Operation Strike of the Sword is now underway. President Barack Obama has ordered thousands of US Marines to take the offensive against Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan.
** QUICK HITS. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders expressed optimism that they can come up with a new California budget in a matter of days. IOUs are ready to go out to some state vendors now. The Democrats are dropping the demand for another round of tax hikes and say they are ready to compromise with Schwarzenegger on other matters, including pensions and fraud protections. … Comedian Al Franken, the victor in Minnesota’s closely-fought Senate race and recount, will be sworn in as a US senator on Monday. … But President Barack Obama won’t be there. He’ll be in Moscow for his big summit with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Obama and Medvedev said very positive things about one another today. … Obama, who is prepping for the Moscow Summit and monitoring the new Marine offensive in Afghanistan, as well as short-range North Korean missile launches, delayed his departure for Camp David till tomorrow morning. Obama will be back at the White House on the 4th, then off to Moscow.
** THE ROVING VEEP. Never let it be said that Joe Biden is not a hands-on vice president. He turned up in Iraq today, on an unannounced three-day visit in the wake of the handover of security in the cities from US forces to Iraqi forces.
Here’s the White House statement: Vice President Biden has arrived in Iraq to visit U.S. troops and to meet with Iraqi leaders, including President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai. The Vice President will reiterate the United States’ commitment to fully implement the Security Agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement and to carry out President Obama’s plan to draw down U.S. forces. He will discuss with Iraq’s leaders the importance of achieving the political progress that is necessary to ensure the nation’s long-term stability. This is Vice President Biden’s second trip to Iraq this year and his first as Vice President.
And the pool report: Vice President Biden was greeted at Baghdad International Airport by:
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari
Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abbawi
General Ray Odierno
Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby.
Here is a rough look at his schedule for tomorrow
Tomorrow morning the vice president will meet and have coffee with General Odierno and Ambassador Hill; he will then have a private briefing/ Following that he will greet some embassy staff — that is closed press.
He will then meet with the United Nations assistance mission to I raq . (UNAMI) Some NGO representatives from in country will be there; there will be a pool spray.
He will then will meet with the two vice presidents, Tariq al-Hashimi and Adil Mehdi, Shiite presidents, and will then proceed to a meeting with the speaker, Dr. Ayad al Samaraie.
Then he will meet with prime minister al Maliki .
We have a lid
From Earlier:
URGENT
Joe Biden has just landed in Iraq for a surprise 2 day visit to meet iraqi officials and troops. He will try to reestablish contact with Iraqi leaders and try to help foster efforts at political reconciliation.
Fuller pool report to come.
Sheryl Stolberg NYT
** MORE CALIFORNIA 2010 FUNDRAISING. Lost in the shuffle of my e-mail late yesterday afternoon was a press release from GOP gubernatorial hopeful Steve Poizner’s campaign. The state insurance commissioner, who made a fortune with cell phone tracking technology, has raised a total of only $1.2 million so far, mostly from small donors. Meg Whitman, in contrast, has raised $6.5 million, and she only started at the beginning of the year. Both are super-rich, so in some ways the question is moot. And Whitman, the former eBay CEO, has raised much less than Arnold Schwarzenegger raised in only two months when he won the California governorship in a landslide in the 2003 recall election.
** THE GOP’S PALIN FOOD FIGHT: WHY NOW? You have to hand it to Sarah Palin. For a sideshow, she’s very good at being the center of attention. Even when she doesn’t want to be.
She had a few big controversies earlier this year — her on-again/off-again headlining of the big GOP congressional fundraiser, her pregnant teenage daughter, the usual Alaska stuff — but she’s hit the jackpot this week with a huge food fight among big name Republicans. What’s unexamined is this question: Why now? …
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … THE GOP’S PALIN FOOD FIGHT: WHY NOW?
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama has a short day today in the White House before leaving for Camp David and the 4th of July weekend.
Which will be truncated for him, as he travels to Moscow for his major summit next week with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Obama has had his daily intelligence and economic briefings and met with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At 10:45 AM Pacific, Obama meets with business leaders to discuss innovation and job creation in the Roosevelt Room.
At 11:20 AM Pacific, Obama delivers remarks about innovation and jobs in the Rose Garden.
At 1:30 PM Pacific, Obama departs for Camp David.
Obama is closely monitoring the first offensive he has ordered involving large numbers of American troops. The Pakistani Army offensive against the Taliban was strongly suggested by Obama, but obviously not ordered.
This is Operation Strike of the Sword, involving more than 4000 US Marines and about 750 Afghan troops. They have moved into the Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, a hotbed of Afghan Taliban activity.
The Marines will set up a series of bases there and pursue active patrolling with the near-term goal of preventing Taliban disruption of Afghanistan’s presidential election in August.
Obama is prepping for his summit in Moscow from July 6th to July 8th. Key issues, which of course will be explained here, involve America’s role in NATO expansion and missile defense seemingly aimed at Russia and potential major Russian assistance to America’s agenda in Afghanistan, Iran, and the Middle East.
With the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraqi cities, Obama and his advisors are monitoring the security situation there.
And Obama is of course monitoring the situation in Iran, where once large protests have, as expected here, fizzled in the face of a massive security presence ordered by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The time in Tehran is eleven-and-a-half hours ahead of California.
Yet another day has nearly passed in Iran with demonstrations effectively tamped down.
Obama is also closely monitoring the situation with North Korea, which today fired off two short-range missiles. But the long-range missile test launch toward Hawaii on the 4th of July does not appear imminent.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency yesterday in California.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds press conferences this morning in Los Angeles and Fresno on California’s chronic-turned-chaotic budget crisis.
He then engages in private meetings and discussions in and around the Capitol.
IOUs are about to be printed in lieu of payment for many state services due to the intractable budget impasse which I’ve discussed too many times.
Schwarzenegger’s LA press conference will be held at the Governor’s Office in downtown LA at 9 AM.
Schwarzenegger’s Fresno press conference will be held at the Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce at 11 AM.
The events will be webcast live at www.gov.ca.gov.
** TRANSFORMATIVE: LE CINEMA DE MICHAEL BAY. I love the films of Michael Bay. In fact, they are so dramatic and compelling that …
Gotcha! I actually do not love the films of Michael Bay. I don’t hate them, either. And there are a couple that I like. But the fact that it is considered preposterous for a writer — a writer who writes about anything, even wallpaper — to not dismiss Bay’s work in the most vehement of terms points up a dramatic disconnect between the critical community and the movie-going audience.
Bay’s new flick, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, just took in an astounding $200.1 million at the domestic box office in its first five days of release. …
** STAR TREK FIRSTS … 43 YEARS ON. Some 43 years after it began, and seven years after the movie franchise seemed completely played out, Star Trek is making firsts again. And so far, it’s the most popular movie of the year in America. …
** OBAMA AND THE AYATOLLAH. Two weeks after his landmark address in Cairo, where he honored traditional Islam and extolled engagement with modern Islam, President Barack Obama finds himself in a conundrum. Determining what to do about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who just told the people of Iran, in an unusual nationally-televised sermon at the end of Friday prayers, to stop acting like they live in a democracy.
It’s a particularly tricky question for Obama, because he has an unusual dual role to play: Inspirational global icon and president of the United States.
As the president of the United States, it’s Obama’s job to figure out the needs of America and go about meeting them. As a global icon, he is expected to inspire. … From my June 19th column.
** OBAMA’S CRISIS MANAGEMENT: NORTH KOREA, AGAIN. President Barack Obama changed the old kabuki in dealing with his second North Korean crisis. The first time around, back in April, dealing with a long-range missile test that failed to place a satellite in orbit, Obama treated the effort as more of the same rather baffling attention-seeking by the Hermit Kingdom. This time, after a string of provocations including an underwhelming underground nuclear detonation, a series of missile launches, and the imprisonment of two California-based journalists, Obama went in another, tougher, direction that may lead to a naval confrontation. … From my June 12th column.
** REMEMBERING AMERICA: OBAMA’S D-DAY SPEECH AND TWO DAYS IN JUNE. There’s no question that timing is, as it were, of the essence in politics. Consider the timing of President Barack Obama’s address to the Muslim world, coming as it did just two days before the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
Most focus simply on the Cairo speech. But that speech exists in a larger context, alongside the speech over the weekend in Normandy which bookended it on Obama’s second big international tour.
On Thursday in Cairo, Obama gave his rhetorical best to reposition a mostly peaceful America in the future of the Muslim world. On Saturday in Normandy, he reminded of America’s glittering, and far more martial, past. … From my June 8th column.
** REPOSITIONING AMERICA: OBAMA’S CAIRO SPEECH AS THE ULTIMATE IN EVENT MARKETING. … From my June 4th column.
** TERMINATING THE DARKNESS: HOPE FLOATS, BUT ANXIETY ABIDES. … From my May 31st column.
** THE AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY OF CALIFORNIA’S PROP 8. … From my May 26th column.
** OBAMA’S NEW CALIFORNIA-BASED CLIMATE POLICY: SIX KEY THINGS TO KNOW. … From my May 20th column.
** 24 AND THE TORTUOUS POLITICS OF TORTURE. … From my May 18th column.
** OBAMA: RIDING WITH HISTORY. (NOTE: As Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, this column was the featured column on the top of the front page of the Huffington Post.) … From my January 19th Huffington Post column.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel. You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti. While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, which I know as a former DemRussia advisor, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM AL JAZEERA. With the US entangled in two wars in the region, it’s valuable to keep up with news and perspectives from the leading Middle Eastern-based TV news network. Based in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, Al Jazeera is very influential and more than a bit controversial. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer. The NWN live link to AJ does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA. Here is my series of five columns on the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Los Angeles Times in debate last fall, prior to the global economic meltdown, with Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter/editor Bill Boyarsky, whose columns are also included. Among them is what I’m sure is the first piece examining Schwarzenegger’s legacy as governor of California. Since he will actually be governor of California until 2011. No technology known to be disruptive to the space/time continuum was used in its preparation.
You can listen to my recent video webchat with Schwarzenegger here.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record last July 11th, crude oil is trading around $67 per barrel.
This is up about $33 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Read 
| Comments (44) |
The Marines look good.
Arnold doesn’t look happy.
Nobody’s happy about the California Capitol mess.
I take that back. The extremists are happy.
Godspeed. I sure hope this goes well.
Jonas Blane says:
July 2, 2009 at 8:29 am
The Marines look good.
It is good that our troops are withdrawing from Iraq, as today’s unemployment numbers will require Obama to focus on the economy in the coming weeks and months. We’d better show quick progress in Afghanistan, too.
Where’s Schwarzeneger?
I hope Jerry Brown is more on time than Schwarzie. I hate this music.
Ok here he is.
Indeed.
I’ve noticed that governors are generally late.
You know who was really late was Gray Davis. After being routinely on time prior to being elected governor.
> Ann says:
July 2, 2009 at 9:10 am (Edit)
I hope Jerry Brown is more on time than Schwarzie. I hate this music.
I think Obama’s been fairly focused on the economy …
The financial markets have stabilized and the rate of job loss has declined.
Which doesn’t make it anywhere near good.
> Clutch J says:
July 2, 2009 at 8:53 am (Edit)
It is good that our troops are withdrawing from Iraq, as today’s unemployment numbers will require Obama to focus on the economy in the coming weeks and months. We’d better show quick progress in Afghanistan, too.
Indeed.
> Capitol Boy says:
July 2, 2009 at 8:41 am (Edit)
Godspeed. I sure hope this goes well.
Jonas Blane says:
July 2, 2009 at 8:29 am
The Marines look good.
Constant chaos allows hopes to spring eternal …
> Capitol Boy says:
July 2, 2009 at 8:40 am (Edit)
I take that back. The extremists are happy.
Not especially.
> Jonas Blane says:
July 2, 2009 at 8:31 am (Edit)
Arnold doesn’t look happy.
It’s about time for the Marines to get out there and chase the Taliban out of those towns. They can’t just do it with airstrikes.
I’m pretty tired of Sarah Palin.
** NEW COLUMN COMING UP … THE GOP’S PALIN FOOD FIGHT: WHY NOW?
Incidentally, NWN passed 84,000 comments sometime in the past week or so.
Bulletin–when not busy bending spoons, Uri Geller was trying to keep Michael Jackson from abusing prescription meds. Meawnhile the family is in damage control mode–heard one brother assert Michael was staunchly anti-drug…
http://www.localnews8.com/global/story.asp?s=10633911
I got a sunburn once waiting in the hot sun for Gray Davis.
>11.Bill Bradley says:
July 2, 2009 at 10:13 am
I’ve noticed that governors are generally late.
You know who was really late was Gray Davis. After being routinely on time prior to being elected governor.
Bill, perhaps you have some vital insider info to share w/r/t the GOP-Palin meltdown, but overall I believe the topic is beneath you.
What’s at stake for Obama in Russia?
Should I unwrite it? It’s really about the Republicans, not Palin.
You’re not getting it with that load of crap.
> TRIATHLON says:
July 2, 2009 at 11:24 am (Edit)
That’s no surprise.
> Dana says:
July 2, 2009 at 10:45 am (Edit)
I got a sunburn once waiting in the hot sun for Gray Davis.
>11.Bill Bradley says:
July 2, 2009 at 10:13 am
I’ve noticed that governors are generally late.
You know who was really late was Gray Davis. After being routinely on time prior to being elected governor.
Joe Biden’s in Iraq! I love the guy!
This is the only time the guy makes sense.
TRIATHLON says:
July 2, 2009 at 11:24 am
I loved how in the McCain-Palin campaign ad (embedded in your Huffpo piece) they cited FRED FREAKIN BARNES as a source of info to establish Palin’s bonafides.
Well, they did not have a lot to work with … Ironically, Freddie was trashing the campaign before it ended for the revelation of Palin’s megabucks shopping sprees.
BTW, North Korea is the next column, for the 4th of July.
Then the Moscow Summit.
And he’s 67 years old! Practically dead in Newsomworld …
He was actually alive when FDR was president, something about a politician that is deeply concerning to our old friend Garry South …
> Capitol Boy says:
July 2, 2009 at 1:23 pm (Edit)
Joe Biden’s in Iraq! I love the guy!
HAHA! What’s South talking about? He’s got to be about 60 himself.
That’s more like it!
> BB: BTW, North Korea is the next column, for the 4th of July.
Then the Moscow Summit.
It was either Iran or Palin now, and the Palin stuff won’t keep.
It certainly makes plain the current disorganized/disjointed state of the Republicans, especially its dominant far right conservative wing.
>23.Bill Bradley says:
July 2, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Should I unwrite it? It’s really about the Republicans, not Palin.
lol
Bill Bradley says:
July 2, 2009 at 2:05 pm
And he’s 67 years old! Practically dead in Newsomworld …
He was actually alive when FDR was president, something about a politician that is deeply concerning to our old friend Garry South …
> Capitol Boy says:
July 2, 2009 at 1:23 pm (Edit)
Joe Biden’s in Iraq! I love the guy!
More video today?
That is quite the column on Palin and the GOP foodfight. Both sides seem obsessed with her. Then there are your lefty commenters, who are super-duper obsessed with her. I find myself bored with her.
I mean, more bored than I am with the California budget story…
I do wonder how the wingnuts square in their minds their image of Obama the Radical Muslim with Obama sending the Marines to invade the stronghold of the Taliban. I am almost tempted to look at their blogs and listen to Limbaugh.
What new video today?
Moscow tourist attractions for the Obama girls (bearing in mind that they are little kids …) and Pakistan progress.
Cognitive dissonance?
> marcus waldron says:
July 2, 2009 at 5:42 pm (Edit)
I do wonder how the wingnuts square in their minds their image of Obama the Radical Muslim with Obama sending the Marines to invade the stronghold of the Taliban. I am almost tempted to look at their blogs and listen to Limbaugh.
Thanks. I’m bored with Palin, too. The writing did not come as easily as it should have. But it’s a big Republican Party story I know a lot about, so …
> marcos leon says:
July 2, 2009 at 4:45 pm (Edit)
That is quite the column on Palin and the GOP foodfight. Both sides seem obsessed with her. Then there are your lefty commenters, who are super-duper obsessed with her. I find myself bored with her.
Thanks. It’s pretty whack, as an old friend might put it …
> Dana says:
July 2, 2009 at 2:45 pm (Edit)
It certainly makes plain the current disorganized/disjointed state of the Republicans, especially its dominant far right conservative wing.
>23.Bill Bradley says:
July 2, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Should I unwrite it? It’s really about the Republicans, not Palin.