By Bryant Harris WASHINGTON (IPS) — Seventy-five economists, including seven Nobel Prize laureates, sent an open letter to President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, urging them to raise the federal minimum wage.The same day, the president formally endorsed legislation that would incrementally raise the minimum wage to 10.10 dollars by 2016."When you’re […]
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Gates conceals real story of “gaming” Obama on Afghan War
By Gareth Porter WASHINGTON (IPS) — Criticism in the memoirs of former secretary of defense Robert M. Gates of President Barack Obama’s lack of commitment to the Afghan War strategy of his administration has generated a Washington debate about whether Obama was sufficiently supportive of the war.But the Gates account omits two crucial historical facts […]
Many more snakes than ladders for U.S. policy in 2014
By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON (IPS) — If U.S. President Barack Obama conceived his foreign policy prospects for 2014 as a popular child’s board game, the snakes he will have to jump over significantly outnumber the ladders that can propel him to success.As they have since he took office five years ago, the most dangerous “snakes” […]
Guantanamo transfers hint at momentum towards closure
By Ramy Srour WASHINGTON (IPS) — The U.S. government announced Monday it has repatriated two Saudi detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay prison, less than two weeks after two Algerian detainees were likewise sent back to their home country.A female soldier observes the first 20 captives at Guantanamo being processed on Jan. 11, 2002. Credit: […]
The U.S. revolution that supported Nelson Mandela
By Jazelle Hunt, Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) —Nearly three decades ago, a handful of prominent Black activists began organizing a movement that would eventually help break the back of apartheid in South Africa and force the U.S. government and American companies to end their support of White minority rule on the continent.What was called the […]
Bill Commits U.S. Diplomacy to Ending Abuse of Women
By Carey L. Biron WASHINGTON (IPS) —The U.S. Congress is being urged to pass “urgent” legislation that would make issues of violence against women and girls a key focus in all U.S. diplomatic efforts.The last such proposal, in 2010, was voted down on conservative concerns. But on Thursday lawmakers, activists and development workers kicked off […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Mandela opponents trying to re-write history
By George E. Curry, NNPA Columnist Many conservatives who actively opposed Nelson Mandela’s protracted struggle to establish democracy in White minority-ruled South Africa are trying to rationalize their past criticism by either ignoring their earlier public statements or trying to place the struggle for a democratic society in South Africa in a Cold War context.Leading […]
Stop gun violence for holidays
By Gloria J. Browne-Marshall As the nation marks the one year anniversary of the Newtown shootings in Connecticut, it is no closer to Federal gun control legislation.The number of children killed by gun violence, in another country, would violate international law.Last year, President Barack Obama acknowledged urban gun violence is a concern equal to that […]
U.S. Officials hint at reservations on final nuclear deal
By Gareth Porter WASHINGTON (IPS) —The “first step” agreement between Iran and the United States that was sealed in Geneva over the weekend is supposed to lead to the negotiation of a “comprehensive settlement” of the nuclear issue over the next six months, though the latter has gotten little attention.But within hours of the agreement, […]
Obama gets more time for Iran nuclear deal
By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON (IPS) — The administration of President Barack Obama appears to have succeeded in preventing Congress from enacting new sanctions against Iran before the next round of nuclear-related talks between the U.S. and other great powers and Tehran scheduled for Geneva Nov. 20.As a result, optimism that at least an interim deal […]