Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry issued a blistering statement Monday condemning North Korea for their missile and nuclear tests.
"North Korea's reckless, stubborn, and persistent steps to attract international attention will never buy it the security, legitimacy, and respect it seeks," the Massachusetts Democrat said.
"North Korea should wake up and realize that only denuclearization offers a path to genuine security and economic opportunity," he added. "The international community should now speak with one voice to condemn the North's nuclear test and urge it to abandon its irresponsible behavior."
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In light of North Korea's missile test this weekend, President Obama just said the United States will "redouble our efforts" to crack down on North Korea's nuclear development program.
"North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs pose a great threat to the peace and security of the world and I strongly condemn their most reckless action," Obama said in an impromptu statement at the White House.
He said the three short-range missile test was in "blatant violation" or international law and "contradict[ed] North Korea's own prior commitements."
"The United States and the international community must take action in response," Obama said.
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President Obama issued a stern statement early Monday morning in response to news that North Korea has conducted another test of a nuclear explosive.
North Korea launched three short-range missiles that could be used to carry a nuclear bomb. This is the country's second test in about seven weeks.
"These actions, while not a surprise given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations," Obama said. "North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security."
North Korea tested a long-range missile on April 5 that the U.S. said at the time was a failure.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, though, Obama and other nations appear to be taking this recent test more seriously.
"The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community," Obama said. "We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the Six-Party Talks as well as other members of the U.N. Security Council in the days ahead."
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The Senate on Thursday lurched closer to an all-but-inevitable showdown over the funding of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as Republicans signaled they will offer floor amendments to block the money as expected.
At a mark-up meeting of the full Appropriations Committee, chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) revealed he has included $80 million in the supplemental to close the controversial prison and transfer the prisoners. Inouye also asked Republicans on the committee not to offer amendments until the bill clears the committee and reaches the Senate floor.
Committee member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said he would do so, but made it clear a fight is coming. Echoing a common criticism of Senate Republicans this week, Shelby said it is irresponsible to close the prison until the Obama administration develops a plan for the prisoners.
"It is misguided to close a facility housing terrorists when there is no plan," Shelby said. "The prisoners housed at Guantanamo are terrorists. They attacked our nation and killed our citizens and pose a threat to our national security."
Well this is likely to come up in President Obama's trilateral meeting today with as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President President Hamid Karzai. The Associated Press is reporting that Pakistan has launched a military offensive against Taliban insurgents in the Swat Valley and Buner.
From the AP:
The latest actions will please Washington, which is urging Pakistan to crack down on militants blamed for rising violence at home and in Afghanistan.
Since fighting broke out Tuesday, thousands of men, women and children have fled Swat's main town of Mingora and surrounding districts, fearing an imminent major military operation. The government said it believes refugees could reach 500,000.
The offensive marks the end of a three month truce between the Pakistani government and the Taliban over the region. The U.S. has urged Pakistan to crack down on the region and, as the AP notes, will likely find this welcome news.
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Something to keep in mind as President Obama heads into the trilateral summit with Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari and Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai this week: There is a Congressional Pakistan Caucus.
The caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas). There are 70 members in the caucus.
Pakistani American Leadership Center says the mission of the caucus is twofold: "(1) To facilitate dialogue between Pakistani Americans with their political representatives in Congress and (2) To improve and strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and the U.S."
Rep. Steve King said Tuesday that Republican it is "fair game" for Republicans to use the image of President Obama shaking hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in campaign ads in future election cycles.
Speaking on C-SPAN, King, an Iowa Republican, was asked whether it is acceptable for Republicans to use that image against Obama and Democrats in campaigns.
"I think it's fair game," King said, "but I think there is a lot that will happen between now and the next presidential race."
King, who is among the House's most conservative members, also said that Obama is quickly using his political capital to implement as the "liberal image" he desires.
"It appears to me that President Obama has drawn a calculation that any elected executive officer has the maximum amount of political capital the moment that they are inaugurated...I don't think President Obama is concerned about reelection four years from now, I think he is concerned about transforming America into the very liberal image that he sees."
Sen. Jim Webb has called on Senate panels to hold hearings on the recent upsurge of piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Webb, a Virginia Democrat and former Secretary of the Navy, wrote letters to the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee saying that forceful measures must be taken to combat piracy.
"Piracy should not be tolerated," Webb said in a statement. "It is a violation of international law, and for centuries the use of force to stop it has been supported by virtually every nation."
"I strongly believe that forceful measures should be taken to reduce piracy and prevent the kind of incidents we have seen this month off the Somali coast," Webb wrote in the letters. "Piracy should not be tolerated. It is a violation of international law, and for centuries the use of force to stop it has been supported by virtually every nation."
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Former Massachusetts governor and 2008 GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney sharply criticized President Obama's foreign policy message on Tuesday.
Romney, who is considered by some observers to be a strong 2012 GOP presidential contender, penned an op-ed on the National Review's website. In it, the former governor criticizes Obama for his performance on recent trips to Europe for the G-20 summit and Latin America.
The Republican blasts Obama for not firing back at Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega after he criticized America. Obama's actions, Romney wrote, show he isn't standing up for the country.
"But last week, even as American soldiers sacrificed blood in Afghanistan and Iraq to defend liberty," Romney wrote. "President Obama shrank from defending liberty here in the Americas."
Romney also joined the Republican chorus that has expressed their displeasure with Obama for his handshake with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as well as his response, or lack of preemptive action, to North Korea's missile test. On Monday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said footage of the handshake would be used for anti-American propaganda throughout the world. And Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) told CNN on Sunday that the handshake was "irresponsible."
Ultimately, Romney said Obama's early foreign policy message shows that he is not committed to specific notion of freedom.
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