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Romney: U.S. Can Learn from Hezbollah

July 29, 2007 4:50 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Matt Stuart Reports: Mitt Romney promises to combat Hezbollah, the militant Islamic group which warred with Israel last summer, if elected president. But he also thinks Hezbollah’s work establishing health clinics and schools in southern Lebanon hold important lessons for the United States.

"Did you notice in Lebanon what Hezbollah did?" Romney asked Friday during a town-hall meeting in Iowa. "Lebanon became a democracy some time ago. And while their government was getting underway, Hezbollah went into southern Lebanon and provided health clinics to some of the people there and schools, and they built their support by having done so. That kind of diplomacy is something that would help America become stronger around the world and help people understand that our interest is an interest toward modernity and goodness and freedom for all people of the world."

Romney’s effort to learn from Hezbollah’s work in establishing health care and schools is part of a broader effort on his part to make nurturing the "foundations of liberty" a priority in U.S. foreign policy.

In order to defeat what he calls the "scourge of global Jihad," Romney supports expanding the size of the military. But he also favors strengthening the "democratic underpinnings of a country." To achieve this, Romney has called for jointly coordinating U.S. military power with what he calls the "civilian instruments of democracy."

For each region of the world, Romney would give one civilian in the U.S. government -- whom he would call a "Deputy" -- integrated control over American resources in the areas of education, health, banking, energy, commerce, law enforcement, and diplomacy.

"They will be heavy hitters, with recognized reputations around the world," said Romney while outlining his foreign-policy vision at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in Houston on April 10. "They must be given objectives, budgets, and responsible oversight."

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden told ABC News that the former Massachusetts governor views Hezbollah as a "bloodthirsty" terrorist organization which has "smothered" the progress of the people and nations where it has built its network, "Lebanon serving as an example."

"These terror organizations cannot and should not be allowed to gain an advantage with the citizenry in Muslim nations just because they mask their terror agenda with an offering of some vital services," Madden continued. "By working with moderate Muslims to break down and defeat terror organizations like Hezbollah militarily, we can then turn to a new ‘Marshall Plan’ approach that strengthens the foundations of freedom and prosperity in burgeoning Middle East democracies."

July 29, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (8)

Dole and Shalala Call Veterans Care Unacceptable

July 29, 2007 12:25 PM

ABC News' Alyssa Kim Reports: Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala are hoping that President Bush will make good on his promise to act upon the Wounded Warriors Commission’s recommendations for improved soldier healthcare.

"It's nonpartisan, bipartisan," Dole said. "There are problems that should be fixed and can be fixed, and we want to do it."

Dole and Shalala, co-chairs of the President's Wounded Warriors Commission, appeared in a Sunday Exclusive on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

"The current situation is simply unacceptable," Shalala said. "These young people, no matter what your position is on the war, deserve the best of care and the best opportunities in the future to get education and training, to get on with their lives."

Six of the Commission’s 35 recommendations require legislation, costing roughly half a billion dollars. Shalala said these recommendations were "double immediately," when compared to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs budget of $126 billion.

The Commission's 29-page report, however, did not include a recommendation to keep the Walter Reed Army Medical Center open. Dole expressed his hope that the facility will remain operational until a new hospital is built.

"Keep it open, full blast until the very day that they can transition to the new place," Dole said, adding that the top-notch staff at Walter Reed needed an incentive to stay. "I don't want it to close at all."

The Commission will hold its last meeting on Tuesday.

July 29, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Newt Gingrich Confirms Dinner With Fred Thompson

July 29, 2007 10:01 AM

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich R-Ga., confirmed that he and his wife Calista recently had dinner with Republican presidential-candidate-in-waiting Fred Thompson and his wife Jeri.

"Yes, we had a very nice dinner with Jerri and Fred…," Gingrich said Sunday in an interview on Fox News.

Gingrich did not answer a question about whether he would endorse Thompson if and when the former Tennessee senator enters the race, but said he believes Thompson will be "a very formidable candidate" in a Republican presidential field that features several strong candidates.

"I think Republicans have three major choices in Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson," Gingrich said.

Asked why he did not include John McCain -- who ranks second in most national polls of Republican presidential hopefuls -- in his list of viable GOP candidates, Gingrich alluded to Republicans' anger with John McCain over a host of issues.

"I think Senator McCain has taken positions so deeply at odds with his party's base, that I don't see how he can get the nomination, " Gingrich said.

Gingrich also said he expects to see a Hillary Clinton/Barack Obama ticket on the Democratic side, but that he thinks a Republican will defeat the Democrats.

As for his own '08 intentions, the former speaker offered only a small sign.

"If in fact, after we're done with our workshops in American Solutions in September, if there is a vacuum and if there's a real need for somebody to be prepared to debate Senator Clinton, then I will consider running. And I think we'll know that in October."

July 29, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Bush urges intelligence act updates in weekly address

July 28, 2007 10:08 AM

ABC News' Jennifer Duck and Jason Ryan report: In his weekly radio address, President Bush urged Congress to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in order to give law enforcement officials "the best possible information about who the terrorists are, where they are, and what they are planning."

"The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, also known as FISA, provides a critical legal foundation that allows our intelligence community to collect this information while protecting the civil liberties of Americans," Bush said. "This law is badly out of date and Congress must act to modernize it."

The Bush Administration has proposed four major revisions to FISA. The revisions seek to bring FISA up to date with the latest communication technology, bypass court approval to collect foreign intelligence, increase the efficiency of the government's partnership with the private sector and streamline administrative processes in order to effectively gather intelligence.

The address comes days after Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced tough questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee for his possible misleading of Congress over the National Security Administration's Terrorist Surveillance Program, which operates under authority of FISA.

Bush urged the Congress to pass these updates before the summer recess. "Every day that Congress puts off these reforms increases the danger to our Nation. Congress needs to act immediately to pass this bill, so that our national security professionals can close intelligence gaps and provide critical warning time for our country."

The House Intelligence Committee is currently debating these proposed changes.

July 28, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

Before Spat, Obama Backed Conditions for Talks

July 27, 2007 8:04 PM

ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: It turns out that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was for pre-conditions before he was against them.

In a pre-debate interview with a columnist for the Miami Herald, Obama said that he would meet with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez but he stipulated that he would only do so "under certain conditions."

"Under certain conditions, I always believe in talking," Obama told the Miami Herald’s Andres Oppenheimer. "Sometimes it’s more important to talk to your enemies than to your friends."

But once he reached the Democratic presidential debate, his position seemed to change.

Asked if he would be willing to meet separately "without precondition" during the first year of his administration with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea, Obama said, "I would."

In the days since the debate, Obama has argued that Clinton’s foreign policy approach smacks of "Bush-Cheney lite" even though the position he is attacking Clinton for holding, seems to be one that he himself held in his pre-debate interview with the Miami Herald.

Read the Miami Herald column by Andres Oppenheimer here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/421/v-print/story/182541.html

UPDATE:

On a Saturday conference call with reporters arranged by the Clinton campaign, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack pointed to Obama's pre-debate interview with the Miami Herald in an effort to paint Obama's subsequent criticism of Clinton as inconsistent.

"It appears that the day before the Charleston debate, Sen. Obama is reported to have suggested that he would be glad to meet with a Hugo Chavez of Venezuela but only with certain preconditions being met, which is precisely what Sen. Clinton said during the debate," said Vilsack.

The Obama campaign pushed back against Vilsack, who is supporting Clinton, by pointing to a Jan. 23, 2007, Clinton interview with MSNBC's Keith Olbermann. 

In her MSNBC interview, Clinton was asked if she would "reach out immediately" to the Syrians and the Iranians, "even with the tensions between this country and Iran." Clinton replied: "absolutely." Before ending her answer, she adds that what she "immediately" favors is opening a "diplomatic track".

The Clinton camp believes that when the New York senator commits to a "diplomatic track," or to "diplomatic negotiations," it is not the same thing as Obama agreeing to a presidential meeting.

Even though he was asked in the debate if he would meet with various rogue leaders "without preconditions," the Obama camp maintains that the Illinois Democrat would expect certain basic conditions to be met.

"He never said he would invite dictators over for a cup of coffee," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton, "and he said he wouldn't let these dictators use him as a propaganda tool. What he did say was that he would be willing to meet with them."

July 27, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (17)

GIULIANI UNLIKELY TO ATTEND YOUTUBE DEBATE

July 27, 2007 10:04 AM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports:  Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) is "unlikely to participate" in the CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate "due to scheduling conflicts", according to a campaign source. 

While all the candidates on the Democratic side chose to participate in their version of the debate this past Monday, the Republicans seem more hesitant to enter this format.  In an interview with New Hampshire's Union Leader earlier this week, Mitt Romney (R-MA) said he was not a fan of the YouTube format.  "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman," Romney told the Union Leader.

At this time only Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) have agreed to participate in the debate, scheduled for September 17 in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

July 27, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (23)

Thompson: '08 Candidacy Not Expected in August

July 26, 2007 10:17 PM

ABC News' Christine Byun Reports: Appearing at the top of Fox News' "Hannity and Colmes", still-unannounced GOP presidential contender Fred Thompson said he will probably not announce his presidential candidacy in August, explaining it's "kind of a down month - not much going on" but urged supporters to "keep their powder dry."

He acknowledged that "it takes awhile" for a political organization to come together, but did not mention (and was not asked) about recent staffing changes.

Of recent media speculation about his experience as a trial lawyer and attention to his wife, Thompson said the reports are surfacing because he is "not playing by their rules" by going at his "own pace" waiting to officially announce his intention to seek the Republican nomination.

He also took the opportunity to comment on the back-and-forth between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama by putting both down.  He specifically needled Clinton describing her as appealing to a base that is "more and more left."

Thompson said: "Everybody is kind of scrambling to go off that left-wing cliff, and she's trying to make sure no one gets to the left of her." He added that the did not think Clinton's strategy was going to help her win the general election. When Hannity asked him about his potential Republican opponents, Thompson declined to specifically talk about their differences, saying "it's extremely important that we come out unified after this election."

July 26, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (12)

Seante Hearing on Redeployment Scheduled

July 26, 2007 7:49 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: According to someone close to the Senate Armed Services Committee, late Thursday Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich, notified four Democratic Senators who earlier this week called for a hearing on Pentagon preparations for troop withdrawal from Iraq -- Hillary Clinton of New York, James Webb of Virginia, Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Evan Bayh of Indiana -- that the committee will meet next Thursday, August 2, to receive a briefing on that subject.

Levin told them that "At this time, I anticipate that the briefers will include Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman, and the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy (J5) Lieutenant General John Sattler, USMC."

Edelman wrote a controversial letter to Sentor Clinton stating that such public discussions aid enemy propaganda.

July 26, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Dodd Health Care Plan Draws Comparisions to Rivals

July 26, 2007 7:45 PM

ABC News' Donna Hunter Reports: Presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd D-Conn., unveiled his health care plan Thursday in Iowa calling for universal coverage for all Americans. Under Sen. Dodd’s plan all Americans would be covered within four years under a health insurance marketplace called the Universal Health Mart. Sen. Dodd said "By Establishing the Universal Health Mart, individuals would be guaranteed affordable health care coverage. "

"America deserves a health care system that provides universal, affordable coverage through universal responsibility shared by employers, individuals, insurance companies and the government," said Dodd.

When asked how his proposal stacked up against Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards' health care plans Dodd said that Obama's plan is not universal. He went on to add that he sees two problems with the Edwards plan. "With Sen. Edwards I see two problems one he proposes a regional health care plan, you don’t get the same bang for the buck if you’re doing it regional as you do with a national plan and second he talks about a significant tax increase to do it and I just don’t think that’s necessary."

Sen. Dodd proposed that by ending the war in Iraq the government would be able to use the billions of dollars spent on the war and put that money into national healthcare. Under Dodd's plan all Americans would have access to the same type of benefits and plans members of Congress receive.

Employers would have to provide insurance to their employees through UHM or through existing systems. Individuals would also be automatically enrolled in the plan when they file their taxes or W2 tax forms and coverage would be portable and could move with them from job to job.

July 26, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

Bush to Congress: Stay Through Recess to Pass DoD Spending Bill

July 26, 2007 5:05 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Duck reports:  For Congress, summer recess might not be as close as it appears.

On Thursday, President Bush told Congress to stay through the August recess, if need be, to pass the Department of Defense spending bill.

"Unfortunately they've been dragging their feet on these bills. They're now getting ready to leave for the August recess without having passed a single spending bill," the president said to a Philadelphia crowd.

The bills the president was referring to are the twelve annual spending bills due September 30th.  Bush accuses congressional Democrats of adding billions to his proposed budget, but Democrats argue that issues like military pay deserve more than the Bush-proposed 3% increase.

Bush has threatened to make use of his veto pen if the budget that comes to his desk is so high it requires a tax increase.

"At a time of war, one spending bill should take precedence over all the rest," Bush said.

"We got troops in harms way. They need to exercise their responsibility and get this defense bill passed ... I'll hang around if they want me to, to get the bill passed."

[Bush typically vacations at his ranch in Crawford, Texas when Congress is in recess for the month of August.]

July 26, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (2)