COMICALLY PARTISAN

Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years - Get Ready!

2011-05-23T09:07:00.006-04:00

I guess if I had to choose a perfect time to start these shenanigans again it would be now. Folks, we are just hours away from the release of the most anticipated literary document since… (fill in your choice here. If it happens to be the President’s birth certificate, please find the X in the corner of the page; this is not for you.)

Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years, the tell-all book compiled from thousands of Palin’s own emails promises to be an instant classic as well as the newest addition to both my library and e-reading gizmo.

The book comes at a time when the almost-governor of the great state of Alaska has decidedly decided to poke her overly-intrusive head back into the headlines. From weddings, to Fox News, to buying homes a without of view a Russia, Sarah has tried to re-insert herself back into the national spotlight. And thanks to the “lame-stream media” she’s got some light shining her way again. Wink. And just in time.

What better backdrop for the release of a book exposing the true Sarah than the Fox-News queen herself whining and griping about what amounts to a collection of her own thoughts. I cannot wait.

Hillary to the Supreme Court?

2010-04-12T13:33:00.003-04:00

After all of the dramatic denunciation of every credible candidate for the highest court in the land, conservatives are dealt this little twist. Hannity may just have a stroke, but it's going to be interesting to watch the right's assault on Clinton, and more importantly, our current Secretary of State. From CBS News:

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, one of the top Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Monday morning that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been mentioned as a possible nominee to the Supreme Court.

"I even heard the name Hillary Clinton today, and that would be an interesting person in the mix," Hatch said on NBC's "Today Show."

The senator said he would not pre-judge whether any potential nominee would be an appropriate candidate to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, but he had general praise for the secretary of state.

"I happen to like Hillary Clinton, I think she's done agood job for the Democrats -- Secretary of State's position," Hatch said, "and I have high respect for her, and think a great deal of her."

Obama Takes On Big Banks

2010-01-21T09:32:00.001-05:00

From the NY Daily News:

President Obama will propose limits Thursday on the size of the country's biggest banks as a means to reduce risk-taking, a seniorU.S. official said Wednesday night.

Obama, who is meeting today with former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, will propose the new rules as a part of an overhaul of financial regulations, the official said.

"We've got a financial regulatory system that is completely inadequate to control the excessive risks and irresponsible behavior of financial players all around the world," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.

Volcker, who is chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Board, has criticized as "reform light" efforts by the financial industry to weaken financial regulation proposals in Congress.

Volcker and other policymakers have raised concerns about the risks and conflicts of large financial institutions investing their own money, as opposed to customers' money, in securities, commodities, derivatives, hedge funds and other financial products.

Jobless Claims Up

2010-01-21T09:30:00.001-05:00

From the WSJ:

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week -- an increase a U.S. Labor Department economist said is partly due to an administrative backlog in processing claims.

Total claims lasting more than one week, meanwhile, declined.

Initial claims for jobless benefits rose by 36,000 to 482,000 in the week ended Jan. 16, according to the Labor Department's weekly report Thursday. The previous week's level was revised upward to 446,000 from 444,000.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires expected a decrease of 4,000 initial claims.

The four-week moving average, which aims to smooth volatility in the data, also increased as well last week. The Labor Department said the four-week moving average increased by 7,000 to 448,250 from the previous week's revised average of 441,250.

An economist at the U.S. Labor Department Thursday said last week's numbers were higher then expected in part because the Christmas and New Years holidays created a backlog in some states.

"It is not an economic thing -- it is an administrative thing," he said.

In addition, he added that a total of seven states from Thursday's data had estimated claims figures because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Despite Thursday's increase in initial claims, the four-week moving average has been on a downward trend in recent months and economists have said the trend points to a slow-down in the pace of lay-offs. Questions still remain, however, about whether or not laid-off workers will be able to find new jobs anytime soon. The December jobs report found that U.S. job losses were higher than expected and unemployment still remained at 10%. Some have predicted that the unemployment rate may hold steady for much of 2010.

Pakistani Army Halts Operations Against Al-Queda

2010-01-21T09:28:00.001-05:00

From the NY Times:

The Pakistani Army indicated Thursday that it would not launch any new offensives against extremists in the mountainous region of North Waziristan for at least six months, pushing back against calls by the United States to root out militants staging attacks along the Afghan border.

An Army spokesman described Pakistan’s position as the United States secretary of defense, Robert M. Gates, arrived here for an unannounced two-day visit. Mr. Gates said that he planned to urge top Pakistani military officials to pursue extremist groups along their border, and that ignoring “one part of this cancer” would threaten the entire country’s stability.

But the Army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, told American reporters at the headquarters of the Pakistani Army in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that Pakistan had to contain some of the extremist groups in the wake of offensives against Taliban fighters last year. General Abbas said it would be six months to a year before any new operation began, and said the situation was not as “black and white” as Mr. Gates described.

Mr. Gates, who is on his first trip to Pakistan in three years, was to meet on Thursday with the Pakistani Army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, as well as the director of the country’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha.

John McCain's Family Backs Gay Marriage

2010-01-21T09:24:00.001-05:00

From the Washington Post:

Cindy McCain, the wife of 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and their daughter Meghan have posed for photos endorsing pro-gay marriage forces in California.

Mrs. McCain appears with silver duct tape across her mouth and "NOH8" written on one cheek in a photo posted Wednesday to the Web site of NOH8, a gay rights group opposed to Proposition 8. The ballot measure passed by California voters in 2008 bans same-sex marriage.

The McCains' daughter Meghan, who has been outspoken in her support for gay rights, has also endorsed NOH8. She appears with silver duct tape across her mouth and "NOH8" on a cheek in a photo on her Twitter site.

Cindy McCain contacted NOH8 and offered to pose for the photo endorsement, the Web site said.

John McCain's office said in a statement that the Arizona senator respects the views of members of his family but remains opposed to gay marriage.

"Sen. McCain believes the sanctity of marriage is only defined as between one man and one woman," the statement said.

Israel Cracks Down On Protesters

2010-01-19T14:40:00.002-05:00

From the Washington Post:

Israel is arresting a growing number of prominent opponents to its policies toward the Palestinians, say critics who are accusing the government of trying to crush legitimate dissent.

In the most high-profile case yet, Jerusalem police detained the leader of a leading Israeli human rights group during a vigil against the eviction of Palestinian families whose homes were taken by Jewish settlers.

Since the summer, dozens of Palestinian and Israeli activists have been picked up, including those organizing weekly protests against Israel's West Bank separation barrier as well as others advocating international boycotts of Israeli goods.

Some of the Palestinians were released without charge only after weeks and months of questioning.

In the West Bank, troops fire tear gas, stun grenades, and live rounds - even midnight arrest raids - to disperse anti-barrier protesters. Israel says the protests are illegal, and the harsh tactics are a response to stone-throwing and violent rioting.

In east Jerusalem, police have arrested some 70 demonstrators during marches in recent months, according to Israeli rights groups. At Friday's protest, police arrested 17 Israelis, including Hagai Elad, head of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

They were released 36 hours later by a Jerusalem court, which found the gathering to be illegal, but the arrests unnecessary.

Elad said the arrests represent a "dramatic increase in attempts to silence dissent" that he believes began during last year's offensive in Gaza, when Israel arrested hundreds of anti-war protesters, mostly Arab citizens of Israel.

Jon Stewart Sums Up Dem Strategy in MA

2010-01-19T10:34:00.001-05:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

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FBI Phone Searches Break Law

2010-01-19T09:38:00.003-05:00

From Reuters:

The FBI collected more than 2,000 records on U.S. telephone calls by invoking terrorism emergencies that did not exist or by persuading phone companies to provide them, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

FBI officials issued approvals afterward to justify their actions in collecting the phone records between 2002 and 2006, the newspaper said.

"This practice ceased in 2006 and never involved obtaining the content of telephone conversations. Additionally, steps have been taken to ensure similar situations do not occur in the future," FBI spokesman Michael Kortan told Reuters.

FBI officials issued approvals afterward to justify their actions in collecting the phone records between 2002 and 2006, the newspaper said.

The Post said it had obtained emails that showed how counterterrorism officials did not follow procedures aimed at protecting civil liberties.

FBI officials confirmed a Justice Department inspector general's report due this month is expected to conclude the FBI frequently violated the law with its emergency requests, the newspaper said.

FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni, in an interview with the Post, said the FBI technically violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

"We should have stopped those requests from being made that way," she told the Post.

Hero of the Day: Lilly Coyle!

2010-01-18T20:57:00.003-05:00

Absolutely right on. From NPR.ORG:

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action.

But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished.

Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"?

If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.

You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan

LILY COYLE, MINNEAPOLIS

TEXT to Aid Haiti

2010-01-14T15:08:00.002-05:00

From ABC News:

If you have logged on to Facebook or Twitter since the devastating Haiti earthquake Tuesday night, it is likely you saw messages like this: "Text 'HAITI' to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts!" or, "Text 'Yele' to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund."

While both may seem like scams, mobile giving is legitimate, convenient and really that simple. Just send a text message right from your mobile device and you have donated to relief efforts.

The donation will be billed to your wireless account -- with no need to enter credit card information, log on to a Web site or even speak to an operator.

The Red Cross effort is being coordinated by the mGive Foundation, an organization that links charities with mobile carriers to enable donors to send small dollar amounts .

"It's microdonations by millions of people, adding up to an amount that can make a difference," said Tony Aiello, senior vice president at mGive.

Aiello said that many donors see the images of the disaster on television or on the Internet and are motivated by the ease with which they can contribute.

"So many people now recognize they can use their mobile phone to donate," he said. "It's an impulse give. You don't have to be sitting in front of [a] computer and can donate a small amount of money,"

Donors are advised to pay attention and be smart to avoid scams.

Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, which produces reports on more than 1,200 nationally soliciting charitable organizations, said the immediate aftermath of a tragedy is prime time for scammers to try and take advantage of people who are in a generous mood.

"Those who are seeking to take advantage will do so very quickly because they know they need to strike when the iron is hot," he said.

In the first 24 hours after the earthquake in Haiti, the FBI already had received a handful of complaints about Web sites that could be fraudulent.

During major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, Internet con artists took advantage of the human tragedy and the public's willingness to donate by sending out spam e-mails and engineering phishing attacks with spoof e-mails and Web sites seeking "donations."

Weiner added that any questions about appeals that raise red flags can be directed to the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www.bbb.org/charity).

Pat Robertson, Rush Limbaugh and the Hatian Crisis

2010-01-14T14:56:00.004-05:00

Oh. My. God. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying or need help after an earthquake devastates one of the poorest countries of the world and the US mobilizes its efforts and its citizens respond with the grace and charity that defines what being Americana is all about.

Everyone, except for these two. If God is a righteous God, then I leave it up to Him to deal with these petty excuses for human beings.

Jobless Rate Drops

2009-12-04T13:46:00.001-05:00

From the WSJ:

U.S. job losses in November posted the smallest drop since the start of the recession and the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined, a sign the labor market is finally healing as the economy recovers.

U.S. job losses slowed sharply in November and the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined to 10.0%. WSJ's Sudeep Reddy talks with Dennis Berman and Evan Newmark about what this means about the labor market and the larger economy, in the News Hub.

Nonfarm payrolls fell by just 11,000 last month, slowing down from a downwardly revised 111,000 drop seen in October, as the recovery encouraged some companies to retain workers, the Labor Department said Friday.

It was the best showing since December 2007, when the recession began and payrolls had risen by 120,000. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a payroll decrease of 125,000.

The unemployment rate, calculated using a survey of households as opposed to companies, edged lower to 10% in November from 10.2%. Economists had forecast the jobless rate would remain at October's level of 10.2%, when it rose to the highest level since April 1983.

Franken, the GOP, and Rape

2009-12-03T20:27:00.003-05:00

In an absolutely stunning display of infantile blame-gaming, the GOP senators that voted against Al Franken's "rape amendment" are furious that they now have to explain their decision to vote for corporate interests over the rights of victims of rape.

For those unfamiliar with the legislation, the amendment would prohibit the federal government from using contractors that deny victims of rape, including their own employees, the right to sue in court.

As if oblivious to the implications of his vote, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) offered this marvel of twisted logic: “I think it would be helpful for Senator Franken to come forward and say, ‘I’m not suggesting that anybody who votes for my amendment is indifferent to crimes against women or anybody else.’”

And not to be outdone, Senator John Thune (R-SD) blames Franken for his own vote: “I think hopefully he’ll settle down and do the kind of the serious work of legislating that’s important to Minnesota.”

I wonder why rape doesn't seem like an important issue to the GOP. I also wonder why they don't realize that this might be the reason that they are seen as a white, male-dominated party that caters to corporate clients over their constituencies.

There you have it, folks. 32 examples of what's wrong with our country.

NATO Responds With More Troops

2009-12-03T15:29:00.003-05:00

From the BBC:

More than 20 countries plan to send more troops to Afghanistan following a US decision to deploy an extra 30,000 there, Nato officials have said.

The news comes as the alliance's foreign ministers gather in Brussels for two days of talks.

They are expected to focus on a request by US President Barack Obama for Nato allies to send some 10,000 more troops.

A Nato spokesman said members were set to pledge more than 5,000, but more army and police trainers were needed.

Several European nations have been reluctant to commit more forces to the eight-year-old conflict.

But Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa told the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Thursday that Rome would send about 1,000 extra troops to Afghanistan. It currently has 3,200 soldiers there.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, speaking after a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, indicated that Russia would also do its part in Afghanistan.

"We are ready to support these efforts, guarantee the transit [of troops], take part in economic projects and train police and the military," he said.

Meanwhile, the German parliament has voted to extend by a year the mandate allowing the government to send troops to Afghanistan, but did not lift the upper limit of soldiers, currently set at 4,500.

PA House Reviews Medical Marijuana

2009-12-03T15:06:00.001-05:00

From Philly.com:

The heart-wrenching stories came from both sides.

A Pittsburgh man testified of wishing he could have used pot to ease his dying mother's "excruciating pain." Parents of drug-addicted children said the last thing the state should do is join the 13 others that allow medical use of marijuana.

Thus did the Pennsylvania legislature dip its toe into the roiling waters of the legalization debate for the first time yesterday.

The setting was a standing-room-only hearing of a House committee considering a bill titled the Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana Act.

The sponsor, Rep. Mark Cohen (D., Phila.), said he hoped the testimony would "alter the outdated view of what should be another treatment option for many Pennsylvanians living in pain and discomfort."

His bill, modeled on laws in other states, would create a registry of patients who, with doctors' supervision and authorization, could buy limited amounts of the drug for medicinal purposes. State-licensed "compassion centers" would grow and sell the marijuana.

"The time has come," Cohen said, "for Pennsylvania to join 13 states that allow patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV, or other physically painful diseases to treat their symptoms and alleviate their suffering with this proven health-care option."

Cohen has six cosponsors, a precious few in the 203-member House. In the Senate, the majority Republican caucus has no plans to take up the issue even if the House bill passes, caucus spokesman Eric Arneson said.

Secret Service On Security Breach

2009-12-03T15:02:00.002-05:00

From CNN:

The director of the U.S. Secret Service acknowledged to a House committee Thursday that "appropriate procedures were not followed" when an apparently uninvited Virginia couple entered the White House before a state dinner last week.

Mark Sullivan, testifying at a Homeland Security Committee hearing, said a preliminary investigation has been completed, and the guards involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay.

"I regret ... that established protocols and procedure were not followed," he said. He called the breach that occurred at the White House entry checkpoint unacceptable and indefensible.

The couple, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, contend that they did not crash the dinner to honor India's prime minister. The White House has said they were not invited.

The Salahis didn't accept an invitation to testify at the hearing. The panel also invited White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers to appear, but committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, said the White House indicated Wednesday that she wouldn't. Rogers' office planned the dinner.

Health Debate Focuses On Women

2009-12-03T14:57:00.001-05:00

From the AP:

The Senate cast its first votes on remaking the nation's health care system Thursday, approving an amendment to safeguard coverage of mammograms and preventive screening tests for women under a revamped system.

The 61-39 vote on a provision by Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine was the first substantive ballot in an acrimonious debate that promises to go on for weeks, the legislative equivalent of trench warfare.

The vote came after three days of angry debate in which Democrats accused Republicans of stalling to try to kill the bill, and Republicans protested that they were only exercising their right to give the complex legislation full scrutiny.

The first vote was held under a special agreement requiring 60 votes to prevail. The outcome underscored the fragility of the coalition Democrats are counting on to move President Barack Obama's signature issue.

Votes on Medicare were scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

After that will come an amendment to restrict abortion funding, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Drafted by an abortion opponent — Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska — it looms as a major challenge for the Democrats.

Though Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate, two Democratic senators voted against the Mikulski amendment — Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Nelson. The measure was saved by three Republicans voting in favor — Snowe, David Vitter of Louisiana and Susan Collins of Maine.

Reed Leading in Atlanta Race

2009-12-02T14:28:00.001-05:00

From the LA Times:

Atlanta will swear in a new mayor Jan. 4, and although it's not exactly clear yet who that will be, it looks as though the likely winner of Tuesday night’s dramatically tight runoff race will be Kasim Reed, 40, a former state senator and African American who had the support of many of the city’s black establishment leaders.

Reed faced a strong challenge from Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who was hoping to become the first white mayor in the majority-black city in 35 years. In preliminary returns posted Tuesday night, Norwood came within 758 votes of victory in Fulton County, which covers the vast majority of the city.

About 600 provisional ballots have yet to be counted, and, of course, it is the nature of provisional ballots that some of them may be thrown out by election officials.

Norwood, 57, has said she will ask for a recount if she is able to. Under state law, she may request a recount if she is losing by less than 1% in the final tally.

TARP Nearing End

2009-12-02T14:09:00.001-05:00

From the AP:

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner affirmed Wednesday the administration's intent to soon end the $700 billion financial bailout program.

Geithner did not provide details, but said the government is close to the point at which "we can wind down this program" and end it.

"Nothing would make me happier," he told the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Some lawmakers have been agitating for an exit from the politically unpopular bailout program, approved by Congress at the height of the financial crisis in October 2008 as a way to supply banks with fresh capital.

Geithner also said legislation to bring transparency to the global, unregulated $600 trillion derivatives market was needed soon to restore confidence in the U.S. financial system.

Across the Capitol, meanwhile, a key House panel voted to slap new restraints on big Wall Street banks and to demand greater openness from the Federal Reserve. That cleared a significant hurdle in the drive for a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations, including the new derivatives restraints, and set the stage for a vote by the full House next week.

Number of Displaced Palestinians Growing

2009-12-02T14:06:00.001-05:00

From the BBC:

Israel stripped a record number of Palestinians of their right to live in East Jerusalem last year, an Israeli rights group has said.

Some 4,570 people had their residency rights removed, more than a third of the total number since Israel took control of East Jerusalem in 1967.

Palestinians fear an attempt to reduce their presence in Jerusalem, which both they and Israel claim as their capital.

Israel says most of those stripped of their rights were living abroad.

Palestinians living in East Jerusalem were offered Israeli citizenship after Israel occupied the area in 1967 and later annexed it.

Many refused, not wanting to recognise Israeli sovereignty, and were instead given residency.

But, according to the Israeli rights organisation Hamoked, if these Palestinians live abroad for seven years, or gain citizenship or residency elsewhere, they lose their Israeli residency.

Hamoked obtained the figures from the Interior Ministry using the Freedom of Information Act.

Obama: 30,000 More Troops - Video

2009-12-01T22:47:00.001-05:00

Bush Administration Ignored bin Laden

2009-12-01T15:21:00.003-05:00

From CNN:

A report released by the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee blamed the Bush administration for failing to capture or kill Osama bin Laden when the al Qaeda leader was cornered in Afghanistan's Tora Bora mountain region in December 2001. The report, released Sunday, said the situation in Afghanistan presented greater problems today because of the failure to nab bin Laden eight years ago.

Bin Laden had written his will, apparently sensing he was trapped, but the lack of sufficient forces to close in for the kill allowed him to escape to tribal areas in Pakistan, according to the report.

It said former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and top U.S. commander Gen. Tommy Franks held back the necessary forces for a "classic sweep-and-block maneuver" that could have prevented bin Laden's escape.

"It would have been a dangerous fight across treacherous terrain, and the injection of more U.S. troops and the resulting casualties would have contradicted the risk-averse, 'light footprint' model formulated by Rumsfeld and Franks," the report said.

When criticized later for not zeroing in on bin Laden, administration officials, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, responded that the al Qaeda leader's location was uncertain.

"But the review of existing literature, unclassified government records and interviews with central participants underlying this report removes any lingering doubts and makes it clear that Osama bin Laden was within our grasp at Tora Bora," the report said.

Obama's Afghanistan Plan - Preview

2009-12-01T15:11:00.002-05:00

From the BBC:

President Barack Obama is to tell the American people that US troops will start to leave Afghanistan within three years, a senior official has said.

He will outline the rough withdrawal plan in a speech to the nation, when he will also announce a rapid six-month deployment of 30,000 extra soldiers.

Mr Obama has also asked Nato allies to send up to 10,000 more combat troops.

But France has refused, while Germany postponed any decision. The UK has agreed to send 500 more soldiers.

In Tuesday evening's much-anticipated speech at West Point military academy, Mr Obama is expected to make an accelerated troop surge the centrepiece of his new strategy for Afghanistan.

A senior administration official told AP news agency President Obama would outline a plan for US troops to start leaving Afghanistan "well before" his first term ends in 2012.

The US currently has 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, with foreign forces overall totalling more than 100,000.

A senior Pentagon official told the BBC the new troops would be made up of 9,000 Marines and 21,000 regular soldiers, including trainers.

Mr Obama has reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.

The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says the American people will be anxious to hear in this hugely important speech how the president intends to get out of Afghanistan.

'Quick punch'

Rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died there - and the chaos of August's discredited elections have fanned mounting domestic opposition to the eight-year-old war.

Earlier this year, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned America risked failure unless troop numbers were increased. He requested 40,000 more soldiers.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told MSNBC on Tuesday: "This is not an open-ended commitment, what we are doing is putting forward a comprehensive strategy and an end-game in Afghanistan."

He said the deployment would be accelerated to "deliver a punch quickly".

The US president outlined his new strategy to Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in an hour-long video conference on Tuesday morning.

The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that while the speech will probably receive a cautious welcome from the Afghan government, many people in the country do not want any more foreign forces.

They say every time America sends more troops the security situation gets worse, and some question why the US is spending billions of dollars on the military - and not on aid and reconstruction.

An unnamed Nato diplomat told AP news agency on Tuesday that President Obama had asked European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan.

But President Nicolas Sarkozy's special envoy to Afghanistan told AFP news agency France had ruled out sending more troops, although Paris might send military trainers.

In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference Germany would wait until after a 28 January conference in London on Afghanistan before deciding on any troop increases.

Italy has also said it will increase its force, although without saying by how much.

On Monday, Britain confirmed it was sending 500 more troops, taking the UK's total deployment there to 10,000.

Wall Street Up

2009-12-01T15:09:00.001-05:00

From Reuters:

U.S. stocks climbed on Tuesday as a weak dollar boosted natural resource companies' shares and housing data reassured investors about the recovery.

Sentiment also got a lift as concerns receded about the impact of Dubai's debt woes, which some had feared could lead to deepening global financial turmoil.

The S&P materials index .GSPM climbed 2 percent, helped by shares of commodity-oriented companies like U.S. Steel Corp (X.N), up 2.4 percent at $45.72; Alcoa Inc (AA.N), up 3.1 percent at $12.91, and Newmont Mining Corp (NEM.N), up 4.6 percent at $56.08.

Data showed pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose more than expected to their highest level in 3-1/2 years in October. The Dow Jones home construction index .DJUSHB gained 2.1 percent. For details, see [ID:nN01495024]

"To sell the dollar (and) to buy higher-return assets such as stocks, commodities, gold and oil, that's the recovery trade. People will ignore the long-term effects of a declining dollar for the balance of this year," said Jim Awad, managing director at Zephyr Management in New York.

Also, he said, "people are relieved about Dubai."

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 143.44 points, or 1.39 percent, at 10,488.28. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 15.25 points, or 1.39 percent, at 1,110.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 36.06 points, or 1.68 percent, at 2,180.66.