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To: epicure who wrote (4356)	11/5/2003 12:12:01 PM
From: tsigprofit	Respond to of 20773

Bush Touts Economic Numbers, But Less Rosy Reality Lies Beneath the Surface President Bush toured a manufacturing plant in Alabama Monday, touting the success of his tax cut policies. "I went to the Congress, not once, but twice, and said, in order for people to be able to find work here in the country, let's pass meaningful, real tax relief."1 But the President's policies have thus far not resulted in jobs--since his first tax cut passed in 2001, the economy has lost a net of 2.75 million jobs.2 The president claimed that his 2003 tax cut, worth $550 billion, would create 1.4 million new jobs over two years.3 The bill which became law, worth $330 billion, was estimated by the President's Council of Economic Advisers to create almost one million jobs over the same period.4 Since passage, the economy has experienced a net loss of jobs every month except September, when the economy added a total of 57,000 jobs, well below the overall targets predicted by the CEA for the second half of the year.5 Even as the administration claimed that the Bush tax cut policies "brought economic activity to a higher level, which increases incomes and living standards for American workers,"6 other economists pointed to figures showing a decline in average hourly earnings as a troubling sign for disposable income.7 Real wage and salary income declined by 1.2% between the start of the last recession and August of 2003, the most pronounced decline 29 months after a recession began since 1959-well below the historical average of 3.5% growth.8 Sources: Presidential Speech, 11/3/03. Daily Progress Report, Center for American Progress, 11/4/03. "The President's Jobs and Growth Plan: Focused on Consumers and Investors," Whitehouse.gov. "Excerpts from May 6, 2003 Press Briefing," Whitehouse.gov, 5/6/03. "Excerpts from May 6, 2003 Press Briefing," Whitehouse.gov, 5/6/03. "Tax Relief Helps Economic Growth," Whitehouse.gov. "Healthy increase in economic growth is not translating into more jobs," NPR Morning Edition, 10/27/03. "Healthy increase in economic growth is not translating into more jobs," NPR Morning Edition, 10/27/03.

To: epicure who wrote (4356)	11/5/2003 8:10:56 PM
From: Brumar89	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 20773

You're right - Clinton didn't invade. He just maintained the embargo and bombed it from time to time. The Clinton administration prepared for war to remove Saddam in 1998, but nothing came of it - probably because of that Monica thing. * TRANSCRIPT: RUBIN COMMENTS TO PRESS AFTER INT'L TOWN MEETING USIA 19 February 1998 * [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- 19 February 1998 -- DEPARTMENT Assessment of Ohio State University Town Meeting/International Reaction * 19 Feb 98 -- RICHARDSON SAYS SECRETARY GENERAL'S MISSION "GOING TO BE TOUGH" * 19 Feb 98 -- TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT INTERVIEW ON NBC-TV FEBRUARY 19 * 19 Feb 98 -- EUROPEAN LEADERS' STATEMENTS SUPPORTING U.S. POSITION ON IRAQ * 19 Feb 98 -- TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON REMARKS ON KOFI ANNAN'S MISSION TO BAGHDAD * 19 Feb 98 -- TALBOTT COMMENTS ON IRAQ POLICY * 19 Feb 98 -- TRANSCRIPT: PICKERING 2/19 WORLDNET INTERVIEW ON IRAQ * DoD News Briefing, Thursday, February 19, 1998 "The Emir has indicated to President Clinton that that will be the case; they will be able to fly from Bahrain, and we have no reason to doubt that." * EDITORIAL: IRAQI THREAT MUST BE COUNTERED Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- A NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SUCH WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. BUT WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN THERE IS ONE BIG DIFFERENCE: HE HAS USED THEM. NOT ONCE, BUT REPEATEDLY. NOT ONLY AGAINST COMBATANTS, BUT AGAINST CIVILIANS. * THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS THIS THURSDAY. * RICHARDSON/ ANNAN/ IRAQ Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- THE UNITED STATES WILL OPPOSE ANY AGREEMENT WITH IRAQ THAT DOES NOT CALL FOR FULL COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS. * PALESTINIANS/IRAQ Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY IS TRYING TO CRACK DOWN ON PRO-IRAQ AND ANTI-U-S DEMONSTRATIONS, WHICH HAVE BROKEN OUT ALMOST DAILY IN THE WEST BANK FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. * WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- IN THE WORLD'S MAJOR DAILIES, THE RAUCOUS PUBLIC MEETING AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IN COLUMBUS, AT WHICH THE TOP U-S POLICY MAKERS TRIED TO EXPLAIN AND DEFEND THEIR POSITION, IS A POPULAR TOPIC. * KUWAIT / U-S TROOPS Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- MORE U-S COMBAT TROOPS ARRIVED THURSDAY IN KUWAIT AS PART OF A CONTINUING WESTERN MILITARY BUILD-UP * IRAQ FRANCE Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAID HE HAD WHAT HE CALLED "ALL THE ELEMENTS TO SUCCEED" IN HIS PEACE MISSION. * CONFLICT RESOLUTION: IRAQ -- THE DIPLOMATIC OPTION Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- VOA'S JUDITH LATHAM HAS TALKED WITH TWO MIDDLE EAST EXPERTS ABOUT THE CHANCES OF RESOLVING THE CONFLICT WITH DIPLOMACY. * CLINTON/IRAQ Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- CLINTON SAID HE AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AGREED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THE ANNAN MISSION PRESENTS A "CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY" FOR A PEACEFUL END TO THE CRISIS. * ABOARD A CARRIER Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- THE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE LARGELY IN PLACE IN THE PERSIAN GULF FOR A POSSIBLE SHOWDOWN WITH IRAQ. * ARAB NATIONS AND U-S POLICY Voice of America 19 February 1998 -- BEFORE THE PERSIAN GULF WAR, ARAB COUNTRIES FELL IN LINE WITH U-S POLICY BECAUSE SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD CLEARLY COMMMITTED AN ACT OF AGGRESSION. THIS TIME IT IS DIFFERENT. * Officials Heckled at Iraq Seminar The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A01 -- A team led by Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright was shouted down, booed and cross-examined by a raucous crowd that was markedly skeptical of its government's intentions in the Persian Gulf. * Audience Shakes Up Trusted Forum The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A22 -- The hostile "town meeting" crowd taught President Clinton's top foreign policy advisers that even a trusted format for communicating with the American people has limits. * Annan: Iraq Trip Is Last Chance The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A23 -- On the eve of his trip to Iraq, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that although his mission is difficult, he sees some encouraging signs that a last-minute solution to the weapons inspection crisis is possible. * U.S. Troops in Kuwait Prepare for War The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A01 -- At Jabir Air Base, extra personnel and frenetic work schedules are tangible signs of the accumulation of U.S. air power in the Persian Gulf region since the confrontation over U.N. weapons inspections began. * In Dayton, Resigned Support for Airstrikes on Iraq The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A22 -- A clear majority of Dayton, Ohio, residents said they are ready to back the use of military force in the showdown with Saddam Hussein. But some doubters are not persuaded that military action is justified. * Senator: Altering Assassination Ban May Increase Pressure on Iraq The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A22 -- Sen. Charles S. Robb (D-Va.) said that if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein remains in power after a military assault and continues to be defiant, the United States should consider changing an executive order forbidding the assassination of foreign leaders. * U.S. Threats Stir Wide Opposition in Jordan The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A23 -- In Jordan, worries about economic repercussions, a tide of refugees from Iraq and other potential problems are spurring strong opposition to a U.S. military strike on Iraq. * U.N. Cuts Staff in Iraq The Washington Post Thursday, February 19, 1998; Page A23 -- The United Nations announced that it will reduce the size of its staff in Iraq as the possibility of a U.S.-led attack draws nearer. * Top Clinton Aides Find Doubt on Iraq at Campus in Ohio The New York Times 19 February 1998 * Annan Heading for Iraq With Little Room to Maneuver The New York Times 19 February 1998 * 6,000 Ohioans Prove to Be a Tougher Audience Than Congress The New York Times 19 February 1998 * Bad Vibes From the Heartland Launch Fleet of Finger-Pointers The New York Times 19 February 1998 * Excerpts From the Discussion on Iraq at Ohio State University The New York Times 19 February 1998 * Iraq Is Willing to Talk, U.N. Chief Says The New York Times 19 February 1998 * En Route to Kuwait, G.I.'s Say They Can Meet Any Iraqi Challenge The New York Times 19 February 1998 fas.org