|
Inside Politics
- The House of Representatives condemned the selection of Libya, “a gross violator of human rights and state sponsor of terrorism,” to chair the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
The resolution, passed Tuesday by a margin of 402-6, expressed dismay with the European Union, whose members abstained from the Jan. 20 vote to name Libyan ambassador Najat Al-Hajjaji as commission chairwoman. The resolution also criticized the 33 nations that supported her nomination.
“The United States cannot stand idly by as monstrous abusers of human rights, such as Libya, hijack the Human Rights Commission,” stated Tom Lantos, D-California, a top Democrat on the House International Relations Committee.
House members also urged the President to demand that the United Nations reinstate sanctions against Libya.
- President Bush is proposing a 50 percent increase in foreign assistance over the next three years, up from $10 billion.
The funds would be earmarked for countries that are committed to democracy, free trade, purging corruption, and nurturing private investment.
The Bush administration believes that foreign aid is a key component in dealing with terrorism and other issues such as weapons proliferation and drug trafficking.
“For the United States to prosper and be secure, the world must prosper and be secure,” says a January study commissioned by the Agency for International Development, which administers the aid program.
The report contended that when development and governance fail in a country, “the consequences engulf entire regions and leap around the world.” Among the potential byproducts are terrorism, political violence, and civil wars.
Congress, which is still struggling with 2003 fiscal appropriations, has yet to take up the issue.
- Democratic presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry is reportedly "resting peacefully" following surgery at John Hopkins Hospital to remove a cancerous prostate.
Dr. Patrick Walsh, who performed the surgery, told CNN reporters the cancer "lookied completely contained," but that further tests will be performed and completed over the course of the next few days.
Kerry, the junior senator from Massachusetts, announced his White House candidacy in December.
He said he does not expect the cancer to have any impact on his presidential campaign.
|
|
