[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily News Brief, March 22, 2010

 

March 22, 2010 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - U.S. House Passes Healthcare Reform - Iraq Election Commission Dismisses Recount - U.S. Africa Policy to Focus on Food Security - EU Condemns Iran's Satellite Jamming Top of the Agenda: U.S. House Passes Healthcare Reform The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor (WSJ) of a Senate bill to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, with major implications for the U.S. economic recovery. The House voted 219 to 212. No Republicans voted for the bill, and thirty-four Democrats voted no. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the package will lower the federal budget deficit by $143 billion over ten years, which Republicans say is unrealistic. Many businesses criticized the legislation for its tax implications compared to other countries, noting that fees on insurers, drug makers, and medical-device companies would increase by $108 billion over ten years. Republicans hope to use the health overhaul to reverse their minority position (NYT) in upcoming congressional elections. Analysis: In the Washington Post, constitutional law professor Randy Barnett says healthcare reform will end up in the courts, since Congress has never before used its commerce power to require that an individual make a purchase from a private company The Economist says while ObamaCare does much to expand coverage, it does too little to rein in health inflation. The most meaningful proposals to "bend the cost curve" have been watered down or delayed. A Wall Street Journal editorial says, "We have studied government healthcare in other countries, and the results include much higher taxes, slower economic growth, and worse medical care." Background: This CFR Backgrounder examines the impact of healthcare costs on U.S. competitiveness. MIDDLE EAST: Iraq Election Commission Dismisses Recount Iraq's election commission dismissed calls (al-Jazeera) from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to recount votes from the parliamentary election by hand. Experts analyze the results and political implications of the March 2010 Iraqi elections in this CFR meeting on Iraq. Israel: The Obama administration is seeking to establish conditions (AP) for the stalled Israel-Palestine talks to resume, U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell said Monday. PACIFIC RIM: Rio Tinto Executives Plead Guilty in China Australia's Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu and a colleague pleaded guilty to allegations of bribery (WSJ) in a Shanghai court. China: Google could reveal plans for the closure of its Chinese search engine and its China operations as early as Monday, the Financial Times reports. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Militant Group Negotiates with Afghan Government A delegation representing Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's militant group, the second largest in Afghanistan after the Taliban, is in Kabul for peace talks (Quqnoos) with the Afghan government, officials say. Pakistan: Four Pakistani tribesmen, killed by the Taliban for allegedly spying for the United States, were found dead (AP) in a semiautonomous tribal region near the Afghan border. AFRICA: Obama Africa Policy to Focus on Food Security The Obama administration will put food security at the heart (Reuters) of its Africa policy, as it seeks to enhance ongoing U.S. efforts on trade, investment, and HIV/AIDS on the continent, according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson. Somalia: Somalia's Minister for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdulkadir Ali Omar said a major government offensive (DailyNation) to secure parts of Mogadishu controlled by rebel groups is coming soon. Instead of fighting jihad in Somalia by supporting the weak transitional government, the United States would have more success focusing on humanitarian aid and development, says democracy and governance expert Bronwyn Bruton in this Council Special Report. AMERICAS: Mexican Drug Traffickers Block Streets Drug traffickers intent on frustrating Mexican authorities are blocking city streets (NYT) to create chaos and show their power, law enforcement officials say. CFR's Shannon O'Neil discusses the challenges of ongoing drug violence in Mexico, as part of CFR's State and Local Officials Conference Call series. EUROPE: EU Condemns Iran's Satellite Jamming EU foreign ministers are urging Iran to stop jamming satellite signals (DeutscheWelle) that affect transmissions by several Western broadcasters. France: French President Nicolas Sarkozy's center-right bloc suffered defeat (France24) in the second round of France's regional elections. Socialists and their left-wing allies won all but one of mainland France's twenty-two regions. TRANSNATIONAL: Global Water Pollution and Disease A new report by the UN's Environmental Program finds rivers and oceans are being polluted by millions of tonnes of flushed solid waste daily (Reuters), poisoning marine life and spreading diseases that kill millions of children annually.

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