Swampland | TIME.com

Senate Immigration Bill Clears Committee in Bipartisan Vote

Alex Altman — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:34:36 +0000

The Senate committee debating a landmark immigration bill approved the bipartisan measure on Tuesday night, voting 13 to 5 to send the amended package to the floor. Ten Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee joined with three Republicans, including two of the four GOP authors of the bill, in support of a sweeping deal that would open a path to citizenship for some 11 million undocumented immigrants, beef up border security and refashion the clunky U.S. immigration system. The decision came after five long days of debate, during which the committee considered scores of amendments to a deal crafted last winter by eight Democrats and Republicans. The alliance proved enduring. Members on the committee kept the core of the bill intact by banding together to parry dozens of proposed changes that would have stripped key provisions such as a pathway to citizenship or introduced so-called “poison pills” that would have hampered its chances of winning approval on the Senate floor. The final day of the markup process was the most dramatic. Just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy — who presided over a transparent and equitable process as chairman of the committee — introduced an anxiously anticipated amendment that would have given gay Americans the right to sponsor their foreign-born partners for green cards, as heterosexuals are able to do. “I do not believe we should ask Americans to choose between the love of their life and love of their country,” Leahy said as he introduced the controversial proposal. Republican members of the Gang of Eight, who are risking the ire of their constituents by backing a sweeping immigration overhaul, warned that the amendment would unravel the whole deal. Senator Lindsey Graham called it “a bridge too far.” To avoid jeopardizing the fate of the bill, several Democrats on the committee chose to sacrifice their beliefs to save it. In a decision that pitted ideology against their desire to finish the first major rewrite of U.S. immigration law in a generation, Democrats bowed, one by one, to the political reality

Senate Panel Approves Immigration Bill

AP / David Espo and Erica Werner — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:04:26 +0000

(WASHINGTON) — Far-reaching legislation to grant a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses. The 13-5 vote cleared the way for an epic showdown on the Senate floor on the measure, which is one of President Barack Obama’s top domestic priorities yet also gives the Republican Party a chance to recast itself as more appealing to minorities. The committee’s action sparked rejoicing from immigration activists who crowded into a Senate committee room to witness the proceedings. “Yes, we can!” they shouted as they clapped rhythmically to show their pleasure. In addition to creating a pathway to citizenship for 11.5 million immigrants, the legislation creates a new program for low-skilled foreign labor and would permit highly skilled workers into the country at far higher levels than is currently the case. (MORE: On Immigration, a Hawkeye in No Hurry) At the same time, it requires the government to take costly new steps to guard against future illegal immigration. There was suspense to the end of the committee’s deliberations, when Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who serves as chairman, sparked a debate over his proposal to give same-sex and heterosexual spouses equal rights under immigration law. “I don’t want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country,” he said, adding he wanted to hear from others on the committee. In response, he heard a chorus of pleas from the bill’s supporters, seconding private appeals from the White House, not to force a vote that they warned would lead to the bill’s demise. “I believe in my heart of hearts that what you’re doing is the right and just thing,” said one of them, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. “But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill.” In the hours leading to a final vote, the

FBI ID’s Benghazi Suspects, But No Arrests Yet

AP / Kimberly Dozier — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:18:02 +0000

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. has identified five men who might be responsible for the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year, and has enough evidence to justify seizing them by military force as suspected terrorists, officials say. But there isn’t enough proof to try them in a U.S. civilian court as the Obama administration prefers. The men remain at large while the FBI gathers evidence. But the investigation has been slowed by the reduced U.S. intelligence presence in the region since the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks, and by the limited ability to assist by Libya’s post-revolutionary law enforcement and intelligence agencies, which are still in their infancy since the overthrow of dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi. (MORE: Timeline: The Benghazi E-Mails) The decision not to seize the men militarily underscores the White House aim to move away from hunting terrorists as enemy combatants and holding them at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The preference is toward a process in which most are apprehended and tried by the countries where they are living or arrested by the U.S. with the host country’s cooperation and tried in the U.S. criminal justice system. Using military force to detain the men might also harm fledgling relations with Libya and other post-Arab-Spring governments with whom the U.S. is trying to build partnerships to hunt al-Qaida as the organization expands throughout the region. A senior administration official said the FBI has identified a number of individuals that it believes have information or may have been involved, and is considering options to bring those responsible to justice. But taking action in remote eastern Libya would be difficult. America’s relationship with Libya would be weighed as part of those options, the official said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the effort publicly. The Libyan Embassy did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Waiting to prosecute suspects instead of grabbing them now could add to the political weight the Benghazi case already carries. The attack on the

Barbara, What? BUONO

Alex Rogers — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:58:50 +0000

Who is Barbara Buono? She’s the New Jersey state senator who has the difficult task of running for governor against “The Boss,” current Gov. Chris Christie. She’s down 32 points, and 78% of potential voters claim to not know enough about her to form an opinion, according to a Quinnipiac poll released last month. Bloomberg News reports that Buono is so low on campaign funds that her ads can only be seen online. The situation is, so to say, non buono. But she has come up with a clever way to get you to remember her, releasing an ad yesterday using her last name (pronounced the Italian way BUO-no) five times. Check out the new ad, in which she compares herself to U2′s Bono, Sonny Bono, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, above.

President Obama’s Remarks on the Tornadoes in Oklahoma (Transcript)

TIME Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:55:14 +0000

Remarks provided by the White House Press Office THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. As we all know by now, a series of storms swept across the Plains yesterday, and one of the most destructive tornadoes in history sliced through the towns of Newcastle and Moore, Oklahoma. In an instant, neighborhoods were destroyed. Dozens of people lost their lives. Many more were injured. And among the victims were young children, trying to take shelter in the safest place they knew — their school. So our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today. Our gratitude is with the teachers who gave their all to shield their children; with the neighbors, first responders, and emergency personnel who raced to help as soon as the tornado passed; and with all of those who, as darkness fell, searched for survivors through the night. As a nation, our full focus right now is on the urgent work of rescue, and the hard work of recovery and rebuilding that lies ahead. Yesterday, I spoke with Governor Fallin to make it clear to Oklahomans that they would have all the resources that they need at their disposal. Last night, I issued a disaster declaration to expedite those resources, to support the Governor’s team in the immediate response, and to offer direct assistance to folks who have suffered loss. I also just spoke with Mayor Lewis of Moore, Oklahoma, to ensure that he’s getting everything that he needs. I’ve met with Secretary Napolitano this morning and my Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor, Lisa Monaco, to underscore that point that Oklahoma needs to get everything that it needs right away. The FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate, is on his way to Oklahoma as we speak. FEMA staff was first deployed to Oklahoma’s Emergency Operations Center on Sunday, as the state already was facing down the first wave of deadly tornadoes. Yesterday, FEMA activated Urban Search and Rescue Teams from Texas, Nebraska, and Tennessee to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts, and a mobile response unit to boost communications

Court: US Can Keep Bin Laden Photos Under Wraps

AP / Frederic J. Frommer — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:59:55 +0000

(WASHINGTON) — A federal appeals court is backing the U.S. government’s decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and after a raid in which the terrorist leader was killed by U.S. commandos. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia turned down an appeal Tuesday from Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, which had filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the images. The court said that the CIA properly withheld publication of the images. The court concluded that the photos used to conduct facial recognition analysis of bin Laden could reveal classified intelligence methods — and that images of bin Laden’s burial at sea could trigger violence against American citizens. MORE: Two Years After bin Laden Raid, the Future of Special Operations

Obama: Nation Will Stand With Oklahoma “As Long As It Takes”

Zeke J Miller — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:28:16 +0000

A day after a tornado turned an Oklahoma City suburb into a war zone and killing at least two dozen, President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the nation’s prayers are with the people of Moore, Okla. and that the federal government will help residents recover. “As a nation, our full focus is on the urgent work of rescue and the hard work of recovery and rebuilding that lies ahead,” Obama said in brief remarks from the State Dining Room in the White House. Addressing the people of the 55,000 residents of Moore, Obama acknowledged their loss, but said they are not alone. “You face a long road ahead, but you will not travel it alone. Your country will travel it with you,” he said, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Obama noted that the town of Joplin, Mo., where a 2011 tornado killed 158, has deployed a team of first responders to help in Moore, saying that spirit of assistance will continue in the days, weeks, and months ahead. (PHOTOS: Tornado Flattens Suburb Outside Oklahoma City, Kills Dozens) Obama announced that already federal aid is flowing into the storm-ravaged area in the form of FEMA urban rescue teams and damage assessment teams. Late Monday, Obama issued a major disaster deceleration for Oklahoma, paving the way for additional help and federal disaster relief funding. Obama spoke with Gov. Mary Fallin and Moore Mayor Glen Lewis to make sure they have everything they need to carry out rescue and relief operations. “Our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today,” Obama concluded, ”and we’ll back up those prayers with deeds for as long as it takes.”

It’s Official: Tech Has Replaced Banking as the New Corporate Bad Guy

Rana Foroohar — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:44:38 +0000

‘It’s Like a War Zone’: Horror and Heroism in Oklahoma After Tornado Tears Through

Jay Newton-Small/Moore — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:10:09 +0000

Morning Must Reads: May 21

Alex Rogers — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:37:25 +0000

Oklahoma City tornado kills 24 “It’s like a war zone.” Map of the devastation Apple paid no corporate income tax to any national government on tens of billions of dollars in income over the past four years, a Senate investigation found David Brooks‘ Google study: Over the past century we have increasingly used words associated with individualism and demoralization White House account on IRS scam over time Treasury Secretary Jack Lew heads to the Senate today. Here are 4 non-IRS questions for him A top liberal SuperPAC in the 2012 election had undisclosed financial ties to the private equity firm Bain Capital Raymond Maxwell, the only official at the State Department’s bureau of Near Eastern Affairs to lose his job after the attacks, speaks out Stephen Colbert‘s UVA commencement speech

LA Picks New Mayor after Low-Drama Campaign

AP / MICHAEL R. BLOOD — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:27:44 +0000

(LOS ANGELES) — Los Angeles is about to elect its next mayor. Most residents probably won’t notice. A scant turnout is expected Tuesday when voters choose between two City Hall regulars who failed to bring much sparkle to the contest to succeed Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who exits office July 1 after two up-and-down terms. (MORE: Why Los Angeles Is a Bad City to Be a Letter Carrier) Only one of four voters in the nation’s second most populous city is projected to cast a ballot, possibly a historical low. And the tightness of the race suggests a winner might not emerge on Election Day, and it might take days to count all the ballots. Democrats Eric Garcetti, 42, a city councilman, and city Controller Wendy Greuel, 51, who could become the first woman to hold the job, occupy so much of the same policy turf they’ve been dubbed “Greucetti.” A steady stream of negative advertising from the campaigns and outside groups has helped obscure the candidates’ promises about free-flowing traffic, new jobs and better schools in coming years. Voters will also judge three competing proposals to manage the city’s proliferation of pot shops, forcing residents to weigh the needs of the sick against complaints about crime around the dispensaries. While some cities successfully managed pot collectives, Los Angeles fumbled and dispensaries sprouted across the city. Proposition D would cap the number of collectives that opened prior to 2007 — about 135 — and raise taxes slightly; Proposition E would cap the number at the same level but raise no new taxes; Proposition F wouldn’t limit the number of pot shops but put stringent controls such as audits and background checks on employees. It also raises taxes. The proposition with the most votes wins, but only if it collects a majority. If none of the measures receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the issue could bounce back to the City Council. Greuel and Garcetti emerged from a March primary in which no candidate secured the majority needed to win

President Obama to Speak on Oklahoma Disaster

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:13:16 +0000

(WASHINGTON) — President Barack Obama will be meeting with his disaster response team, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, on Tuesday before delivering a statement on the devastating tornado that tore through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday. Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. The president also spoke Monday with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Rep. Tom Cole, whose home is in the heavily damaged town of Moore. The White House says Obama told Cole that the American people stand behind Oklahomans as they recover from the disaster. Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate is heading to Oklahoma on Tuesday to ensure that federal resources are being properly deployed. PHOTOS: 51 Dead, Including at Least 20 Children: Photos of the Destruction

White House Press Secretary Still In The Hot Seat

Zeke J Miller — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:45:12 +0000

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney started a new week much as he ended the last one—under assault from all sides of the White House press corps Monday, as a reporters seized on new scandal revelations and demanded more information. Time and again, Carney refused to address news that the Justice Department seized phone and email records of Fox News reporter James Rosen as part of a leak investigation. “I cannot comment on a specific ongoing investigation,” he said, in one form or another, nearly a dozen times. As for the still developing IRS scandal, Carney changed the administration’s tune from last week. For the first time, he admitted that senior White House officials, including chief of staff Denis McDonough, were informed of the IRS investigation by the counsel’s office before news of the investigation leaked to the press. Last week, he said only the White House counsel’s office was informed before it was released publicly. “I didn’t know until Friday, but I didn’t—you know, I’m getting this information to you now,” he told reporters. Who exactly in the White House had been informed? “I don’t have a list for you,” Carney said. The White House appeared to be regaining its footing from a troika of scandals late last week as Obama announced the resignation of the acting IRS commissioner, released the full Benghazi emails and parried questions about the subpoena of phone records from the Associated Press. But for Carney, there has scarcely been a let-up in the pressure. He has been under fire for at least two weeks now, beginning with new details about the Benghazi attack from whistleblowers testifying before Congress. It was amplified by emails of internal deliberations over talking points after the Benghazi attack that showed a more involved editing hand than he let on in November. Senior administration officials later said Carney hadn’t reviewed those emails before he spoke out about them. On Monday, Carney reaffirmed that senior aides did not inform Obama before news of the audit broke publicly, saying it was “appropriate” for

Four Non-IRS Questions for Treasury Secretary Jack Lew

Massimo Calabresi — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:45:11 +0000

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew testifies before the Senate Banking committee Tuesday, and is bound to spend the majority of his time answering questions about the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of right wing political groups for heightened scrutiny. While it’s important to figure out who is responsible for the bad behavior at the IRS, and how to fix it, believe it or not there are more important questions that Senators should ask Lew, and they have nothing to do with the IRS. Like, for example, how stable is the global financial system and are Dodd-Frank measures designed to avoid another global economic collapse helping or hurting? Fortunately, that’s the very subject on which Lew has been called to testify. The Dodd-Frank regulatory behemoth known the Financial Stability Oversight Council, which comprises the principals and staff of the major federal financial regulators, issued its annual report in March and Lew’s visit to the Hill is in fact precisely for the purpose of answering questions raised by the nearly-200 page summary of the state of America’s financial health. Here are four FSOC-related questions that Lew should be asked about: 1) At the height of the financial panic in Sept. 2008, a run on the U.S. shadow banking system was halted only after the U.S. government stepped in and guaranteed all money market funds (MMFs). In 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed reforms to the funds, but in Nov. 2012, the FSOC rejected them, saying they “did not address the structural vulnerabilities of MMFs that leave them susceptible to destabilizing runs.” Is SEC moving ahead with structural reforms, and if so what are they, when will they be issued, and do they solve the problem? 2) Something like 90% of the mortgages in America are backed by the government via Fannie Mae and other former Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) that were rescued during the financial crisis. FSOC member Edward DeMarco, the acting head of the Federal Housing Finance Authority, proposed in March spinning off some of the mortgage writing business, and you have said,

Inside the Boy Scout Battle to Repeal the Gay Ban

Elizabeth Dias — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:00:56 +0000

Hundreds of scouts and their leaders will descend on a vacation resort north of Dallas this week to, among other things, take a vote on this new statement: “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.” The vote, set for Thursday, will steer the course for one of the nation’s largest youth development programs, which currently bans openly gay scouts and scout leaders from joining the decades old organization. A simple majority of some 1400 members of the Boy Scouts’ National Council will carry the day. Activists on both sides have been organizing for months. Gay rights groups like GLAAD and Scouts for Equality launched an intensive ground game, mobilizing eligible voters to support overturning the ban. The Family Research Council (FRC) and its allies like OnMyHonor.net, a group created by Florida lawyer and Eagle Scout John Stemberger, jumped in with a counter attack. The stakes intensified quietly announced on April 19 that the proposed membership change would only permit gay youth, effectively continuing the ban on gay scoutmasters and adult leaders. The Boy Scouts have, for more than 100 years, sought to represent the best of American values–strong work ethics, care for community and honorable character. Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), who supports the FRC position, says, “If we can’t stand up for the Boy Scouts of America, then what does the United States of America stand for?” But a fast changing America threatens to leave scouting and its rules behind. Half of the country supports gay marriage, according to Gallup, and the Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America have all opened their doors to gay members and staff. If BSA denies gay youth membership, argues GLAAD spokesman Rich Ferraro, “They might as well take America out their name.” Scouts for Equality, a group created by 21-year-old Zach Wahls, a straight eagle scout with two mothers, has staged perhaps the most intense offensive. The group has 15,000 members, 6,700 of whom are eagle

Gay Boy Scouts Employee: I Can’t Live a Lie Any Longer

An Employee of the Boy Scouts of America — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:00:31 +0000

I am a full-time paid professional employee of the Boy Scouts of America. I am also gay. I spend 14-hour days and 80-hour workweeks promoting the Scouting program and providing the best possible services to build and retain membership. I do this with honor because I am a product of the program. I am an Eagle Scout and a member of Scouting’s Honor Society. I’ve dedicated more than two decades of my life to the Boy Scouts of America – first as a Scout and now for over five years as an employee. When I was a Scout, the program offered me many important life experiences and skills in areas including leadership, communication and conflict resolution. My many experiences and memories still impact my life now. These opportunities need to be made available to all youth, regardless of their sexual orientation. There are dozens of other gay professionals like me in the Scouts. I have met them through Scouting training courses and programs for adult leaders and employees. We dedicate ourselves to Scouting and fully support the organization. Yet we live with apprehension, hiding our personal lives and not knowing if we could be outed and fired at any moment. We continually face awkward questions about our personal lives. While the Scouts claim to be a family organization, for us there are two options for having a family: hide the people we love or leave Scouting. Because of this ban, not only can my co-workers not know who I am, but many of my friends and neighbors also do not know. I live my life in silence as a result of the Scouts’ anti-gay policy. I constantly fear being fired. As an employee, I have a unique commitment to the organization, but I also face losing my job every single day because of who I am. My hope is to make Scouting stronger so it may flourish in local communities. But in order for Scouting to continue as the premier youth-serving agency in this country, it must be inclusive of

Former IRS Commissioner Heads to Hill Amid Scandal

AP / Alan Fram and Stephen Ohlemacher — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:17:55 +0000

(WASHINGTON) — Lawmakers are getting their first chance to question the former head of the Internal Revenue Service, the man who ran the agency when agents were improperly targeting tea party groups. Some of the questions on Tuesday will be direct: What did you know, and when did you know it? They also want to know why former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman didn’t tell Congress that agents had been singling out conservative political groups for additional scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status — even after he was briefed. Shulman, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, left the IRS in November when his five-year term ended. He could prove to be a significant player in a scandal that has driven the Obama administration to distraction. Shulman is testifying before the Senate Finance Committee, which has launched a bipartisan investigation into the matter. On Monday, the White House revealed that chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior presidential advisers knew in late April that an upcoming inspector general’s report was likely to find that IRS employees had inappropriately targeted conservative political groups. The White House says McDonough and the other advisers did not tell President Barack Obama about the impending report, leaving him to learn the results from news reports on May 10. White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama was comfortable with the fact that “some matters are not appropriate to convey to him, and this is one of them.” A Treasury official also disclosed Monday that the department told the White House twice in late April about IRS plans to address the targeting publicly, including during congressional testimony and a possible speech by Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups. White House deputy chief of staff Mark Childress and Treasury chief of staff Mark Patterson were in communication on the matter, as were lawyers at the White House and Treasury. However, the official said Treasury did not tell the White House about Lerner’s eventual decision to apologize for the targeting

Immigration Bill Navigates Early Obstacles

Alex Altman — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:48 +0000

Slow but sure seems to be working for the supporters of the Senate’s immigration bill. With Washington distracted by scandals large and small, the Senate Judiciary Committee continued to chew its way through amendments to the bipartisan measure on Monday. With 10 Democratic supporters and two Republican authors of the bill on the 18-member panel, the committee has parried dozens of attempts to undermine the measure during the first four days of debate, such as a Republican proposal on Monday that would have allowed profiling of immigrants based on their country of origin. Working through the first half of the 300 amendments (the full list, with available results, can be viewed here) has been a laborious process, but in many respects a model one. The transparent method adopted by the committee, led by Democratic chairman Patrick Leahy, has led to civil debate and minimal demagoguery. Some two dozen amendments filed by Republicans have been adopted. Many of them address conservatives’ concerns about border security, including a Monday proposal from Utah Republican Orrin Hatch — seen as a swing vote on the bill — that would create a new biometric ID system at the 30 most trafficked U.S. airports. Democrats like New York’s Chuck Schumer supported Hatch’s amendment as part of an effort to ease concerns about the bill’s enforcement provisions, as well as insulate it from charges of partisanship. But the Senators trying to pass the first major overhaul of U.S. immigration law in a generation have slogged only through the easy part. The committee has yet to consider several amendments whose passage could unravel fragile alliances. One of these is Hatch’s effort to boost the allotted number of high-skilled visas. The idea, championed by a contingent of Silicon Valley tech companies, is opposed by labor groups, who say it would threaten the job prospects of American workers. The panel may also take up Leahy’s amendment to allow gays to sponsor their foreign partners for green cards. If adopted, that change could create fissures within the so far sturdy Gang of Eight, whose Republican members ardently

Burma’s Thein Sein Visits Washington

Jay Newton-Small — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:49:01 +0000

*This story was updated May 21, 2013 Barack Obama hasn’t had a lot of good news of late on the foreign policy front. His nonplan for Syria is under fire from all sides. His nonstrategy for the Arab Spring — from Benghazi and Cairo to Iran and Bahrain — has drawn near daily criticism. Chinese hacking is getting worse. The war in Afghanistan drones on. And so it must have been with some sense of relief that the President turned his attention Monday to the one small foreign policy victory his first term can claim: normalization of relations with Burma. Obama welcomed Burmese general turned President Thein Sein to the White House, the first Burmese leader to visit in nearly 47 years. Despite outrage from human-rights activists — dozens of whom protested at the White House gates on Pennsylvania Avenue — the meeting was hailed as a landmark one. It follows Obama’s November trip to Rangoon, where he was the first sitting U.S. President to visit Burma. In honor of Thein Sein’s visit, the White House put out a statement calling Burma for the first time “Myanmar,” the preferred name of the military junta. Thein Sein updated Obama on his progress in making the political and economic reforms the two discussed in November and asked for further U.S. support in capacity building, reforming the rule of law, increased trade and military-to-military training, according to Ernie Bower, a Burma expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies who met with Thein Sein in Washington on Sunday. “This visit is overwhelmingly important. American engagement in Myanmar is one of the more significant geostrategic developments in our overall Asia strategy in last couple of years,” Bower says. The reopening of Burma to the Western world is a blow to Chinese influence in Southeast Asia. For much of the past 20 years China was one of the big investors in Burma. But decades of what local authorities came to view as abuse by Chinese companies exploiting Burma’s bountiful natural resources helped create an opening

How Syria’s Rebels Aren’t Winning the War: The Anatomy of a Battle

Rania Abouzeid — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:34:07 +0000