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Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
What Wolf's reading: Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Each day, Wolf Blitzer scours several news sources to stay on top of the day's most important stories. Below are some of his top recommended reads for today. Tune in from 5- 7 PM on CNN for the latest on these stories and more.
CNN: Obama to outline Afghanistan troop withdrawal plan
President Barack Obama will deliver a nationally televised address Wednesday night outlining his long-awaited plan to begin U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan - a move meant to appeal to a war-weary public without damaging American security interests. The president's speech is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
CNN Opinion: West: The real question: How to achieve Afghanization
President Obama's expected decision to reduce our troop level in Afghanistan from 100,000 to 90,000 by the end of 2011, and to 70,000 by the end of 2012, seems reasonable.The more important issue - how to do it - is likely to be quietly decided this fall based on recommendations from a new military team consisting of the secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United States Central Command, and the commander in Afghanistan.
CNN: GOP reps mull resolutions as Kerry, McCain back Libya campaign
On Tuesday, House Speaker John Boehner proposed two resolutions on the Libya mission that could come up for votes on Thursday. One would be the same as a Senate resolution introduced by bipartisan senators who support the mission, and the other would limit U.S. involvement in the mission to a noncombat role while allowing many of the same functions being performed now by U.S. forces to continue.
CNN: Suspected al Qaeda militants escape from Yemeni jail
Dozens of suspected al Qaeda militants escaped from a jail in the Yemeni city of Mukalla Wednesday, according to a senior security official. CNN could not independently verify that the escapees were members of al Qaeda.
New York Times: Blocks From the President, Developers Plan Big
Since the late 1990s, the once-desolate section of downtown Washington east of the White House has undergone a striking transformation. About $10.6 billion has been invested in more than 150 real estate projects. Some 56,000 people now live downtown, up from 38,000 in 2000.
CNN: Gore: Obama has 'failed'
Former vice president and environmental advocate Al Gore sharply criticized President Obama's "failed" approach to global warming Wednesday. Gore was supportive of Obama's action in the first six months of his administration, but the former Democratic presidential nominee said the administration has not made the case for action among the American people.
POLITICO: Can Barack Obama cash in on small donors?
President Barack Obama has built history’s largest machine for scooping up the $20, $50 and $100 contributions that could catapult his reelection campaign to the billion-dollar mark next year. One question mark remains: the fuel.
Washington Post: Senate budget chairman says $2 trillion not enough
The debt-reduction package emerging in talks between the White House and congressional leaders would not “fundamentally change” the alarming rate of growth in the national debt, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee said Tuesday. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said the goal of slicing more than $2 trillion from the federal budget by 2021 falls far short of the savings needed to stabilize borrowing, reenergize the economy and avert the threat of a debt crisis.
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The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is the command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Tune in weeknights from 5-7pm ET on CNN.
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I watched your interview with Senator Manchin (D, WV). The illogic and inconsistency in his statements is alarming. The debt "ceiling' is Congress' telling Treasury to sell more bonds to cover Congress' past spending. The power of Congress to ignore any agreement it makes with itself now about future spending is unlimited, so the whole debate is plain nonsense – Congress either covers its bills or welshes! The House and Senate must make a deal or the currency will be devalued by the rest of the world; the President has no power until there is a bill passed by both. If we stop funding the war in Afghanistan, we stop funding the soldiers – that is simple arithmetic – you cannot cut the war and support the troops at the same time! Do the Senator's constituents actually think there is any sense to what this guy had to say? Speeches made up of contradictory cliches and platitudes are NOT sound policy!
Mr. Blizer,
Commenting on the information you reported about the man who robbed a bank for $1.00 to get healthcare in prison. You made a comment that he could have been treated in an ER. Please do not give off handed information without checking facts. Healthcare is a national tragedy in this country and further study off the actual facts need to be acquired and reported. The gentleman in question had no life threating issues that we are aware of. He had a chronic back problem, a skn growth, foot probles None of these are life threating conditions. If the skin growth were severe and ihighly advanced the ER may have removed but that is all. If the gentleman had gone to an ER he would have waited for 5 to 7 hours, his condition would have been evaluated and he would have been told to see his PCP for treatment. ERs do not treat chronic condition or anything else that is not immediatly life threating. When you hear about people using the ER for a PCP office it is for a one visit none chronic condition such as the flu, sore throat, etc. In this case the ER doctor may do some testing and write a script for pain, fever etc. They told tell the patient now if this doesn't help come back to the ER they say if this doesn't help see your PCP. People without insurance do not have a PCP. I am not suggesting the ER should treat every condition just that with healthcare or the lack of it being such a critical situation some research should be done and not off handed remarks.
Example: do you remember the lady last year that shot herself in the shoulder to get help for a chronic pain. She went to the ER and was told the bullet went through and through and that their was nothing they could do for her. That they did not treat chronic shoulder pain.
Thank you,
Shirley