Good Luck With That, Mr. President

Worldwide Standard | Links | Related | Apr 02, 2010 03:21 PM EST

One of Barack Obama’s more significant unfulfilled campaign promises is getting the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Last year, speaking in Prague, he announced a determination to press ahead, declaring that my administration will immediately and aggressively pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. After more than five decades of talks, it is time for the testing of nuclear weapons to finally be banned. The president had hoped to get this done before the end of this year, but thanks to what promises to be an extended debate over the new START agreement, time is slipping away . But even if the Senate were to act now and put its stamp on the agreement, would it go into force? Along with the United States, there are eight other “Annex 2” states...

Helen Thomas Asks Gibbs 'Why Do We Give Commitments to Israel When it Violates International Law'

NewsBusters | Links | Related | Mar 13, 2010 01:58 PM EST

Helen Thomas on Friday asked White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs why the United States keeps giving iron-clad commitments to Israel when it violates international law? Gibbs responded during the press briefing, 'Well, again, we enjoy a strong relationship with the country and the people. We are committed to their security.'  Giving what the late Tony Snow marvelously referred to as 'The Hezbollah View,' Thomas challenged the man at the podium, 'How about the Palestinian security?' (video embedded below the fold with transcript, h/t HotAirPundit ): HELEN THOMAS, HEARST NEWS SERVICE: I'm sure the President is aware that it's against international law to annex occupied land. Why do we keep giving, as Vice President Biden did, iron-clad commitments to Israel when it violates...