Obama Quietly Visits Wounded War Vets

Says Those Returning Injured From Iraq, Afghanistan Endure Substandard Care From Bush Admin.

(AP)  Barack Obama stopped by Walter Reed Army Medical Center Saturday to visit wounded war veterans, a group that he has said endures substandard care under the Bush administration.

The presumed Democratic nominee, who was in Washington to speak to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, slipped into the facility shortly after 9 a.m. without stopping to speak to the small group of reporters who follow him. The visit wasn't on his public schedule.

Obama has criticized the Bush administration for its treatment of veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and has suggested Republican rival John McCain would continue Bush policies if elected.

The administration was roundly criticized last year after it was revealed that veterans at Walter Reed were housed in rundown accommodations and suffered neglectful care.

Obama has said the country has failed its veterans by allowing such "second-rate conditions," by not giving troops enough time at home and not doing enough to support military families.

In a speech at a rally with his former Democratic opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday, Obama said voters have a choice about whether to continue spending billions of dollars every month in Iraq, and leave troops there for 20 years, 50 years or 100 years - a line that elicited boos from the crowd.

"It is time to rebuild our military and take care of our veterans," he said.

On veterans issues, McCain is seen by his supporters as having the advantage of military experience - the Arizona senator was a Navy pilot, and spent nearly six years as a Vietnam prisoner of war after he was shot down.

Obama, who serves on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, often notes that his grandfather served in World War II.

He criticizes McCain for opposing an expansion of the GI bill to guarantee full college scholarships for those who serve in the military for three years. McCain and Pentagon officials say they oppose the bill because they fear it would encourage people to leave after only one enlistment during a war.


Obama To Visit Europe, Mideast This Summer

Obama plans to visit the Middle East and Europe this summer, taking time off from campaigning in the United States in an effort to boost his foreign policy credentials.

Obama's campaign told The Associated Press the likely nominee will travel to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The Illinois senator also has said he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer; his campaign would not say whether those stops would be part of the trip to the Mideast and Europe.

"This trip will be an important opportunity for me to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security, and to consult with some of our closest friends and allies about the common challenges we face," Obama said in a statement.

"This will be an important opportunity to have an exchange of views with leaders in these countries about these and other issues that are critical to American national security — and global security — in the 21st century."

The campaign also would not disclose the dates of any of the plans in an attempt to protect Obama's security. Obama's campaign manager said this past week that Iraq and Afghanistan would be part of an official congressional trip. The other stops are part of a campaign-funded visit.

Obama foreign policy adviser Denis McDonough said the senator wants to consult with leaders of some important U.S. allies about common challenges, including terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran.

"He obviously wants to consult with the leaders of those countries but also find an opportunity to speak to the people of those countries about our shared values and goals," McDonough said in an interview Saturday.

An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll taken this month found that 61 percent of those surveyed see McCain as a good military leader, compared with 27 percent for Obama. But they see Obama as more likely to improve America's standing in the world, 43 percent to 33 percent who said the same about McCain.

[kansas1946]

Liberals, Transgenders, Terrorist Apologists.

Unity of the Oppressed. Join the Pride Parade.

OBAMA 08!








1-800-DEM-BOYS (donate)
Change We Can Believe In!
Yes We Can!





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by MCVet-Unity at 09:13 PM : Jun 29, 2008
+ report abuse
***************************

Is this supposed to be funny. Is it supposed to change anyone''s mind about voting or not voting for Obama. Is that how you think you move voters to your side by calling them names.
This is precisely why I am voting for Obama, becaue this is how the right does politis. Nastiness, attacking people''s patriotism for not agreeing with whacko propoganda. Gay bashing. Bashing everyone''s religion but their own, etc.

[frootloop47]

Well, I see the "McVet" imposter is on the blog again.

[mcvet-unity]

Liberals, Transgenders, Terrorist Apologists.

Unity of the Oppressed. Join the Pride Parade.

OBAMA 08!








1-800-DEM-BOYS (donate)
Change We Can Believe In!
Yes We Can!

[riptide213]

Is the US military an All Volunteer Force fiction or non fiction?

National defense crisis or emergency? How long could Commander in Chief emergency war powers and cunning fine print loopholes be used to sustain war contemptuously vs. reasonably instigated under law to protect the US?

During a so called town hall meeting, Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made it clear to frustrated soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga.; things would get worse before they would get better.

Number of troops held under STOP LOSS policies currently over 12,000.

When respectfully confronted on how long Army STOP LOSS policies would continue the answer was bluntly; we see a slight growth in the next couple of years based on predictions right now; it could drag on beyond three years.

Sign up to serve your country to do your fair share, get duty bound indentured to serve in detested overseas war indefinitely or until wounded and death which ever comes first.

America, home of the brave!

Land of the free?

[hoseobama]

So Mr Obama claims to be for Change, yet here he is making the same old negative comments.

Hey, why can''t he skip the negative and just present the positive ?




But while we''re talking the negative points, isn''t Obama the one that wants to cancel the Future Combat Systems program ?

You know, the one that would make survivability to the troop on the group much more likely ?

Then he has the nerve to talk about how the troops are not getting the support they need.

[rhusseinp]

I am shocked & appalled at the level stupidity in this country where people are adopting the middle name of Obama " Hussein" in support of this inexperianced & unqualified person! Posted by jack3213

I''m sorry to shock and appall you, but we are doing it to make a point. The middle name means nothing to us. Your generation obviously can''t look past something so meaningless. We also know how to spell experienced.

[smilingez50]

Give our troops the health care that our president and our congressmen have for themselve. The dam greedy ***. What type of health care does Obama have for himself.

[smilingez50]

Give our troops the health care that our president and our congressmen have for themselve. The dam greedy ***. What type of health care does Obama have for himself.

[singingrick]

downsteamjim

The VA doesn''t work when you have an administration that is committed in word, but not action, to supporting the troops.

[downsteamjim]

Obama wants government health care. I guess he was studying how well it works.

[downsteamjim]

"Obama quietly visits...'' If it was so quiet how do we know about it.

[omaar-101]

White Racist Reasoning: `Obama has No Experience`

Governorships: State Regional Experience


Senator & Congressmen: National Experience

CIA Director: International & National Experience.


Vice President: National & Some International Experience.

The Only Man in Modern Times, to Hold, CIA Dirctors Title, VP of the USA, for 2 Terms, under Ron-ald Wil-Son Rea-gan, Mr (666 Himself) to eventually become President after (Mr.666) was ..

Mr. George H. Bush Sr. and his A$$ lasted Only 1 Term as President and was considered a Weak, Wimpy President.

Remember: `No New Taxes` The American People sure as He!! did and Bill Clinton took his Job.

So Much for you White Racist `No Experience` Theory..Huh

You sure as He!! did`nt make George W. Bush Jrs. Lack Experience, a Prerequisite.


Praise the Incompetent, No Prior National-International Experienced ...George W. Bush Jr.

[omaar-101]

Russia''s oil and gas power Putin''s ambitionsSimon


Plans by the Moscow-based company Gazprom to provide 10% of Britain''s natural gas requirements by 2010 underline Russia''s growing international importance as an energy supplier.

Oil and gas bring political and economic clout. And they are fuelling a revival in Russia''s great-power ambitions.

Governments in western Europe inclined to criticise President Vladimir Putin''s interference in neighbours such as Ukraine or abuses in Chechnya may have second thoughts in future as their energy dependency grows.

American qualms about the Kremlin''s authoritarianism or its support for Iran may be more readily suppressed when Russia''s position as the world''s largest gas exporter and second largest oil exporter is factored in.

Mr Straw said. "By 2020 we will probably be importing three-quarters of our primary energy needs." Britain''s economy, public services and security relied on "secure and affordable energy supplies", he said.

What holds true for Britain holds true for its main allies. While Russia is 12th in the list of US oil suppliers, its output and proven reserves of 60bn barrels give it enormous leverage in the international marketplace.

[omaar-101]

Total Imports of Petroleum (Top 15 Countries)

(Thousand Barrels per Day)

Drill all You want, You can`t produce the Oil these Countries provide, nor will you see a drop in price at the gas pumps.

CANADA 1,952 1,795 1,902 1,909 1,846

SAUDI ARABIA 1,453 1,535 1,519 1,458 1,358

MEXICO 1,259 1,232 1,230 1,460 1,471

NIGERIA 1,115 1,154 1,105 891 1,089

VENEZUELA 1,019 858 990 1,182 1,070

IRAQ 679 773 693 562 488

ANGOLA 579 384 469 514 556

ALGERIA 393 247 300 530 495

BRAZIL 201 188 182 175 174

KUWAIT 176 199 218 126 187

ECUADOR 160 231 203 159 200

COLOMBIA 149 135 168 79 100

CHAD 133 101 110 80 76

RUSSIA 106 108 77 269 137

LIBYA 85 75 68 45 56


Country Apr-08 Mar-08 YTD 2008 Apr-07 YTD 2007

[omaar-101]

Crude Oil Imports (Top 15 Countries)

(Thousand Barrels per Day)

April 2008 Import Highlights: June 13, 2008
Preliminary monthly data on the origins of crude oil imports in April 2008 has been released and it shows that two countries exported more than 1.50 million barrels per day to the United States.

The top five exporting countries accounted for 69 percent of United States crude oil imports in April while the top ten sources accounted for approximately 89 percent of all U.S. crude oil imports.


The top sources of US crude oil imports for April were Canada (1.952 million barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1.453 million barrels per day), Mexico (1.259 million barrels per day), Nigeria (1.115 million barrels per day), and Venezuela (1.019 million barrels per day).

The rest of the top ten sources, in order, were Iraq (0.679 million barrels per day), Angola (0.579 million barrels per day), Algeria (0.393 million barrels per day), Brazil (0.201 million barrels per day), and Kuwait (0.176 million barrels per day).


Total crude oil imports averaged 9.921 million barrels per day in April.

Canada remained the Largest Exporter of total petroleum in April, exporting 2.476 million barrels per day to the United States, which is a decrease from last month (2.542 thousand barrels per day).

Note: The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Saudi Arabia with 1.462 million barrels per day.

[omaar-101]

Note: "As Governor of California, I will do everything in my power to fight the federal government on this issue and prevent any new offshore drilling," Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a McCain supporter, said Wednesday.

Governors in some coastal states promised to block attempts to tap offshore petroleum reserves, citing concerns about the environment and tourism. Others agreed with President Bush`s call to lift a 27-year-old federal ban on offshore drilling but said states should decide whether to allow it.

Bush on Wednesday joined Republican presidential candidate John McCain in calling for the lifting of a prohibition on drilling along the East and West coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. As the battle to lift the moratorium began to play out in Washington, states debated their stance.

This is about Diverse Energy Alternatives, its about Alternative Energy & Fuels.

[omaar-101]

White Racist Reasoning: `Obama has No Experience`

Governorships: State Regional Experience (Only)


Senator & Congressmen: National Experience

CIA Director: International & National Experience.


Vice President: National & Some International Experience.

The Only Man in Modern Times, to Hold, CIA Dirctors Title, VP of the USA, for 2 Terms, under Ron-ald Wil-Son Rea-gan, Mr (666 Himself) to eventually become President after (Mr.666) was ..

Mr. George H. Bush Sr. and his A$$ lasted Only 1 Term as President and was considered a Weak, Wimpy President.

Remember: `No New Taxes` The American People sure as He!! did and Bill Clinton took his Job.

So Much for you White Racist `No Experience` Theory..Huh

You sure as He!! did`nt make George W. Bush Jrs. Lack Experience, a Prerequisite.

[jack3213]

IT IS OBAMA WHO IS THE NEXT BUSHG- YOU MORONS- NOT MCCAIN-

HAVE YOU ALL FORGOTTEN HOW IT FEELS TO BE LIED TO?!!

[jack3213]

I am shocked & appalled at the level stupidity in this country where people are adopting the middle name of Obama " Hussein" in support of this inexperianced & unqualified person! There are far too many idiots in this world. These idiots do not even know what they are supporting. That is the most moronic thing.

[fleura-2009]

Barack Obama Rules!