What Caught My Eye Today

Egypt - Egypt's president announced plans to build several nuclear power plants -- the latest in a string of ambitious such proposals from moderate Arab countries. The United States immediately welcomed the plan, in a sharp contrast to what it called nuclear "cheating" by Iran. President Hosni Mubarak said the aim was to diversify Egypt's energy resources and preserve its oil and gas reserves for future generations. A U.S.State Department spokesman said the U.S. would not object to the program as long as Egypt adhered to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines. The United States accuses Iran of using the cover of a peaceful nuclear program to secretly work toward building a bomb, an allegation Iran denies. Iran asserts it has a right to peaceful nuclear power and needs it to meet its economy's voracious energy needs. Jordan, Turkey and several Gulf Arab countries have announced in recent months that they are interested in developing nuclear power programs, and Yemen's government signed a deal with a U.S. company in September to build civilian nuclear plants over the next 10 years. I'm trying to keep an open mind about this and am the first one to admit that Iran is not my favorite country, but doesn't it seem like there is a little bit of a double standard being applied here. Seriously folks, how does this make sense and how is are U.S. officials managing to keep straight faces as we try to explain ourselves out of this one. Iran is cheating, but it is okay for Yemen to pursue a nuclear program. Hell, we're helping them build the freaking thing.

Cuba - The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to urge the United States to lift its four-decade-old embargo against Cuba in a resolution adopted for the 16th consecutive year. The measure is nonbinding and such moves in the past have had no impact on U.S. policy.The resolution, entitled "necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," was passed with 184 votes in favor, four against and one abstention. Voting "no" with the United States were Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands. I say screw the U.N. With friends like Israel, Palau (I looked it up--Palau is an island nation of just under 21,000 in the South Pacific) and the Marshall Islands, who needs the rest of the world to side with us. Take that, Fidel.

United Kingdom - The Queen has said Britain and Saudi Arabia must work together against terrorists "who threaten the way of life of our citizens". At a state banquet hosted by the Queen, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia spoke of "ominous signs of war and conflict in the world". Critics said the visit should not take place because of Saudi Arabia's human rights record. I'm not saying that Saudi Arabia is a role model when it comes to human rights--I'm not sure many folks outside the U.S. think very highly of us at present--but it seems to me that turning your nose up at a country doesn't exactly encourage it to change its ways. Some of you may not agree with my assertion. Fair enough. But let me ask you this--how stellar is our track record in employing this strategy?

Congress - I have a two-fer special for you today.

Democrats are debating whether to approve $50 billion to $70 billion more for Iraq and Afghanistan, less than half of President Bush's $196 billion request but enough to keep the wars afloat for a few more months. Such a move would satisfy party members who want to spare the Pentagon from a painful budget dance and show support for the troops as Congress considers its next major step on Iraq. Many Democrats say the money is necessary if Congress passes an annual defense spending bill without any war funding. If left without a "bridge fund" to fill the gap until Congress takes up the full $196 billion request, the Pentagon would have to divert money from less urgent accounts to pay for immediate war requirements — an approach military officials warn is disruptive and inefficient. Earlier this fall, Democrats decided to delay until next year action on Bush's war spending request. Unable to pass veto-proof legislation ordering troops home, they also are divided on whether to continue paying for the unpopular war.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill...

President George W. Bush again threatened to wield his veto pen. Bush's objection is over the Democrats' desire to spend about $9 billion more than he wants for various domestic social programs, from cancer research and early childhood education to helping the poor heat their homes this winter. Democrats were considering coupling the domestic funding bill with money for the Pentagon and veterans that Bush wants, but final decisions had not yet been made, according to congressional aides. His remarks were another in a string of veto threats as the Republican president tries to burnish his credentials as a fiscal conservative despite six years of deficit-spending and debt accumulation. In blocking enactment of various fiscal 2008 spending bills, Republicans also are trying to paint the Democratic-controlled Congress as incompetent big spenders in the run-up to next year's national elections. While Bush wants Congress to reduce some of its domestic spending priorities that they insist will not add to the debt, he is asking lawmakers to approve $196 billion in new funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that would use borrowed funds. Like the previous $600 billion in war funds he has spent, none of the $196 billion would be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere or tax increases.

I know that's a lot of information to digest so let's break it down shall we? On one hand, we have a Democrat-controlled Congress that seems incapable of writing legislation that can withstand a lame-duck Republican President's veto. On the other hand, we have the same lame duck Republican President talking out of both sides of his mouth slamming Congress for submitting out of control domestic spending bills while at the same time asking for another $196 billion dollars to pay for a war that no one wants to see continue. I don't know, seems like business as usual to me.