It seems obvious to me the USA has no intentions of backing any peace process. The Bush White House longs for a confrontation with Russia and China. The USA Senate and House need to act to limit the President's ability to 'create' war.

The Middle East has to solve it's own problems. I believe they are capable of it.

Iraq needs to find stability in which ever methodology that applies. If forming decentralized governments in the provinces provides for a more trusted central authority, then it should be accomplished as soon as possible.

The region needs to be stabilized outside the potential for further destabilization by exploitation. A diligent agenda from every member country should be pursued, anything short will derail any potential, leading to greater war and any possibly of peace will be lost.

The lies by the Bush/Cheney White House can be measured easily by the lies they tell their own people. One of these articles are propaganda, perhaps it is easy to tell. Homeland Security has never proved a greater security to the USA and while the Middle East newspaper likes to embellish the 'greatness' of the USA, under this administration it can't even protect those once the focus of attack.


Defense Department role seen differently
Published: November 30, 2007
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A top U.S. Defense Department official says the homeland defense office has learned valuable lessons and increased its mission since its inception in 2002.
Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and America's security affairs, says the Defense Department central role is in achieving security for the U.S. homeland, but he sees an evolving and increasingly important capability in providing assistance during natural or man-made disasters, the American Forces Press Service reported.
As the first person to hold the assistant secretary for homeland defense position, McHale says he has looked at the traditional role of the military and says part of his office's mission is to encourage the expansion of its support role for civil authorities.
McHale says as part of his office's continued emphasis on homeland defense missions, more than 60 members of his staff are embedded with various agencies at the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to better understand challenges.
"The American people cannot allow the capabilities inherent in civilian agencies to deteriorate. We fall into a trap if we allow our civilian capabilities to atrophy due to excessive reliance on military competencies," McHale said. "We need a partnership, and that partnership should be built on shared professionalism within and between the civilian and military organization of our government.
"Our founders realized that excessive reliance upon the military may achieve an operational success but ultimately will damage the civilian character of our country and our government. We hold as one of our bedrock principles the concept of civilian supremacy, and that concept is very much respected and adhered to in the Department of Defense."
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.

http://www.metimes.com/Security/2007/11/30/defense_department_role_seen_differently/0735/

Plan to Cut Antiterror Spending Is Criticized by State’s Leaders
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 2, 2007
A White House plan to slash antiterror grant programs by more than half would threaten the safety of American cities, New York politicians charged yesterday.
The latest news and reader discussions from around the five boroughs and the region.
Go to City Room »
Senator Charles E. Schumer blasted the Bush administration’s plan to eliminate some port and rail security programs and cut security grants for states and cities to $1.4 billion in 2009 from $3.4 billion in the 2007 fiscal year.
“To say, no port security, no transit security, when we know that our ports and transit lines are targets for terrorists makes no sense if you want to protect America,” Mr. Schumer said.
Other officials said the cuts would penalize a city attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, and in 1993.
“It’s stunning that the federal government would consider cutting New York City’s homeland security funds from the already inadequate level that currently exists,” said John Gallagher, a spokesman for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
The federal government has given $23 billion in antiterror grants to states and municipalities since the Sept. 11 attacks, but some have criticized the programs as pork-barrel spending.
According to budget documents obtained by The Associated Press, the Bush administration is not convinced that the money has been well spent and thinks the nation’s highest-risk cities have largely satisfied their emergency need to improve security.
Officials with the White House Office of Management and Budget said the president’s budget proposals had yet to be completed. Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said Friday that the White House would strongly support any needed antiterror programs.
Still, Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s spokeswoman, Christine Anderson, likened the White House proposal to a “‘bean counter’ approach to protecting our homeland when sound policy is what’s required.”
Mr. Schumer estimated that if the cuts were accepted by Congress, New York City’s share of the aid might drop to $70 million or $80 million from $134 million.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/nyregion/02security.html?ref=nyregion

Good Night