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Subscribe to RSSOn that chipper note… “On his second trip to the Middle East as U.S. commander in chief, President Barack Obama this week will confront a political and strategic landscape nearly unrecognizable from the one he encountered on his first trip to the region shortly after assuming office in 2009,” the AP writes. Gone are the authoritarian regimes and leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, and the once seemingly indestructible Assad regime in Syria is tottering on the brink of collapse. Uncertainty abounds in the wake of the revolutions that have convulsed the Arab world for the past two years and shaken many of the strong but imperfect pillars of stability on the planet’s most politically volatile patch of land. And the few constants are hardly cause for cheer: a moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process that remains mired in mutual distrust and recrimination, an Iran that seemingly inches closer to nuclear weapons capability despite intensified international sanctions, and the ever-growing threat from extremists.”
A CNN poll has Obama’s approval underwater at 47%/50%.
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By continuously saying Iran's goal is nuclear weaponry, rather than their stated goal of power generation, have we created a self fulfilling prophecy?
steve -- by "we" do you mean the global community with the exception of iran and north korea?
"A CNN poll has Obama’s approval underwater at 47%/50%."
It's all downhill for Obama after overplaying his "The Sky is Falling" hysteria over the sequester cuts.
By the way, with regard to the proposed increase in the Minimum Wage, consider this;
If a married man with 2 children makes the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and works 40 hours per week, this is his net income;
Wages = $15,080 per year, less payroll taxes of ($1,154) = Net Income of $13,926.
Tax Credits for Children and Earned Income Credit = $7,112
Food Stamps = $600 per month or $7,200 per year.
Health Care – Free thru Medicaid.
Total net income = $28,238 per year, or $2,353 per month.
Now let's consider someone making $20 per hour;
Wages = $41,600, less payroll taxes of ($3,182) = $38,418.
Tax credits for children and Earned Income Credit = $2,931.
Food Stamps – Not eligible.
Health Insurance - ($13,375) - 2009 average figures (a).
Total Net Income = $27,974 per year, or $2,331 per month.
So a family getting minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) actually has more net income each month to spend than a family that makes $41,600 per year in wages ($20 per hour).
(a) Health Insurance; http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-09-15-insurance-costs_N.htm
Much of the strife that is taking place between Israel and the Palestinians was brought on by the British and the US. Look at the history of the region. The UN, at the request of the US and UK, created a land for the Jews as a refuge for "God's chosen people" that they could call their own. A place where they could seek refuge from the persecution they felt in other countries. That's fine but if one was a Palestinian and his land was taken from him to be given to a stranger, not even from that area of the world, what is he to think? Sixty five years has passed since Israel was formed from Palestine. In that time Israel has hardened into the toughest little country on the planet. They have been allied with Western powers, who not only put them there but who can help them stay there. Now, Israel is accepted by other nations as having a right to exist. Unfortunately Israel, under the guise of self preservation, encroaches on what little land is left for the Palestinians as they build kabutz after kabutz and making Palestinians second class citizens in their own country. No wonder the Israelis have problems.
While I believe we need to continue to support Israel and her right to exist we should not be dragged into the Zionest dealings of men like Netenyahu. We should admonish Israel when she oversteps her bounds and help her when she needs us.
Yes, we do need to keep an eye on N. Korea as well as Iran. Frankly I believe that N. Korea is a greater threat than Iran at this time.
adler -- the history of the region's strife goes well beyond the founding of America. they have been fighting each other for thousands of years. why we think we can and should be involved in peace negotiations is something that historically is not likely.
we need to support our allies though i disagree with Americans telling another country where they can build homes.