Posts by Spencer Ackerman
Defense analysts blast military exemption to spending freeze
During his State of the Union speech Wednesday night, President Obama formally unveiled a spending-freeze plan that will exempt the hundreds of billions spent annually on defense and homeland security. Leading defense wonks, particularly on the left, are calling it “ridiculous,” “completely inappropriate” and “a political decision.”
Public still supports Obama’s foreign policy
On the eve of his first State of the Union address — a speech likely to be viewed as a response to a new Washington pessimism over his domestic agenda — President Obama is recording consistent support for his handling of foreign affairs and national security, according to an overview of recent polls. But despite support for his international agenda, dissatisfaction with his handling of foreign and security issues is growing.
Experts question efficacy of profiling
The enhanced screening of airline passengers from the Muslim world in the aftermath of the failed terrorist attack on Flight 253 has set off a shockwave of disappointment from supporters of President Obama and surprise from security experts. Few believe, based on experience, that de facto profiling is an effective anti-terrorism tactic. But they do view it as playing into al-Qaeda propaganda that the United States is at war with Islam.
Obama administration plans Iran sanctions
A year’s worth of diplomatic outreach to Iran is on the verge of eclipse, thanks to consistent Iranian refusals to accept President Obama’s offers for a new relationship. As a result, Obama administration officials and their international partners are preparing a package of economic sanctions against Iran for 2010.
Obama announces 30K more troops for Afghanistan
For the first time in the war’s history, President Obama announced a date — July 2011 — when U.S. forces in Afghanistan will begin handing over security responsibilities to Afghan soldiers and policemen.
Afghanistan speech preview: 30,000 troops; July 2011 is the beginning of the end
A conference call with senior administration officials previewed the major themes in tonight’s presidential announcement of a refined Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy. Those are: a 30,000 total troop increase arriving by the summer of 2010; a transition to Afghan security control beginning in July 2010; a reaffirmed goal of “disrupting, dismantling and eventually defeating al-Qaeda and preventing the return of either to Afghanistan or Pakistan.”
Progressive opposition to Afghanistan escalation complicates Obama’s decisions
As President Obama and his advisers debate strategy for the Afghanistan war and its related crisis in Pakistan, a factor that so far has not intruded on their discussions is emerging: the antiwar movement is showing signs of strength.
Obama’s Iran policy to focus on human rights, not election
As reports of political violence in Iran intensified after Friday’s fiercely disputed election, the Obama administration insisted that it would not interfere with the struggle for power between regime-backed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the thousands of demonstrators who contend the election was stolen.
Key player in ‘enhanced’ interrogations still at the CIA
“As a general deal,” President Barack Obama said Tuesday about Bush administration officials who shaped the post-9/11 interrogation and detention regime, “I think that we should be looking forward and not backwards.” But it might be hard to determine the difference.
Report details origins of Bush-era interrogation policies
A wealth of new details emerged Tuesday about how techniques designed to help captured U.S. troops resist torture formed the basis for the post-9/11 interrogation policies of the Bush-era Pentagon.
