By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service
At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) emphasized the importance of winning the Afghan war, because otherwise it would hurt American standing in the world, and “deal a crushing blow to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization” (NATO). He said the problems with the war is that it has been fought without enough troops, without sufficient economic aid, without effective coordination, and without a regional strategy. (01:27)

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President Mbeki meets with the United Nations Secretary General to discuss the changes in his country from his residence in Sandton. Many in the country are speaking about an emerging democracy with new values toward tackling AIDS, poor health, poverty and economic inequalities. Additionally, he addressed his country’s response to Darfur and Zimbabwe.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service
Michael Ruhl interviews Congressman Martin Heinrich (D-NM) after President Obama’s Address to Congress. Heinrich said that his Constituents have been very inspired by President Obama, and that he is “the right President at the right time”. Heinrich said he was personally inspired by the speech and energy of the event, calling it a “once in a lifetime experience” for him personally. (01:45)

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Today the Talk Radio News Service Washington bureau is covering President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress and reaction from Members of Congress.

Christophe Verhellen, a native of Belgium and Outreach Officer for the United Nations Information Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, discusses the current racial climate and the country’s new hope for democracy.

On Monday morning Al Gore said that it is an “objective fact” that the U.S. is the only nation which can lead the world when a severe crisis looms on the horizon, and that we as a responsibility to future generations to act. Gore spoke at a forum held by The Center for American Progress Action Fund, which discussed how a green approach to infrastructure and energy production can both create jobs and provide for long lasting stability in supply. Gore’s emphasis was on addressing the issue of global warming.
Among the panelists in the forum were Democratic heavyweights from past and present, including Former President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Gore emphasized the importance of reducing gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil, but also spoke on energy infrastructure, a topic which turned out to be the backbone of the forum.
Energy infrastructure refers to the methods whereby energy generated in one location is transported to the rest of the nation. For instance, if the Southwest generates a certain amount of energy in solar power, but doesn’t use all of that energy locally, the rest of it can be distributed to other areas in the nation.
The panelists placed great importance on sound energy infrastructure in the form of a nationwide grid. Pelosi said it was an “essential” element, and without it renewable energy would mean very little to the general national welfare. Pelosi went on to liken it to the interstate highway system, in that it is a program which the federal government should undertake in a uniform way for the expanded welfare of the country. Harry Reid spoke to similar effect.
Robert Kennedy, Jr., Chairman of the Waterkeeper Alliance, said that once the infrastructure is in place, the “energy is free forever”. On that topic, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said that somewhere in the United States the sun is always shining or the wind is always blowing, and that this method for appropriating energy was truly sustainable. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar also voiced support of a unified energy grid.
By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

The Center for American Progress Action Fund and Health Care for
America Now, held a teleconference to release new reports which
stated that health care is the biggest component of our economy and
it is necessary to restore the nation’s prosperity. “About 14,000 people lose health insurance everyday, and this is what we can expect as long as the job market remains in crisis,” said Judy Feder with the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Director for Health Care for America Now, said that the public shouldn’t be scared by the fear-marketing which the insurance industry and drug companies are using to protect their profits. “We’re quiet sure that the public will understand that they can’t continue to rely on private health insurance’s ability to charge them whatever they want and to raise premiums four times as much as wages and that they need the government to be a rule maker and offer them a choice for a public plan as an alternative for private
insurance,” Kirsch said.
Dr. Mai Pham, National Physicians Alliance, stated that patients who are
sick don’t want to see doctors and can’t take their medication and “It
makes no sense to choose such suffering and sickness and expense over
health if we can avoid it,” he concluded.
by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service