By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 2/12 10:55pm

Foreign Affairs

(photo: whitehouse.gov)

President Obama Promises an End to the War in Afghanistan and ‘Firm Action’ on North Korea and Iran

In his State of the Union speech tonight, President Barack Obama addressed many of the most pressing issues on the world stage including the tense diplomatic situations in Iran and North Korea and the War on Terror in Afghanistan.

On the campaign trail, President Obama vowed to pull all American troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. However, shortly after the election, the White House said they would not be able to commit to a specific withdrawal schedule in Afghanistan. Addressing the nation tonight, President Obama returned to his campaign promise and said the remaining U.S. troops in that country would be withdrawn in the next 22 months. Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/28/12 1:34pm

Call Me Bibi

President Barack Obama on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Netanyahu Gets His Meeting With Obama (But Not in Person)

President Barack Obama took some heat for not scheduling a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while the latter leader was in the United States for the U.N. General Assembly this week. The president (sort of) addressed that criticism today by making time to meet Mr. Netanyahu (via telephone). According to a “readout” of the conversation distributed by the White House Press Office, “the two leaders discussed a range of security issues, and the President reaffirmed his and our country’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.”

“The two leaders underscored that they are in full agreement on the shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Prime Minister welcomed President Obama’s commitment before the United Nations General Assembly to do what we must to achieve that goal,” the readout said. Read More

By Colin Campbell 9/27/12 4:35pm

Foreign Affairs

The two leaders at Gracie Mansion.

Bloomberg, Bibi Meet and Repeat Iran Warnings

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined forces this afternoon on the steps of Gracie Mansion where they discussed something Israel and New York have in common–a high risk of terrorism.

“Like Israel, New York City has remained a target for terrorists who seek to destroy them,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the people of Israel stood with us in solidarity knowing that terrorists are only victorious if they frighten people to give up their beliefs, their values, their way of life. That will never happen with Israel and and it will never happen in the United States.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/26/12 3:27pm

Foreign Affairs

President Obama boarding Air Force One this morning at Andrew Air Force Base. (Photo: Getty)

Air Force One Has Runway Run-In With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s ‘Iran Air’

Air Force One had a close encounter of the Ahmadinejad kind on the way to a campaign event in Ohio this afternoon. According to the press pool report, President Barack Obama’s plane passed by the jet being used by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Andrews Air Force base in Maryland.

“As Air Force One taxied down the runway at Andrews, plane passed Iran Air, which is parked at the air base, presumably waiting there before spiriting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad home. The Iranian plane is a handsome-looking white 747,” wrote pool reporter Helene Cooper of The New York Times. Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/08/12 4:14pm

Foreign Affairs

Joe Biden (Photo: Getty)

Romney Campaign Calls Biden’s Iran Comments ‘Wrong and Completely Inappropriate’

Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden spoke before the annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia where he gave his thoughts on the potentially nuclear situation in Iran.

“When we took office, let me remind you, there was virtually no international pressure on Iran. We were the problem,” Mr. Biden said. “We were diplomatically isolated in the world, in the region, in Europe.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/04/12 2:54pm

ahmadinejadon't

2012-04-04_12-05-26_49

Bill de Blasio vs. Nissan [Video]

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio continued his aggressive campaign to get Nissan to cease selling vehicles to Iran this afternoon.

Although Mr. de Blasio’s office is asking many car companies to boycott Iran, he is focused on Nissan specifically because of the company’s new taxi contract with the city. Indeed, today’s event was in front of the Jacob Javits Center where Nissan will soon be touting its “Taxi of Tomorrow” car.

“Our Mayor was celebrating with Nissan last night, and today Nissan is in Iran selling its products … through companies associated with the Iranian military and helping to prop up the Iranian regime no matter how bad its activities,” Mr. de Blasio said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 4/03/12 2:32pm

Foreign Affairs

Bill de Blasio (Photo: Facebook)

Bill de Blasio Blasts Nissan’s Iranian Connection

Now that the city has given Nissan a $1 billion contract to manufacture New York’s “Taxi of Tomorrow,” public advocate and likely 2013 mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio has launched an offensive against the automaker for doing business with Iran. Mr. de Blasio sent out a statement and a string of Tweets today demanding the car company stop selling its wares to the Iranian regime.

“You cannot do business with the people of New York City with one hand, and prop up the dangerous regime in Tehran with the other,” Mr. de Blasio said in his statement. “For our billion dollars, taxpayers and taxi riders deserve a guarantee that Nissan will stop selling its vehicles to Iran.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/27/12 7:53am

the revolution

Dan Halloran holding a "Ron Paul for President" sign. (Photo: Facebook)

Dan Halloran Disagrees With Ron Paul on Israel [Video]

Councilman Dan Halloran has an interesting dilemma.

On one hand, he declared his campaign for congress with a laser-like focus on strengthening the United States’ relationship with Israel and the Democratic-leaning Queens district’s Jewish voters. On the other hand, he’s a prominent local supporter of Ron Paul, who opposes foreign intervention.

Mr. Paul’s beliefs, of course, are hardly consistent with what pro-Israel American politicians typically advocate. For example, he has said Israel should be left to its own devices if Iran attacks it. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/03/12 11:37pm

Homecomings

Senator John Kerry (D-MA) talks to the m

John Kerry Thinks There Should Be An Iraq War Parade In New York Or D.C.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, said he believes there “absolutely” should be a parade for the troops who have returned from Iraq in New York or Washington, D.C. Though there have been calls for a ticker tape parade honoring Iraq veterans in Manhattan, Mayor Bloomberg has said Pentagon officials don’t want New York City to hold a parade now because they think it would be “premature while we still have so many troops in harm’s way around the world.” The Politicker asked Mr. Kerry his thoughts on whether there should be an Iraq War parade in Manhattan after his appearance at New York Law School yesterday.

“Absolutely, I think there ought to be a parade if not there, in Washington,” Senator Kerry said. “I think Iraqi war veterans, all veterans, I think they deserve to have the nation’s gratitude and I think it’d be wonderful to do something like that.” Read More