AIDemocracy.org | national security

Sequestration: What you need to know

February 28, 2013 by Robin Schwartz Leave a Comment

The headlines of every major news station and outlet are once again dominated by confrontation between the White House and Congress. The topic? Sequestration. Here's what you need to know. What is Sequestration? Sequestration is a series of automatic cuts to government agencies, totaling $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The cuts would be split 50-50 between domestic and defense discretionary spending. The sequester has been looming for over a year. Congress pushed the date the sequester was to take affect back to March 1st as part of the fiscal cliff … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: budget, Congress, Fiscal Cliff, national security, Sequester, sequestration

Mali for Beginners

January 25, 2013 by Robin Schwartz 1 Comment

Malian soldier holds Mali and French flags

Over the past few weeks, news of unrest in Mali has finally gained limited attention in the United States. The news stories have many people beginning to ask questions about the country and how the current situation could negatively impact the United States, if at all. Mali is a landlocked, West African nation situated below Algeria. Until early 2012, the Republic of Mali upheld a constitutional democracy and foreign relations with Western countries were becoming increasingly positive. France, a former colonial ruler of Mali, was greeted ambivalently … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: France, international security, Mali, national security, UN

How the Fiscal Cliff Could Impact National Security

December 14, 2012 by Robin Schwartz Leave a Comment

When it comes to politics, even the most professional individuals turn into passionate and ferocious arguers.

The United States has nearly doubled its defense spending since 9/11 and have fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on credit. As the discussions surrounding the "fiscal cliff" increase, it's important to remember what the impact could have on national security. Automatic spending cuts scheduled to begin next year include $56.5 billion from the Pentagon, which is more than 10 percent of its base budget. If this amount does not change, the defense budget would be cut by $454 billion over a decade. Going "over the cliff" could have major … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: budget, DoD, Fiscal Cliff, national security

Your Presidential Candidates on Homeland and National Security

November 4, 2012 by Robin Schwartz Leave a Comment

With the presidential election just days away, the last of the undecided voters are in search of any (credible) information to assist them in choosing a candidate to support before heading to the polls. Since homeland and national security are a growing concern for all citizens and politicians alike, outlining the strengths and weaknesses are essential for voters to have an indication as to how a candidate might react in the future, should he become president. President Barack Obama Executive Order 13491, issued in 2009, banned the use of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Barack Obama, election, Homeland Security, intelligence, Mitt Romney, national security

Emerging technological trends and Global Security

March 5, 2012 by Usman Shabbir 1 Comment

Of the world’s 100 largest economic entities, 51 are now corporations and 49 are countries. Gross Domestic Product of corporations such as Wal-Mart, General Motors, Exxon mobil and Ford Motors are calculated to exceed GDP’s of states like Norway, Singapore, South Africa and Malaysia. Since domestic markets in a country like Bangladesh depends heavily on companies like Wal-Mart, it is not an alien conceept that these MNC’s today can leverage their economic power by impacting foreign policy in developing nations. Although they weild vast power, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: activism, advocacy, community, devfeloping countries, globalization, national security, US foreign policy

Does the Keystone Pipeline really support national security?

January 19, 2012 by Ron 3 Comments

Many from the right have been harking on the immediate construction and opening of the Keystone Pipeline. Obviously, economic reasons are given as job creation is a huge topic during an election year, especially with 8.5% unemployment rate. Lately, there has been another issue raised, supporting the pipeline; national security. It's not a new concept, people have been citing America's dependence on foreign oil as a national security concern since 1979 when oil production dropped and increased prices caused economic shocks to rock the country. But does … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: alternative energy, climate, climate change, corporate responsibility, economy, energy security, global warming, Homeland Security, keystone pipeline, national security, natural resources, Obama

Where one bipartisan committee fails, another may prove successful

December 2, 2011 by Emily 1 Comment

The recent failure of the Super Committee to cut $1.2 trillion in federal debt over ten years will trigger automatic cuts of the same magnitude ranging from domestic and entitlement programs to defense spending at the beginning of 2013. As these cuts will inevitably affect the activities of the Pentagon, a debate has arisen over whether these cuts will undermine the effectiveness of national security, in particular the U.S. military overseas. President Obama is under pressure from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and many Republicans - in particular, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Afghanistan, Congress, federal budget, Government, military, national security, Obama, super committee, war

Spending on Nuclear Weapons? Wasteful and Dangerous – Maine Speaker Tour with Retired Colonel & Physician Leader

April 14, 2011 by AIDemocracy

Nuclear arms experts Col. Richard Klass (USAF, ret.) and Dr. Ira Helfand, MD will be in Maine to discuss why the $50 billion spent annually on nuclear weapons is wasteful and does not make our country more secure from terrorists or rogue nations. Klass and Helfand are key parts of a growing international consensus that nuclear weapons are a liability and not an asset. The following events are open to the public and press: What: Screening of “Countdown to Zero” followed by discussion with speakers When: Monday, April 18, 1:00 PM Where: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Partners Tagged With: events, national security, nuclear weapons

Facing ‘difficulties’ after brutalizing a population? Obama and David Cameron could learn a lesson from their North African and Arab counterparts

March 18, 2011 by Gillian Rollason

After decades of brutalizing the population, political leaders shouldn’t be surprised to find their authority challenged by violent uprisings. But this plight is not only of political elites in North Africa and the Middle East - European and American leaders face serious dilemmas at the United Nations, after years of ignoring the human consequences of their foreign policy abroad. It is hardly surprising that Gaddafi is able to use mercenaries to suppress a popular uprising, despite outrage from the international community at the (continued) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Africa, Barack Obama, Britain, capitalism, conflict, diplomacy, economic growth, economy, EU, globalization, Government, government shutdown, human rights, Human Rights and Social Justice, Libya, Middle East, Middle East Democracy, military, national security, NATO, North Africa, oil, poverty, social justice, United Nations, US foreign policy

McCarthyism in 2011: King’s Commissions

March 13, 2011 by Jennifer Piatt

I never really understood the effects of the “McCarthy trials” or the implications of “McCarthyism” until Rep. Peter King announced his crusade against American Muslims. Setting aside the Equal Protection claims and the illegitimate use of a Congressional Office to pursue a course for reelection: Rep. King’s Commissions jeopardize our American soldiers abroad, create a volatile and unsafe situation for American Muslims, eviscerate America’s attempts at promoting Democracy and violate one of this nation’s fundamental principles … [Read more...]