Thursday, May 29, 2014

This Week In Washington DC, May 29, 2014

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories This Week


1.      President Obama outlined plans to leave 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014, and to draw down to fewer than 1,000 by 2017.

Look ahead: Military officials questioned whether 9,800 troops would be sufficient to prevent al-Qaida from making a comeback in the country.

2.      The president outlined his vision for a new foreign policy noting the United States will continue its global leadership, but the use of force must not be the only—or even the primary—instrument of its statecraft.

Look ahead: Obama emphasized the primacy of terrorism as a threat to American interests, and urged Congress to back a $5 billion "Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund."

3.      Insurgent candidates notched several high-profile victories in this week's Texas runoff elections, with state Sens. Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton winning races for lieutenant governor and attorney general, respectively.

Look ahead: The tea-party backed candidates are expected to triumph in their general elections this fall.

4.      Ukrainian chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko won Sunday's presidential election, and quickly vowed to rein in pro-Russian separatists. More than 50 rebels were killed in the largest military offensive to date.

Look ahead: Poroshenko, who has called for a dialogue with Russia, faces a daunting task as he seeks to unite the country while quelling the violence in the east and stabilizing a critically weak economy.

5.      Retired Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared victory in Egypt's presidential election, claiming more than 90% of the vote, amid skepticism about the reported turnout.

Look ahead: Sisi faces the difficult task of restoring the nation's crippled economy, which includes a budget deficit that has ballooned since the uprising.

Twitter

@themeyersgroup

No comments:

Post a Comment