Research

That’s what a report released today by the Commission On The Prevention Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction Proliferation And Terrorism says, criticizing the Obama Administration’s failure to properly safeguard our country from bioterrorism. USA Today summarizes:

Among the commission’s criticisms:

(1)     President Obama's National Security Council has no senior political appointees with a biodefense background. ‘That was not the case in the Clinton and Bush administrations,’ the report says.

(2)     Programs created after the 9/11 attacks to develop and buy vaccines and drugs to prevent and respond to a biological attack are not being funded adequately. Although the report is critical of the White House on this topic, Congress has the power of the purse. The report cites a funding shortage for a program to ensure there are enough drugs to respond to a bioterrorist attack.

But before continuing his political fundraising tour, President Obama promised in a speech at the Joint Terrorism ... more

Under Obama, the emerging – and disturbing – pattern suggests yes. 

Take earlier this week, for example.  As Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged his country’s commitment to winning the war in Afghanistan by increasing the number of British troops in the region, President Obama continued to delay action on his top General’s troop recommendations. David Ignatius notes in today’s edition of The Washington Post that Obama’s dithering on Afghanistan completely contradicts Obama’s previously stated strategy, carefully laid out in March:

“What's odd about the administration's review of Afghanistan policy is that it is revisiting issues that were analyzed in great detail -- and seemingly resolved -- in the president's March 27 announcement of a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The recent recommendations from Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal were intended to implement that ‘Af-Pak’ strategy -- not send the debate back to first principles.”

But under the Obama Administration, silence and ... more

An AP article points out President Obama’s rather conspicuous penchant for saying “let me be clear” when explaining his various standpoints on policy ranging from health care reform to foreign affairs.  While Obama may go out of his way to clarify details of his unpopular plan for health care reform, he has remained silent and indecisive on his strategy in Afghanistan as an escalation of forces appears more and more politically unviable.

The President has been anything but clear on his approach in Afghanistan.  He continues to publically debate the “comprehensive” strategy he announced in March, downplaying the threat of the Taliban, and spending Afpak strategy meetings discussing public opinion – instead of heeding the advice of his hand-picked general in the field.

Obama needs to be clear now more than ever when it comes to the war in Afghanistan and our commitment to it.  Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree and have joined in the chorus calling for a decision on troop ... more

Like White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, our reaction here in Research to the President getting the Nobel Peace Prize was, “Wow.”

Gibbs only had one “wow,” but we actually had three.

The First Wow: President Obama is the third sitting president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Theodore Roosevelt won the award for ending the Russo-Japanese war. Woodrow Wilson won the award for forming the League of Nations. Barack Obama won the award for getting elected.

The Second Wow: Take a look at the other nominees who were under serious consideration …

• Chinese human rights and AIDs Activist Hu Jia, who was recently jailed for three and half years for publicly criticizing China for arresting a prominent dissident.
• Lidia Yusupova, who despite threats of kidnap and murder, continues to keep the world informed of human rights violations in Chechnya.
• Sen. Piedad Cordoba, who is leader of Colombians for Peace and helped obtain release of 16 Hostages from FARC terrorists, was considered the ... more
  
  

The New York Times today reports: “President Obama’s national security team is moving to reframe its war strategy by emphasizing the campaign against Al Qaeda in Pakistan while arguing that the Taliban in Afghanistan do not pose a direct threat to the United States, officials said Wednesday.” (emphasis added)

“Do not pose a direct threat?” surprised us quite a bit.  Only a few months ago President Obama made a speech outlining hit “comprehensive, new strategy” on Afghanistan, stating, “There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban.  They must be met with force, and they must be defeated” because “if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban -- or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged -- that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.”  The President was right then, and his shift in emphasis is alarming.

In trying to find a middle road (or Plan B) that will appease Pelosi’s Democrats in Congress, Obama risks a defeat by ... more

In the last few days, Democrats and certain Administration officials have been lining up to criticize General McChrystal, President Obama’s handpicked General in Afghanistan, for his truthful review of the situation in Afghanistan and request for additional resources.  Recently on the Charlie Rose Show, Speaker Pelosi jumped in: “Let me say this about General McChrystal, with all due respect. His recommendations to the president should go up the line of command. They shouldn’t be in press conferences.”

But oh how things change in Washington.  During the first days of the war in Iraq, Army Chief Of Staff General Eric Shinseki was praised by liberals when he “clashed with his superiors by saying many more troops were needed.”  According to The Wall Street Journal Gen. Shinseki “[B]ecame a Democratic hero,” and in 2003, then Senator Biden praised General Shinseki for speaking out on Iraq.  In 2008, then Senator Obama agreed, saying "There were generals at the beginning of the conflict ... more

The Obama Administration’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility is facing continued opposition and obstacles, and accordingly the administration is now looking for a Gitmo scapegoat.  Politico reports today that the Obama administration’s top in-house lawyer is getting blamed for “botching the strategy to shut down Guantanamo Bay prison by January.” 

However, with public opinion firmly against the closure, Obama’s Gitmo Experiment seems to have been cursed from the start.  In fact, there’s so much blame to go around, why is the Obama Administration trying to pin it all on just one person?  So what do other think of Obama’s Gitmo Experiment?

• Last week, the House of Representatives rejected Obama’s Gitmo Experiment when they voted to prohibit the transfer of Gitmo prisoners to the United States.
• The Senate also voted against Obama’s Gitmo Experiment by withholding funding from a wartime spending bill.
• Allies in Europe have rejected Obama’s Gitmo Experiment as major ... more