妈妈咪呀

DHS office that counters nuclear weapons could close if Congress doesn’t act by December_我的网站

一 |     When describing his Middle East trip goals in a Washington Post op-ed, US President Joe Biden said he was embarking on a journey to conduct diplomacy and work in order to normalize relations between Israel and the Arab world, particularly by making sure that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process continues.,However, many critics begged to differ, mainly because of the background behind his first presidential trip to the Middle East. Biden's trip came amid severe economic hardships at home, which a handful of other Western countries are facing as well. With energy prices soaring, one of the main objectives of the US president was to persuade Saudi Arabia to boost oil production in the hopes of curbing prices.,It brought little results, as Riyadh made it clear it could only boost production from 10 to 13 million barrels per day and no more. On top of that, it created an impression among some observers that Biden, in fact, only came to Middle East because he was compelled to sort out US economic grievances, rather than to promote peace and prosperity.,With respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Biden and the Saudi Arabian leadership reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution "along the 1967 lines". However, the US president asserted that the "ground is not ripe" to restart the talks between the two sides, and neither he demanded a settlement freeze from Israeli PM Yair Lapid when the two met in Jerusalem.,As put by Waleed al-Modallal, professor of political science at Gaza’s Islamic University, it's nothing but "repeated slogans" that are not in fact aimed at resolving the long-standing issue.,"I don't think the American side will practice any sort of pressure on the Israeli side, and everybody knows that," Al-Modallal says. "I think this visit is not to refresh the negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. [...] It comes to solve the economic problem of Americans. That's all.",The professor pointed out that in reality, there is no political will in Israel to go back to the two-state solution negotiations. Moreover, he continued, there is "no chance" for such a solution, as the majority of the land that the Palestinians consider theirs is occupied by Israeli settlers.,The words of Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas about how this might have been one of "the last chances" for a two-state solution, are essentially a mantra that he has been repeating for a long time, Al-Modallal argues.,"It's repeated words from the American president and from the Palestinian president as well," he says, saying that the so-called "regional solution" is being shifted to the responsibility of Arabs, "and Israel would not pay any price regarding the land, regarding the Palestinians' protection or any other things.",Despite the US' declared position on Palestinians and funds that are coming from Washington to support them, the Biden administration still fails to "touch the core of the issue", which is "political, not economic or humanitarian," Al-Modallal explains.,"It's the easiest solution for Americans to give such gifts," he says.,With little hope for Washington to actually do something meaningful regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, it seems that few Palestinians are taking Biden and his visit, particularly his meeting with Abbas, seriously.,"[This] visit comes to support Israelis and the normalization in the region as well as to solve the problem of power, which touches the American and international economy. That's it. It's not to renew or re-enhance Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. We all know that," the professor concludes.。    An office at the Department of Homeland Security that helps detect biological and chemical weapons could shutter if Congress doesn't fund it by December -- an increasingly likely possibility as Republicans on Capitol Hill struggle to select a speaker.The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office at the Department of Homeland Security, which is the one-stop shop for the department's detection and research of biological weapons, will close if not funded by December because of language put into the initial development of the office in 2018.Some of the capabilities of the office include supporting large events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with radiological detection devices and supporting state and local governments with nuclear detection devices."This is a highly charged environment, and the threat environment is complex and it is complicated," Mary Ellen Callahan, the assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction, told reporters at DHS headquarters on Thursday. "The CWMD office was created to have the subject matter expertise to be able to address a multitude of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats and to go and help support those who are the first responders, who are really the canaries in the coal mine, so to speak, and to help support the homeland."The office she oversees is the only one that looks at "state, local, tribal, territorial aspect of response to nuclear threats," she said.For example, the programs that partner with 14 major cities to detect and prepare a response for nuclear events would go away, Callahan said.Officials within the office said budgetary constraints could cause a strain for those cities."They would have to recreate [the CWMD office] and spend resources that they don't presently have," one DHS official said.Callahan told reporters that lawmakers are on board with legislation for the office to continue it is just about how to get it done in time before the office is terminated."It's a complicated congressional environment," she said.Much House business -- including appropriating funds to government agencies -- has come to a grinding halt following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. After House Republicans twice rejected Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker, it appears there will be a third floor vote, although the timing is not yet clear.。

二 |

Current article:http://4rnjp7.kenouguanruilianshanxiangshu.cfd/list_xzjly/b5rr1qt.html

Published on:02:20:39