Beltway Insider: Obama Agenda Dominated by World Conflicts; Border Kids/Dreamers; July Jobs Report

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Category: Beltway Insider

Published on Sunday, 03 August 2014 13:59

Written by Janet Walker

President Barack Obama has remained steadfast in rallying international leaders, as the world stage continues to be dominated with escalating conflicts, to support a global agenda that allows for citizens of the world to determine their own destiny.

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week increased one percentage points to 41% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased two percentage point to 54%. 

Obama Agenda Dominated by World Conflicts

President Obama has remained diligent as recent global escalations have dominated and attempted to derail peace efforts in various hotspots around the globe.  

Israel/Gaza Escalates

The Israel-Gaza Conflict, now entering the fifth week, erupted over the senseless kidnapping and killing of three Israeli innocent teenagers, one of which held dual American citizenship, of which Hama did not admit to although celebrated the murders.  

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared the world must stand with Israel especially now, as Hamas and Fatah, founded by former PLO leader Yasser Arafat, have reconciled to form one government, the Palestinian Unity Government.

This reconciliation has ushered in a hard-line stance by Israel who, out of concern for their safety and security, refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with the new government. Israel, if necessary, will stand alone.

"The International Community must not embrace it as it will strengthen terrorism," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The United States, Egypt and the United Nations, have all on separate occasion over the past five weeks attempted to negotiate cease fires, the latest, a 72 hour Humanitarian cease fire brokered on August 1, agreed to by all parties was immediately fractured by Hamas who launched an attack 90minutes after the start.  The cease-fire has held.

The Israel/Gaza Conflict has reached Hollywood as celebrities are urging a peaceful resolution and an end to what is considered senseless killing of innocent. This sentiment is echoed throughout the chambers of the House and Senate and the Oval Office.

"I'm in constant consultation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Our national security team is in constant communication with the Israel military.  I want to see everything possible done to make sure that Palestinian civilians are not being killed.  And it is heartbreaking to see what's happening there, and I think many of us recognize the dilemma we have.  On the one hand, Israel has a right to defend itself and it's got to be able to get at those rockets and those tunnel networks.  On the other hand, because of the incredibly irresponsible actions on the part of Hamas to oftentimes house these rocket launchers right in the middle of civilian neighborhoods, we end up seeing people who had nothing to do with these rockets ending up being hurt," the President said.

Israel must honor its agreement with the white house to cease the slaughter of innocent lives. Hamas is not innocent in assisting in the slaughter of its own citizens by installing rocket launchers, which will be destroyed by Israel, in high populated areas including schools and neighborhoods.

United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon "further said the coordinates of the school, like all U.N. facilities in Gaza, were repeatedly communicated to Israeli Defense Forces.  The U.N. Rights and Works Agency Commissioner General said that UNWRA has gathered evidence, analyzed fragments and examined craters, and their initial assessment is that it was Israeli artillery that hit the school in which 3,300 people had sought refuge," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

The Israeli response to these assertions, "The Israeli government has acknowledged that Israeli forces were firing in that area in response to fire from Hamas in the immediate vicinity of the school.  The Israelis have said it is possible that there was stray Israeli fire.

With the recent discovery of a complex tunnel network leading into key points within Israeli borders, built by Hamas and used to transport and hide arms, all agree the tunnel network should be destroyed, after a cease fire agreement.

If a permanent peace is not achievable, a cease fire that would usher in a longer period of tolerance as the two sworn enemies, live so closely to each other that the smallest infraction which is not the case here, ignites the powder keg and results in the death of more innocent civilians.

Israel is seen as the stronger more advanced, educated and civilized and thus held to a higher standard. The world chooses to stand with Israel and still question the policy that allows the continued violence against the innocent. The hope is that Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli people will advanced their desire for peace by resisting the obligation to defend each wrong.

At times, strength comes not from weapons, guns, bullets and the knowledge one can obliterate the enemy but from peace, a cautious peace.

Ukraine/Russia

President Obama has continued to press G7 leaders to remain dedicated to the current strategy of sanctions and isolation tactics against Russia as President Vladimir Putin continues to violate the territorial sovereignty of neighboring Ukraine.

In facilitating continued support for these initiatives the President met this week, via video conference, with Prime Minister David Cameron, President François Hollande of France, German Chancellor Angela Merkell and Prime Minister Renzi of Italy.

As the Ukraine/Russian conflict now includes The Netherlands, Australia and Malaysia, the G7 leaders are unified in a number of points, that being first the free access to the MH17 crash site, the dignified transfer of all remains, the safety and security of international investigators as well as the pre-crash initiatives.

"They agreed on the importance of coordinated sanctions measures on Russia for its continued transfer of arms, equipment and fighters into eastern Ukraine, including since the crash, and to press Russia to end its efforts to destabilize the country and instead choose a diplomatic path for resolving the crisis," said Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken.

Vice President Joe Biden has remained in constant contact with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko urging the newly elected leader to press on through these tumultuous first 100 days stabilizing the internal affairs of his country while allowing the world to bear pressure upon Russian and others who would seek to destabilize the efforts of the people to determine their own destiny.

"The Vice President congratulated Poroshenko on the Ukrainian parliament's confidence vote in Prime Minister Yatsenyuk as well the passage of important economic reform bills and the ratification of agreements with Australia and the Netherlands for security personnel to access to the MH-17 crash site in support of the international investigation," a released statement read.

Russian President Vladimir Putin seems intent on the current course of destabilizing with the purpose of increasing its own borders and annexing portions of the Ukraine.

U.S. intelligence has picked up satellite images of large amounts of "convoys of tanks, multiple rocket launchers, artillery and armored vehicles.  There's evidence it's preparing to deliver even more powerful multiple rocket launchers," Blinken said.

MH17 Crash Site

Prime Minister Najib Razal and Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands have remained unified in the demanding "the international investigators are given full and unfettered access to the site, so that they may collect evidence and carry out their vital work."

Officials have announced the debris field has increased to 8 miles and have with the use of sniffer dogs, detected and recovered human remains in the exterior radius of the site.

During the telephone conference between President Poroshenko and the Vice President he was informed that "access to the crash site had been secured both yesterday and today despite continued separatist attacks in the vicinity."

Malaysian Airline officials have maintained geopolitics have no place in investigation or urgency of recovery and "all remains at the crash site are repatriated as soon as possible. Every single victim must be given dignity and a decent funeral. The conflict in Eastern Ukraine may not be easily resolved. But the people on board that plane had no part in it."

Border Kids - Immigration

As the nation's elected officials return home for the five week recess, a final hot button issue, post entry immigration and the deportation of 500,000 children who fall under the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals protection has gathered momentum.

President Obama has created the Deferred Action clause which states "Children brought here illegally through no fault of their own by their parent will be eligible for earned citizenship. By going to college or serving honorably in the Armed Forces for at least two years, these children should be given an expedited opportunity to earn their citizenship. The President's proposal brings these undocumented immigrants out of the shadows."

The issue of Dreamers has been thrust into the forefront of the immigration issue and in reality as the numbers are sketchy, how many of these Dreamers are actively attempting to earn their citizenship. With 11million illegals in the United States, it seems a daunting task to determine which illegal immigrants are contributing to the betterment of society and which are not.

With both parties rushing to introduce bills that would address the sudden influx of unaccompanied children crossing into the United States through the Rio Grande Valley, the opportunities as Senate and House members break for the August recess, is to submit a pork filled bill with only minimal attention given to the real issues, that will only delay the issues and need of additional "boots on the ground" along the Rio Grande Valley.

While reunification measures can be taken for those who have made it across the border, they are being humanely housed and cared for near the borders.

The sympathetic language for unoccupied children being propagated by the White House, which in reality reduces the effectiveness as they vacillate on an immigration bill designed by democrats to address all phases of a very complex issue is now being split and redrawn again.

American citizenship, with all its freedoms, freedoms hard won; from Korea to Normandy to Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and now to offer others the opportunity to earn it cheapens the lives of those who bravely and without thought or concern to further democracy paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live free.

July Jobs Report

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released July Job Numbers this week and the lower than expected job growth caused a slight increase in the overall unemployment rate as it nudged up .01% to 6.2% and still remains the lowest in more than seven years.

The .01% increase was downplayed by the President who said, "This morning, we learned that our economy created over 200,000 new jobs in July.  That's on top of about 300,000 new jobs in June.  So we are now in a six-month streak with at least 200,000 new jobs each month.  That's the first time that has happened since 1997.  Over the past year, we've added more jobs than any year since 2006.  And all told, our businesses have created 9.9 million new jobs over the past 53 months.  That's the longest streak of private sector job creation in our history." 

The economy added 209,000 non-farm jobs in July, adding .02% to the total number of unemployed persons increasing the overall numbers to 9.7million.

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Malaysiaairlines.com