US Politics News Bits for Monday, August 31, 2009

There may be more American troops in Afghanistan next year to fight the Taliban. General Stanley McChrystal's analysis is that the war is lacking sufficient support and strategy to triumph over the Taliban. The general is likely to request more American troops in Afghanistan in the near future. President Barack Obama has already approved a 21,000 troop increase this year.

What helped curb the spread of swine flu in Mexico?

As the northern hemisphere readies itself for the second wave of swine flu, Mexico is taking inventory of which efforts in combating the spread of swine flu were most successful and which were unsuccessful. Public awareness, swift diagnosis, and hand washing are among those things that worked to curb the spread of the disease. Closing schools and using paper face masks were among those efforts that were ineffective.

Push for increased American civilian presence in Afghanistan

Too few American civilians are in Afghanistan, experts say. The war in Afghanistan needs American civilians knowledgeable in areas such as law, architecture, and engineering. The knowledge provided by professionals in these sectors can help improve the war effort and stabilize the war-torn country. Plans to recruit civilians are underway and hundreds are already on their way to Afghanistan. Approximately 450 additional civilians are expected to go to Afghanistan by the end of this year.

Huckabee's controversial comment on how Kennedy might have fared under reformed healthcare

This weekend, on his Fox News show, Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, suggested that the late Senator Ted Kennedy would have been sent home to die if the proposed health care reform were in place. Media covering Huckabee's comments find it to have been in bad taste. Huckabee, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, insists that the comment was "taken out of context" and that the response to that comment is "overblown".

Summer vacation is over for the Obamas and the President has lots of work ahead of him

The First Family's summer vacation has come to an end. Now that he is back, President Barack Obama will face many struggles in the coming months. The fight over health care reform is ongoing and as approval ratings for the President dwindle and the economy struggles to regain its footing, Obama must work to deliver on the promises he made during his campaign. Additionally, the President must formulate a new strategy for success in Afghanistan. It is anticipated that General Stanley McChrystal will soon request more troops for the war in Afghanistan. Earlier this year, the President approved 21,000 new troops be sent to Afghanistan by the close of 2009.

Israel-Palestine talks may take place this September

Just last week, news of renewed Israel-Palestine talks was announced. Monday, news of possible September negotiations was released. In September, the United Nations General Assembly opens and the UN will most likely host meetings between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Jan. 19 elections will be held to fill Kennedy's seat

With his passing, Senator Ted Kennedy left an empty seat. Elections will be held January 19 in order to fill the seat.

Republican Jim Sensenbrenner has prostate cancer

Monday, Jim Sensenbrenner, a House veteran from Wisconsin and high ranking member of the House Judiciary and Science and Technology committee, announced that he has prostate cancer. He will undergo radiation treatment and intends to continue working.

References

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan;_ylt=Aj9Wo0Me6pbaBaIx4hCBJBGyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJpYzBqbHNvBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL3VzX3VzX2FmZ2hhbmlzdGFuBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNnYXRlc3JlcG9ydGQ-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_swine_flu_mexico_s_lessons;_ylt=Aty9c4.ER5o.yP_HWXutblWyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJ1b29nanNmBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL2x0X3N3aW5lX2ZsdV9tZXhpY29fc19sZXNzb25zBGNwb3MDMgRwb3MDNQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNsZXNzb25zZnJvbW0-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_civilian_surge_afghanistan;_ylt=AhbMnM5e4V6qf2iPo8oKIjGyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJ1b3M1a3M2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL3VzX2NpdmlsaWFuX3N1cmdlX2FmZ2hhbmlzdGFuBGNwb3MDMwRwb3MDNgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNhY2l2aWxpYW5zdXI-

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26609.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_vacation_s_over_analysis;_ylt=Aqfupcees7RZMz6obxdjd4myFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTM3NGk4N2FkBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL3VzX29iYW1hX3ZhY2F0aW9uX3Nfb3Zlcl9hbmFseXNpcwRwb3MDMTEEc2VjA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNhbmFseXNpc2Zvcm8-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians;_ylt=Am2s7trpUGxxexdUxMyPZqiyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJyM25mNGYxBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL21sX2lzcmFlbF9wYWxlc3RpbmlhbnMEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNldWZyZXNobWlkZWE-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090831/pl_cq_politics/politics3195704;_ylt=AjEKTJnJXKdrrhK71LMZdwuyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJsYXJ2Z291BGFzc2V0A2NxLzIwMDkwODMxL3BvbGl0aWNzMzE5NTcwNARwb3MDMTMEc2VjA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNrZW5uZWR5Mzlzc2U-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_go_co/us_sensenbrenner;_ylt=AsBaElL2HCNP.LUQR9ONmdWyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJkcHFvMmxpBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL3VzX3NlbnNlbmJyZW5uZXIEcG9zAzE0BHNlYwN5bl9zdWJjYXRfbGlzdARzbGsDcmVwc2Vuc2VuYnJl

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_go_co/us_sensenbrenner;_ylt=AsBaElL2HCNP.LUQR9ONmdWyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJkcHFvMmxpBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODMxL3VzX3NlbnNlbmJyZW5uZXIEcG9zAzE0BHNlYwN5bl9zdWJjYXRfbGlzdARzbGsDcmVwc2Vuc2VuYnJl