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Sam Sacks - page 52

Sam Sacks has 859 articles published.

Rep. Thompson: “Rightwing Fanatics” Are Real Threat, Not Muslims

Knowing he had the attention of the national security state, one Democratic lawmaker on Wednesday urged government officials to reconsider their unique focus on Islamist extremism. “If you look at who the bad people are in this country right now, they’re not Muslims, they’re not people who identify with Islamic faith,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said during a subcommittee hearing featuring witnesses from the Department of Homeland Security. “They’re these rightwing fanatics who go to churches, who go to other institutions and do harm to… Keep Reading

GOP Lawmaker “Outraged” By Department Of Homeland Security Research On Climate Change

A House committee hauled Department of Homeland Security officials up to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lambast them for preparing the nation for the likely impact of climate change. “I am outraged that the Department of Homeland Security continues to make climate change a top priority,” Rep. Scott Perry (R-Penn.) said during a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing Wednesday titled “Examining DHS’s Misplaced Focus on Climate Change.” Perry, the chairman of the subcommittee, took exception with the department’s strategic guide, known as the Quadrennial Homeland… Keep Reading

White House “Pleased” By Bernie’s Big Crowds

When asked to respond to the massive crowds that Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is drawing to his campaign events, White House spokesman Josh Earnest called it “a good sign.” The socialist senator surging in the polls attracted about 7,500 people to a stump speech in Portland, Maine on Monday night. More than 10,000 showed up at a similar event for Sanders in Madison, Wis. last week, raising the specter among establishment Democrats that he could seriously challenge Hillary Clinton—the administration’s former Secretary… Keep Reading

The Pentagon’s Syrian Recruitment Numbers Are In, And They’re Grim

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter presented a dismal picture of the Pentagon’s train and equip mission in Syria, admitting that the department was only in the process of getting roughly a busload of moderate fighters ready to take on the Islamic State (ISIL). “As of July 3, we are currently training about 60 fighters,” Carter said in testimony Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This number is much smaller than we hoped for at this point—partly because of the vetting standards.” The Defense Secretary… Keep Reading

With More Agreements Coming Down The Pike, U.S. Trade Deficit Continues To Soar

The nation is buying goods and services from international markets at a much faster clip than it’s selling its own wares, according to new numbers from the Commerce Department, perpetuating a long-term trend that acts as a headwind to domestic economic growth. The US racked up a $41.9 billion trade deficit in the month of May—an increase of more than $1 billion from the previous month. That bring the total trade deficit for 2015 to $212.8 billion, putting the nation on track to eclipsing 2014’s shortfall… Keep Reading

Like War? Thank A Teacher! Obama Makes Nat Sec Case for Increased School Funding

Describing the education system as a neglected pillar of a national security strategy, President Obama reiterated his opposition to a mandatory defense policy bill that is nearing completion in both houses of Congress. In a press briefing focused on ongoing operations against the Islamic State, Obama reaffirmed his threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The administration has said that the bill is part of Republicans’ strategy to boost military spending without adequately funding other domestic programs. “We’ve got an incredible research operation… Keep Reading

Clinging To Antiquated Foreign Policy, Marco Rubio Alleges Castro/New York Times Conspiracy

GOP presidential hopeful, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said that the nation’s paper of record relied on the Castro government in reporting on his hardline Cuba policy—in a story written by a reporter with whom he cooperated. The accusations were leveled on Monday after the New York Times published a story on Sunday featuring the opinions of regular Cubans with a negative view of Rubio. “NYT follows up traffic tix & ‘luxury speedboat’ stories with expose of Castro regime’s propaganda on me. #nicetry” he tweeted on… Keep Reading

Bernie Sanders Calls For End to Greek Austerity

Days away from a referendum that will decide the future of Greece and the Eurozone, a US presidential candidate is throwing his support behind the embattled Greek government, and placing the blame for the ongoing fiscal crisis on international monetary institutions. “If Greece’s economy is going to succeed, these austerity policies must end,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in an interview with The Huffington Post on Wednesday. The insurgent presidential candidate added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “must give the Greek government the flexibility… Keep Reading

Merkel Hoped To Pressure U.S. To Support Bank Tax While NSA Spied On Her

A private conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and a top aide concerning plans to urge the US to support a financial transaction tax was intercepted by the National Security Agency and its British partner, GCHQ, according to a batch of top secret documents released by Wikileaks. The organization released a cache of intelligence records on Wednesday, providing more details about US and British surveillance on the German government—a practice first confirmed thanks to information provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. The intercepts gave Washington… Keep Reading

Military Chief Blames Failing Syria Strategy On Ramadan

Although the Pentagon’s train and equip mission in Syria is threatened by woefully low recruitment numbers, the problem isn’t the strategy, according to one US general—it’s just bad timing. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey claimed that the month of Ramadan is one of the headwinds facing the US military’s efforts to assist moderate Syrian rebels in their fights against Bashar Al-Assad and the Islamic State. “Sometimes there are seasonal factors that contribute to the willingness of young men in… Keep Reading

Washington And Havana Set To Swap Embassies In July

Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Cuba later this summer to reopen the US embassy in Havana, President Obama announced on Wednesday. The post is set to open on July 20, after the Cuban government opens an embassy in Washington, according to White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have not existed in more than 50 years. “This is a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people,” President… Keep Reading

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