hrbrmstr: Heading to Portland airport after zipping home. Left work about half an hour later than desired. 90F temps await us. Ugh.

hrbrmstr: @Beaker except that no one really wants security. they just want the bad guys to stop being bad.

hrbrmstr: @thesleepyvegan I believe it's only cool if pulled over to the shoulder.

hrbrmstr: @thesleepyvegan I believe that the new NH law specifically states that it does not matter whether stopped in traffic or moving.

hrbrmstr: @thesleepyvegan does that mean u were operating a mobile device while driving? Something acutely un-"Responsible"?

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No change on landmines from ObamaWed, 11/25/2009 - 10:00am

It appears the Obama adminstiration will retain the United States's longstanding refusal to sign the 10-year-old Mine Ban Treaty:

"This administration undertook a policy review and we decided our landmine policy remains in effect," [Sate Department Spokesman Ian] Kelly said in response to a question. "We made our policy review and we determined that we would not be able to meet our national defense needs nor our security commitments to our friends and allies if we sign this convention."

The U.S. participated in the drafting of the treaty but has refused to sign, largely because of the use of mines on the Korean peninsula. The announcement comes before a review of the treaty's progress in Colombia next week. 

The decision has disappointed mine ban advocates like Senator Patrick Leahy, who called it a "lost opportunity for the United States to show leadership instead of joining with China and Russia and impeding progress."

But the adminsitration's decision is probably a moot point anyway since it's unlikely the White House could get the 67 Senate votes required to ratify the treaty anyway, particularly with tough congressional fights looming on the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty, Law of the Sea and others.   

Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops CBS Exclusive: Sources Say Force Will Grow to 100,000 - Nearly Filling Gen. McChrystal's Request; Long-Term Stay Planned

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By David Martin

• Play CBS Video Video Obama's Afghan Troop Strategy

  After weeks of meetings with top-ranking officials, CBS News has learned that President Obama is expected to send a substantial amount of additional troops to Afghanistan. David Martin reports.

• Sources tell CBS News that President Obama plans to completely or almost completely fill Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for 40,000 new combat troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. would have a total force of more than 100,000 there by the end of 2010 and a large force would remain there long-term.  (AP / CBS)

• Photo Essay Photos from Afghanistan

  Cpl. Jason Bogar's pictures of Afghanistan

• Special Report Afghanistan

  The latest news and analysis on the war in Afghanistan and the debate in Washington over its future.

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• Afghanistan: Obama's First Domino
• U.S. Troops to Afghanistan: A Waiting Game

(CBS)  Tonight, after months of conferences with top advisors, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for Afghanistan. CBS News correspondent David Martin reports that the president will send a lot more troops and plans to keep a large force there, long term.

The president still has more meetings scheduled on Afghanistan, but informed sources tell CBS News he intends to give Gen. Stanley McChrystal most, if not all, the additional troops he is asking for.

Special Report: Afghanistan

McChrystal wanted 40,000 and the president has tentatively decided to send four combat brigades plus thousands more support troops. A senior officer says "that's close to what [McChrystal] asked for." All the president's military advisers have recommended sending more troops.

But they also have warned that troops alone will not win the war unless Afghan President Hamid Karzai cleans up his government.

"He's got to take concrete steps to eliminate corr...

Obama Gives Shout Out to 'Congressional Medal of Honor Winner' Who Isn't By Mike Bates (Bio | Archive)
November 6, 2009 - 01:18 ET

The Washington Post this afternoon reported "President Obama delivers remarks on Ft. Hood shooting at end of tribal leaders conference." The transcript begins:

SPEAKER: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

[*] OBAMA: Please, everybody, have a seat. Let me first of all just thank Ken and the entire Department of the Interior staff for organizing just an extraordinary conference.

I want to thank my Cabinet members and senior administration officials who participated today. I hear that Dr. Joe Medicine Crow (ph) was around, and so I want to give a shout out to that Congressional Medal of Honor winner. It's good to see you.

Ah, the dangers of giving shout outs without a teleprompter.  Crow is not a Medal of Honor recipient.  As noted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society:

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Crow's name is not included on the Society's Medal of Honor recipient list.  He was, however, awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in August.

Obama, often described as "cerebral" by the mainstream media, should know the difference between the Medal of Honor and the Medal of Freedom, especially since he personally awarded the latter to Crow.  Don't expect his blunder to receive wide coverage.  It's not something he can blame George Bush for.    

Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting A bad week for Democrats compounded by an awful moment for Barack Obama. By ROBERT A. GEORGE Updated 2:56 PM CST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009

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