote:omg noob, balrogs are maiars too, don't you know anything
Silverdream wrote:I ordered from GI Brick and it arrived faster than anything I ever ordered. I also have to comment on the quality of the order. It was a good quality.
Ben-Jammin wrote:Yeah, when I placed my first GI brick order I was nervous because I was used to ordering from the Brickarms website. Then the GI brick order came less than two days later and I thought "Okay then".
Thesson wrote:...Ordered mine two months ago... Have yet to receive it.
EDIT: Just checked E-mail. They DIDN'T GET MY STREET NAME!!!!!!
Keldoclock wrote:Ship lego accesories to Mars.
the enigma that is badger wrote:GI Brick is run by Keith and Julie who are actually relatives of Will. Before they started up the business, they received an exceptional amount of advice and support from Will, and it's been their goal from the start to offer the same high quality service, including fast shipping, that Will did.
stubby wrote:omg noob, balrogs are maiars too, don't you know anything
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21 U.S. Code § 384 - Importation of prescription drugs
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(a) Definitions
In this section:
(2) Pharmacist
The term "pharmacist" means a person licensed by a State to practice pharmacy, including the dispensing and selling of prescription drugs.
(3) Prescription drug
(A) a controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of this title);
(4) Qualifying laboratory
The term "qualifying laboratory" means a laboratory in the United States that has been approved by the Secretary for the purposes of this section.
(5) Wholesaler
(A) In general
(b) Regulations
The Secretary, after consultation with the United States Trade Representative and the Commissioner of Customs, shall promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists and wholesalers to import prescription drugs from Canada into the United States.
(c) Limitation
The regulations under subsection (b) of this section shall—
(1) require that safeguards be in place to ensure that each prescription drug imported under the regulations complies with section 355 of this title (including with respect to being safe and effective for the intended use of the prescription drug), with sections 351 and 352 of this title, and with other applicable requirements of this chapter;
(2) require that an importer of a prescription drug under the regulations comply with subsections (d)(1) and (e) of this section; and
(d) Information and records
(1) In general
The regulations under subsection (b) of this section shall require an importer of a prescription drug under subsection (b) of this section to submit to the Secretary the following information and documentation:
(G) Documentation from the foreign seller specifying—
(H) The lot or control number assigned to the prescription drug by the manufacturer of the prescription drug.
(i) In the case of a prescription drug that is shipped directly from the first foreign recipient of the prescription drug from the manufacturer:
(I) Documentation demonstrating that the prescription drug was received by the recipient from the manufacturer and subsequently shipped by the first foreign recipient to the importer.
(II) Documentation of the quantity of each lot of the prescription drug received by the first foreign recipient demonstrating that the quantity being imported into the United States is not more than the quantity that was received by the first foreign recipient.
(aa) In the case of an initial imported shipment, documentation demonstrating that each batch of the prescription drug in the shipment was statistically sampled and tested for authenticity and degradation.
(ii) In the case of a prescription drug that is not shipped directly from the first foreign recipient of the prescription drug from the manufacturer, documentation demonstrating that each batch in each shipment offered for importation into the United States was statistically sampled and tested for authenticity and degradation.
(K) Certification from the importer or manufacturer of the prescription drug that the prescription drug—
(L) Laboratory records, including complete data derived from all tests necessary to ensure that the prescription drug is in compliance with established specifications and standards.
(M) Documentation demonstrating that the testing required by subparagraphs (J) and (L) was conducted at a qualifying laboratory.
(e) Testing
The regulations under subsection (b) of this section shall require—
(1) that testing described in subparagraphs (J) and (L) of subsection (d)(1) of this section be conducted by the importer or by the manufacturer of the prescription drug at a qualified laboratory;
(2) if the tests are conducted by the importer—
(A) that information needed to—
(ii) confirm that the labeling of the prescription drug complies with labeling requirements under this chapter;
be supplied by the manufacturer of the prescription drug to the pharmacist or wholesaler; and
(f) Registration of foreign sellers
Any establishment within Canada engaged in the distribution of a prescription drug that is imported or offered for importation into the United States shall register with the Secretary the name and place of business of the establishment and the name of the United States agent for the establishment.
(g) Suspension of importation
The Secretary shall require that importations of a specific prescription drug or importations by a specific importer under subsection (b) of this section be immediately suspended on discovery of a pattern of importation of that specific prescription drug or by that specific importer of drugs that are counterfeit or in violation of any requirement under this section, until an investigation is completed and the Secretary determines that the public is adequately protected from counterfeit and violative prescription drugs being imported under subsection (b) of this section.
(h) Approved labeling
The manufacturer of a prescription drug shall provide an importer written authorization for the importer to use, at no cost, the approved labeling for the prescription drug.
(i) Charitable contributions
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, section 381 (d)(1) of this title continues to apply to a prescription drug that is donated or otherwise supplied at no charge by the manufacturer of the drug to a charitable or humanitarian organization (including the United Nations and affiliates) or to a government of a foreign country.
(j) Waiver authority for importation by individuals
(1) Declarations
Congress declares that in the enforcement against individuals of the prohibition of importation of prescription drugs and devices, the Secretary should—
(A) focus enforcement on cases in which the importation by an individual poses a significant threat to public health; and
(2) Waiver authority
(A) In general
The Secretary may grant to individuals, by regulation or on a case-by-case basis, a waiver of the prohibition of importation of a prescription drug or device or class of prescription drugs or devices, under such conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(B) Guidance on case-by-case waivers
The Secretary shall publish, and update as necessary, guidance that accurately describes circumstances in which the Secretary will consistently grant waivers on a case-by-case basis under subparagraph (A), so that individuals may know with the greatest practicable degree of certainty whether a particular importation for personal use will be permitted.
(3) Drugs imported from Canada
In particular, the Secretary shall by regulation grant individuals a waiver to permit individuals to import into the United States a prescription drug that—
(A) is imported from a licensed pharmacy for personal use by an individual, not for resale, in quantities that do not exceed a 90-day supply;
(E) is in the form of a final finished dosage that was manufactured in an establishment registered under section 360 of this title; and
(k) Construction
(l) Effectiveness of section
(1) Commencement of program
This section shall become effective only if the Secretary certifies to the Congress that the implementation of this section will—
(2) Termination of program
(A) In general
If, after the date that is 1 year after the effective date of the regulations under subsection (b) of this section and before the date that is 18 months after the effective date, the Secretary submits to Congress a certification that, in the opinion of the Secretary, based on substantial evidence obtained after the effective date, the benefits of implementation of this section do not outweigh any detriment of implementation of this section, this section shall cease to be effective as of the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the certification.
(B) Procedure
The Secretary shall not submit a certification under subparagraph (A) unless, after a hearing on the record under sections 556 and 557 of title 5, the Secretary—
(I) determines that it is more likely than not that implementation of this section would result in an increase in the risk to the public health and safety;
(II) identifies specifically, in qualitative and quantitative terms, the nature of the increased risk;
(aa) considers whether any measures can be taken to avoid, reduce, or mitigate the increased risk; and
(ii) identifies specifically, in qualitative and quantitative terms, the benefits that would result from implementation of this section (including the benefit of reductions in the cost of covered products to consumers in the United States, allowing consumers to procure needed medication that consumers might not otherwise be able to procure without foregoing other necessities of life); and
Source(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 804, as added Pub. L. 108–173, title XI, § 1121(a),Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2464.)
Prior Provisions
A prior section 384, act June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 804, as added Pub. L. 106–387, § 1(a) [title VII, § 745(c)(2)], Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1549, 1549A–36, related to importation of covered products, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 108–173, title XI, § 1121(a),Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2464.
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203 (1), 551 (d), 552 (d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
Study and Report on Importation of Drugs
Pub. L. 108–173, title XI, § 1122,Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2469, directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the importation of drugs into the United States pursuant to this section and to submit to Congress, not later than 12 months after Dec. 8, 2003, a report providing the findings of such study.
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Harvester is great Perfect combo of TDM and CTF.
Any chance that Rockville and mega can be given a forum of their own ??? I'm sure the rest of us would appreciate it.
Harvester is great Perfect combo of TDM and CTF.
Any chance that Rockville and mega can be given a forum of their own ??? I'm sure the rest of us would appreciate it.
Like to play more Freeze Tag ? Join Clan Chill. We play Freeze Tag most evenings, 7:30pm UK time onwards, with a smattering of TDM, CTF and a regular duel cup. Check our website. IRC : #clanchill on quakenet
Do you think I wrote that because I supposedly have something against you?
Your post wasn't an opinion but an statement and I explained the reasons behind it. There are 0 references about you or about anyone else on it, therefore no need to "defend yourself" particularly considering I agreed with the statement.
edit: Moreover I only remember referring to you once and it was completely justified, as I and other people wrote, quoted (proved) and explained why we think you are posting here with the sole intention of trying to get more content to standard users, which is something already dismissed by the company and it gets annoying really.
The majority of your threads and posts are about that, whether expressly or hinted, as everyone can check on the said thread with quotes and everything all in one place.
thanks for the sampler match update ^
The point that I want to make is that first you accuse me of making requests that oppose the company's financial plan... And then you go right ahead and say that one of their gametypes is more or less horribly made (which it is not and leads me to believe that you don't see the point or unique strategy behind Harvester).... But don't accuse me of trying to go against the interests of the company when you make untruthful statements like "Nobody plays Harvester anyways"... I must get a lively Harvester server going at least every two days... Why don't you join up, but you have to be nice <3...
However, as for the "financial plan" portion of what you said, all he stated was that you often post things that are similar in nature, often implying that Standard players get more features. While it may not be intentional, your posts are often heavily weighted in involving that Standards get something more.
As for the overall topic, I don't really care since I don't play anything but CTF. I might've played Harvester at some time, but the issue is that during most games I'm one of the only players on my team that seems to understand the concept of how it's played. (You need defender(s) in base and mid, and then a carrier for the skulls) Most of the time I just see people playing FFA in it and while they are helping to get skulls in the middle, they don't generally try to capitalize on getting them. They often just sit there and continuing fragging people, when the game probably could end a lot faster.
Have a nice FALL!
(o^.^o) PIKA PIKA!
The Search Bar is your friend...use it.
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Tastyspleen TastyCast
Why CTF4 is bad
i will never understand why these developers waste their time on stupid stuff like this
Last edited by Sasparillo; 01-14-2013 at 03:56 PM.
Last edited by Sasparillo; 01-14-2013 at 03:56 PM.
Have a nice FALL!
(o^.^o) PIKA PIKA!
The Search Bar is your friend...use it.
Problem? Check here!
Tastyspleen TastyCast
Why CTF4 is bad
una pregunta van a volver los servers argentinos?
What's with all this hate, let's all hug with no clothes on.
Interested in camp spots?
Lovers Clan Movie & Lovers Clan Movie 2 & Lovers Clan Movie 3 & Lovers Clan Movie 4


text:
By KRISTINA KONTGASContributing writer
For the Carbon High Lady Dinos, Thursday night was just one of those "on" nights, as they defeated the Delta Rabbits for the second time this season, 60-41.
Earlier this season, when Delta visited Price to open region play, they returned home with a loss of 63-34. One would think that maybe Delta would review the game before the re-match to try and stop Carbon's defense. Well, if they did, they didn't do a very good job of it, as the Lady Dinos stepped up to their defense, only to break it, out scoring the Lady Rabbits 21-6 in the first quarter. If this scenario looks familiar, it should because this is how previous games this season have gone for Carbon.
The second quarter was a little better for the Rabbits, as Delta allowed Carbon to score only 14 points, and coming up with eight of their own. But to catch up to the Dinos, they would have had to score quite a bit more, and they realized that going into the locker room at the half with a score of 35-14.
"Defensively, Delta was our best game," stated head coach Bruce Bean. "The first half was just awesome; we got out there and stepped up and played. The second half? Well we just kind of cruised through it."
After the half, Delta came back to play better defense and offense, this time outscoring the Lady Dinos 14-9.
But even with a 16 point lead going into the fourth quarter, the starting five returned to the floor to secure their lead, soon sending in the JV squad to take over, and once again, putting in more points than Delta, 16-13.
The girls went to Delta ready to play, executing very well, with full intentions of getting the job done. And that is exactly what happened.
This win improved Carbon's record to 15-2 overall, and 5-0 in region.
The next game will be Tuesday night at home against Emery, who is 6-10 overall, and 1-4 in Region 8.


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Sharing information through technology is at the heart of NIJ's information-led policing efforts. Agencies may miss opportunities
to make arrests and positive identifications and enhance the quality of intelligence if there are gaps in the way different
agencies gather and process information.
Law enforcement becomes more effective when multiple agencies access, share, and analyze intelligence and other data. For
example, information sharing and the technologies that make it possible can vastly improve critical incident management.
NIJ's information-led policing research and development effort is creating tools, technologies, and new approaches to the
overall information-sharing capabilities of State and local agencies.
NIJ sets priorities for its information-led policing effort through annual meetings with State and local law enforcement professionals
and experts in information technology. These specialists know best what the field needs; they convey these needs to NIJ and
help set priorities.
NIJ's aim is to improve technologies that (1) law enforcement agencies can acquire and use quickly and (2) have inherent data
interoperability qualities—which can be achieved through compliance with the Global Justice XML Data Model.
Next section: Model Programs.


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The result, Oil and Water (Fantagraphics, 120 pages, $19.99), sits a little uncomfortably between cartoon journalism and travelogue. The former is expressed in the form of a handful of excellent snapshots of locals affected by the disaster. There's the fisherman who still gets up at 4 every morning to preserve the family business even though crab yields have halved. The wildlife rescue workers who man the endless production line of oil-soaked pelicans. The former shrimp boat captain who says he's being paid "hush money" by BP. The strengths and weaknesses of the comic medium are both on display here: Much of the characters' body language and emotion gets lost in translation to Wheeler's fairly minimalist character illustrations, but he compensates with visual perspectives and scenes impossible to capture through photograph or film. The oily, black smoke billowing off the Deepwater Horizon seeps its way into many of the panels and hangs above the characters' lives with heavy metaphor.
The authors have smooshed 22 people down to a more manageable eight with slightly altered names and stories, resulting in a questionable mash of fact and fiction. More problematic is that most of these characters just aren't that interesting; the tight page count leaves little room to get to know them as individuals, and the stories we do get—a teenage romance, a guy with explosive diarrhea—took up space I'd have rather seen dedicated to more voices from the spill. Duin and Wheeler's desire to record what must have been an emotional and memorable journey with a close-knit group is understandable, but it adds nothing to the book.
The team's presence is far from a total waste of ink. The authors show admirable self-awareness in portraying their semifictional companions (and by implication, themselves) as naive voyeurs whose presence mostly irritates their subjects. "Lemme get this straight," says one character. "They white. We black. They blue. We red. They rich…and I got $53 to buy a week's worth of groceries. And they gonna tell our stories?" Actually, they do a fine job.
GO: Oil and Water authors Steve Duin and Shannon Wheeler will appear at Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm Monday, Nov. 28. Free.