Plutonium Production

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Thursday that it will resume its production of the radioactive fuel, plutonium-238, that powers NASA's deep space probe missions, a choice that came as a result of the National Research Council's announcement that the U.S. was running out of the fuel.

The Energy Department also requested a $30 million capital to start the plutonium-making process and pointed out that America's success of deep space missions depends on the ability to use radioisotope power systems.

As it has been nearly 20 years since the end of the Cold War and plutonium production, the NASA is estimated to run out of the radioactive metal by 2020. This means that there is only enough plutonium for a Mars Science Laboratory and an outer planet mission to Jupiter's moons.

Of course, the Obama administration is quite unsure with the public pressure and fear of terrorism, but I strongly believe that the government should go through with this because the rewards far outweigh the risks.

With the probability of terrorism low, NASA should be able to access a decent supply of plutonium. The deep space and Mars missions are helping us to understand space, which can be considered the ultimate resource ever to exist.

Original article: Los Angeles Times, May 8, 2009

Afghan "Civilian Casualties"

With the trilateral summit, convened by US. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Washington on Wednesday, an important matter will be the topic of "civilian" casualties. With Afghan President Hamid Karzai angry over the recent death of Afghan civilians on a U.S. air attack Monday, Washington has deeply regretted it.

"We don't know all of the circumstances or causes...and there will be a joint investigation...but any loss of life, any loss of innocent life, is particularly painful," Clinton told Mr. Karzai and Pakistan President Ali Zardari.

President Zardari has clearly stated that he is greatly committed to the fight against terrorism and Islamic extremism-induced violence, noting that it is a common enemy of all three nations, and that the summit leaders must cooperate in order to find a solution, as the burden is shared.

U.S. President Barack Obama must be actively involved in this conflict if he is to have any hope of eliminating the problem. I hope that President Obama will make a firm statement against Mr. Karzai's accusations, with the question being were these "civilians" killed by a U.S. error of operation?

Original article: VOA News, May 6, 2009

Pakistani Help Needed To Fight Taliban

The United States special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, implored a Congressional hearing in Washington to put more pressure on Islamabad to help aid attempts against the Taliban. Holbrooke stated clearly that "we need to put the most heavy possible pressure on our friends in Pakistan to join us in the fight against the Taliban and its allies."

Holbrooke suggested that the US must give its undivided effort to help stabilize Pakistan and develop as a democratic entity. Also that Islamabad itself must be committed to drive out any illicit extremists including both al-Qaeda and the Taliban, both of which have been welcomed too long in the unscrupulous regions of the Pakistani border.

Pakistani President Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and President Barack Obama intend to meet in a summit on Wednesday. At the summit, the talks will include the delicate subject of civilian death prevention, the recent uprising of Taliban activity, and easing the tensions between the two conflictual countries.

Holbrooke is simply trying to create a front against the elusive Taliban. If anything is to be accomplished from the summit on Wednesday, Obama, Karzai, and Zardari must openly confront the Taliban that wreak terror among the two countries, and deal with it slowly, as would be done with any other problem.

We need to make the message very clear to the terrorists that threaten society: total control is over; it is time for justice.

Original article: BBC News, May 5, 2009

Clinton Denounces Pyongyang's Actions

The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated openly that, “[The U.S. has] absolutely no interest and no willingness…to give [North Korea] any economic aid at all,” and that they are “digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole” through its latest actions, including refusing nuclear activity verification.

Clinton firmly stated that she had no support for the $100 million U.S. economic aid request for North Korea, based on its actions during the previous several months, which include threatening the U.N Security Council, boycotting the disarmament conference, and extracting plutonium at its nuclear arms plant.

She also said that the North Korean actions are absolutely unacceptable both on a national and international scale, and she is absolutely right. North Korea should not be allowed to get away with actions like these.

If North Korea doesn’t dig itself of the hole it got itself into during the next several months, it is our right and it is our duty to denounce North Korea’s decisions and take action against it, by whatever means.

North Korea is a threat right now to millions of people. If the U.S. does not step in and take action soon, the threat level will grow to billions of people. The U.S. can start by demonstrating that it will not permit actions such as those demonstrated to persist. We should not, cannot and will not tolerate actions as unacceptable as these.

Original article: Reuters, April 30, 2009

U.S. Economy Slumping, But Slower

The United States’ economic recession showed little progress during the first quarter of this year, with many businesses having to cut back on spending and stocks, which also influenced the GDP, stated by the Commerce Department to have decreased at an annual rate of 6.1% from January through March.

Although inflation was good, this decrease of the GDP was larger than both Wall Street and economist’s expectations, as it has fallen three consecutive quarters—something that hasn’t occurred in over 30 years. The housing slum, which reported a 38% decline, in addition to a shrinking GDP and a tremendous goods adjustment combined and gave the economy a good slap.

But the news isn’t all bad. Although exports dropped 30%, imports plummeted nearly 5% more, giving room for an improvement in trade. Consumer’s showed an interest in durable goods, as it rose 9.4% in January through March after the 22.1% drop during the fourth quarter of ‘08, as well as non-durables, which increased 1.3%.

Overall, the economy is starting to recover. Spending has nearly a 6% difference between fourth-quarter 2008 and first-quarter 2009, and the GDP index shot up from a 0.5% increase to 2.9% increase during the past six months. Although over $100 billion were dumped through inventories, it brought businesses balance in buying and selling goods, slowing the production plummet.

But consumers shouldn’t just wait it out. Governments can’t be expected to do everything. When citizens receive stimulus money, spend it where the economy needs it the most. It is important to remember that governments are nothing without the support of their people.

Original article: Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2009