ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

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January 5, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:  

 
 
 
U.S. news
 
  • U.S. Manufacturing jumps to 6 month high (Journal of Commerce)
  • U.S. warns Iran not to disrupt oil route (San Diego Union-Tribune)
  • The bomb buried in Obamacare explodes today—hurray! (Forbes)
  • Robot wars: what is the role of drones and robots in wars and how will they shape the future of the U.S. military? (Aljazeera)
  • Iraqi refugees struggle for peace in America (NPR)
  • Obama’s resolution? To limit dealings in Congress (Los Angeles Times)
 
U.S. presidential race
  • Mitt Romney poised to make history (Los Angeles Times)
  • Obama weighs two tactics on Romney (NY Times)
  • Mitt Romney says he would veto Dream Act (Los Angeles Times)
  • Rick Santorum says he would bomb Iraq’s nuclear sites (Slate.com)
  • Paul criticizes Gingrich as campaign shifts to New Hampshire (Wall Street Journal) 
  • McCain chooses former foe Romney over ex-Senate colleague Santorum (CNN)
  • 2012 GOP lawmaker endorsements for president (The Hill)
  • ‘Are the Republican candidates all crazy?’ (BBC)
 
 WORLD
 
  • Iran says it has produced its first nuclear fuel rod (San Diego Union-Tribune)
  • Egypt forces storm offices of pro-democracy groups (San Diego Union-Tribune)
  • Who owns 69 patriot missiles seized in Finland? (MSNBC)
  • Muslim Brotherhood vows not to recognize Israel (Jerusalem Post)
  • Amid bloodshed,  Hamas prepares to leave Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
 
U.S. news

 
U.S. Manufacturing jumps to 6 month high (Journal of Commerce)
 
January 3, 2012 -- A closely watched gauge of U.S. manufacturing activity rose in December, indicating the 29th consecutive month of expansion, and similar indexes showed improvement in China, India, the U.K., Switzerland and Australia.
The Institute of Supply Management said its purchasing managers’ index of U.S. manufacturing activity registered 53.9, up from 52.7 in November. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.
 
U.S. warns Iran not to disrupt oil route (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 
December 28, 2011 -- A spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's 5th fleet is warning Iran that any disruption of traffic flowing though the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route, "will not be tolerated."
Iran's navy chief warned earlier Wednesday that the Islamic Republic was ready and willing to close the strategic waterway if the West imposes news sanctions targeting Tehran's oil exports over the country's suspect nuclear program.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/28/us-warns-iran-not-to-disrupt-oil-route/

The bomb buried in Obamacare explodes today—hurray! (Forbes)
December 2, 2011 -- Not a chance-and they know it. Indeed, we are already seeing the parent companies who own these insurance operations fleeing into other types of investments. They know what we should all know – we are now on an inescapable path to a single-payer system for most Americans and thank goodness for it.
Whether you are a believer in the benefits of single-payer health coverage or an opponent, mark this day down on your calendar because this is the day seismic shifts in our health care system finally get under way.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/12/02/the-bomb-buried-in-obamacare-explodes-today-halleluja/2/

Robot wars: what is the role of drones and robots in wars and how will they shape the future of the U.S. military?
 
December 27, 2011 -- Over the past decade, the US military has shifted the way it fights its wars, deploying more unmanned systems in the battlefield than ever before.
Today there are more than 7,000 drones and 12,000 ground robots in use by all branches of the military.

These systems mean less American deaths and also less political risk for the US when it takes acts of lethal force – often outside of official war zones.

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/faultlines/2011/12/2011122512243829505.html
 
Iraqi refugees struggle for peace in America (NPR)
 
December 31, 2011 -- The Iraq War may be officially over, but for thousands of Iraqis who fled to America during the conflict, there's no going home. Many left successful careers to settle in Detroit, where finding their future is a challenge.
The U.N. estimates several million Iraqis are now refugees — either inside Iraq or outside the country. Almost 60,000 of them have come to the Detroit metro area since 2006, drawn by the large Arab community that's been there for years.
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/31/144489695/iraqi-refugees-struggle-for-peace-in-america

Obama’s resolution? To limit dealings in Congress (Los Angeles Times)
 
January 1, 2012 -- Heading into the new year, President Obama will insist that Congress renew the payroll tax cut through the end of 2012, but will otherwise limit his dealings with an unpopular Congress, and instead travel the country to deliver his reelection message directly to voters, aWhite House aide said.

"In terms of the president's relationship with Congress in 2012 — the state of the debate, if you will — the president is no longer tied to Washington, D.C.," spokesman Josh Earnest said in a news briefing in Honolulu.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-plans-20120101,0,2595075.story
 

U.S. presidential race

Mitt Romney poised to make history (Los Angeles Times)
 
January 4, 2012 -- Mitt Romney may not look like a giant after an Iowa caucus win likely to go down as the tiniest victory in the annals of modern politics. But the former Massachusetts governor is poised to make history.

His expected victory in next Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary would make him the first Republican other than an incumbent president to win Iowa and New Hampshire back-to-back. That would be a huge achievement, propelling him forcefully into the rest of the primary season and quite possibly ending the Republican race well before the first big round of elections on Super Tuesday in early March.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-mitt-romney-poised-to-make-history-20120104,0,5677464.story

 
Obama weighs two tactics on Romney (NY Times)
 
January 4, 2012 -- Bolstered in their view of Mitt Romney as their likeliest opponent, President Obama’s campaign advisers gleefully skewered him on Wednesday as a “weak front-runner” in a narrowing Republican field and made clear they would cast him as out of touch with the concerns of middle-class Americans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/us/politics/democrats-target-romney-after-iowa-win.html?_r=3
 
Mitt Romney says he would veto Dream Act (Los Angeles Times)
January 1, 2012 -- Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney has pledged to veto the so-called DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants if they attend college or serve in the military.
Romney made the comments during a late campaign stop New Year’s Eve in northwestern Iowa.
“The answer is yes,” he said, when asked if he would veto the legislation if Congress passes it and he is in the White House.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-mitt-romney-says-he-would-veto-dream-act-20120101,0,4852822.story

Rick Santorum says he would bomb Iraq’s nuclear sites (Slate.com)
January 1, 2012 -- Think the United States should bomb Iran? Rick Santorum may be your candidate.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, the GOP hopeful criticized Barack Obama for being too soft on Iran and said he would bomb the country’s nuclear sites unless it opened them to UN inspectors. Obama, who has been more circumspect about how he might respond to Iran’s apparent attempt to build nuclear weapons, is turning the U.S. into a “paper tiger,” Santorum alleged.
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2012/01/01/rick_santorum_would_bomb_iran_nuclear_sites_calls_obama_paper_tiger_.html

Paul criticizes Gingrich as campaign shifts to New Hampshire (Wall Street Journal)
January 4, 2012 -- Republican Ron Paul blasted rival Newt Gingrich on foreign policy Wednesday, calling the former House speaker a "chicken hawk" for advocating U.S. overseas military conflicts even though he avoided service as a young man.
Paul made the comments as the presidential battle shifted to New Hampshire, which hosts the first in the nation primary next Tuesday. The Texas congressman has pledged to compete vigorously there after placing third in Iowa's kickoff caucuses. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum came in a virtual tie for first, while Gingrich placed a distant fourth.
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP598accb89fba4e879182e81229cf23b1.html

McCain chooses former foe Romney over ex-Senate colleague Santorum (CNN)
January 4, 2012 --  Sen. John McCain threw his backing behind former rival Mitt Romney Wednesday in New Hampshire, choosing the former Massachusetts governor despite a bitter battle between the two Republicans during the 2008 fight for the GOP nomination.
In choosing Romney, McCain also elected to forgo endorsing a former Senate colleague, Rick Santorum, with whom his relationship has been tested over the years.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/04/mccain-backs-former-foe-romney-over-senate-colleague-santorum/
2012 GOP lawmaker endorsements for president (The Hill)
January 4, 2012 -- Republicans running for the White House are racking up endorsements from GOP members on Capitol Hill. In 2008, Mitt Romney secured the most congressional endorsements in the GOP primary, but Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) subsequently won the nomination. The list below reflects publicly committed backers of 2012 presidential hopefuls.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/173757-2012-lawmaker-endorsements-for-president-
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‘Are the Republican candidates all crazy?’ (BBC)
By Mark Mardell - North America editor

January 2, 2012 -- I've lost count of the number of times over the Christmas break that people have asked me some variation of that question. Weird, mad or bonkers, whatever word they used their contemptuous dismissal was the same…. the perception that there is something wrong with this year's crop of candidates isn't only across the Atlantic or confined by political persuasion.

A leading Republican, who was in Congress for more than 10 years, answered my question: "Who can beat Obama?" with a casual, "a mammal". Then he added sadly: "But they are all reptiles."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16386176

 
 WORLD
 
Iran says it has produced its first nuclear fuel rod (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 
December 28, 2011 --  A spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's 5th fleet is warning Iran that any disruption of traffic flowing though the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route, "will not be tolerated."
Iran's navy chief warned earlier Wednesday that the Islamic Republic was ready and willing to close the strategic waterway if the West imposes news sanctions targeting Tehran's oil exports over the country's suspect nuclear program.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/28/us-warns-iran-not-to-disrupt-oil-route/
Egypt forces storm offices of pro-democracy groups (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 
December 29, 2011 --  Egyptian security forces stormed the offices of 10 human rights and pro-democracy groups on Thursday, including several based in the U.S., accused by the country's military rulers of destabilizing security by fomenting protests with the help of foreign funding.
The raids on 17 offices throughout Egypt are part of the ruling generals' attempt to blame "foreign hands" for the unrest that continues to roil Egypt since the 18-day revolt that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak in February, but that activists say failed to topple his regime.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/29/egypt-forces-storm-offices-of-pro-democracy-groups/

Who owns 69 patriot missiles seized in Finland? (MSNBC)
 
December 23, 2011 -- China denied on Friday any link to a batch of 69 Patriot missiles confiscated by Finnish authorities, saying the weapons were destined for South Korea.
"As far as we know these goods were made in Germany and were being sent to South Korea,"  Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a daily news briefing. "This is a British ship which left Germany carrying Patriot missiles for South Korea."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45774847/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/who-owns-patriot-missiles-seized-finland/#.TwEafPLQfTo
Muslim Brotherhood vows not to recognize Israel (Jerusalem Post)
 
January 1, 2012 -- Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood will not recognize Israel “under any circumstance,” the party’s deputy leader Dr. Rashad Bayoumi told Arabic daily al-Hayat in an interview published on Sunday.

In recent Egyptian elections the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won 36.3 percent of the list vote, while the ultra-conservative Salafi al-Nour Party took 28.8%.
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=251732&R=R3

 
Amid bloodshed,  Hamas prepares to leave Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 
December 28, 2011 -- Alarmed by bloody unrest in Syria, the Hamas militant group has pulled out many of its lower-level cadres from its Damascus headquarters and made contingency plans to move its leadership to locations across the Middle East, senior Hamas members have told The Associated Press.
The Hamas members say the group remains appreciative of Syrian leader Bashar Assad and there is no immediate intention to abandon their base in Damascus. But they confirmed that dozens of low and midlevel members have already left Syria as the security situation grows increasingly precarious.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/28/amid-bloodshed-hamas-prepares-to-leave-syria/
 
 

 


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