VOLUME No: 68 Issue No:1

Washington, D.C. - Dec 3, 2004

Cabinet Reshuffle

Activity continued in the White House this week as the President's Cabinet undergoes an interterm overhaul. The newest announcements included Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge's departure in January, former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns nomination as Secretary of Agriculture, and the President's endorsement of former President of Kellogg USA Carlos Gutierrez to fill the post of Secretary of Commerce. Ridge announced he was stepping down from his position on Tuesday amid bipartisan praise from Congress and the White House for the first-ever Homeland Security Chief's successful tenure.

Here's a full list of the Cabinet Changes ( * indicate nominated member)

Intelligence Bill Stalls in “Lame Duck” Congress

Since the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission's investigation, the implementation of the Commission's recommendations has been a controversial topic of debate among Congressional Republicans and Democrats and the White House. Current legislation, in the form of House Resolution 2845, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, attempts to smooth the significant intelligence failures cited in the 9/11 Commission's report while securing America's borders from illegal aliens and terrorists. The bill calls for the establishment of a national counterterrorism center, the creation of an intelligence coordinator in the White House, the addition of thousands of border patrol agents, and provisions designed to make it harder for illegal aliens to live and work in the United States .

President Bush came out to support the creation of a National Intelligence Director during the 2004 Election but partisan support for the President's agenda after the election has dissipated in the face of significant opposition in from House Republicans in Congress. This past Wednesday the vote on the intelligence bill was postponed by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert because of loud criticisms from House Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner (R.-Wis.) and House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter (R.-Calif.).

Mr. Sensenbrenner opposes the bill, claiming that the latest rounds of negotiations cut much needed improvement in border security. Mr. Hunter voiced his concern that significant changes in the intelligence institutions could disrupt intelligence-gathering benefiting U.S. troops overseas. Both dissenters drew a large following through their criticism. In light of the opposition from rank-and-file Republicans, Speaker Hastert postponed a vote on the intelligence bill last week. The White House, seeking to bring the intelligence bill to a vote next week, has started direct negotiations with Hunter to quell his fears and bring Republicans back into the fold. With the Bush Administration's pressure, the legislation could come back onto the House floor as soon as today.

WTO Sanctions U.S. for Byrd Amendment

About two years ago the World Trade Organization made a ruling declaring that the U.S. Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, a popular anti-dumping law nicknamed after its champion, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), violated international trade rules. Up until this week, it was unclear if the ruling would be followed by sanctions. The WTO ended speculation on Tuesday by authorizing retaliatory sanction to eight U.S. trading partners, including the European Union, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and India, if the United States fails to repeal the law.

The Byrd amendment has been a contentious issue since its indictment in 2002. The law essentially penalizes foreign competitors that unfairly compete in U.S. markets by “dumping” – selling below cost or market value – or receiving subsidies from foreign governments. Through U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, The Bush administration has argued that no WTO sanctions were in order, because the amendment protects U.S. companies by forcing foreign producers who are dumping their products in the United States by forcing them to pay duties to U.S. firms and not the government. Critics countered the U.S. argument by claiming the law inflicts a double penalty on foreign companies by forcing them to pay duties and rewarding their U.S. rivals.

The Bush administration responded to the news of the sanctions by reminding a shaken Congress that the WTO's anti-dumping laws have been utilized and upheld in favor of U.S. companies several times during the past four years. Chris Padilla, a spokesman for Zoellick, said on Tuesday that while the administration objects to the use of sanctions in the Byrd ruling, "The United States will comply with its WTO obligations, and the administration will work closely with Congress to do so in a way that supports American jobs and American workers."

Bridges TV Spans the Gap between American Cultures

Bridges TV, the first American Muslim television network broadcasting in English, launched this week in Buffalo , NY . The network will serve the American Muslim Community by becoming the first U.S. television network catering to Islamic principles and American Muslim culture. It will begin airing original content immediately and provide a wide variety of programming, including news broadcasts, talk shows, sitcoms, and even culinary shows. ''The primary purpose of Bridges TV,'' president and chief executive, Muzzammil S. Hassan said, ''is to build bridges of understanding between American Muslims and mainstream America, as well as to provide unique programming needs that American Muslims have.'' Bridges TV will be carried by satellite and cable providers on a subscription basis but Hassan hopes that a grassroots movement will increase the number of subscribers and bring Bridges to a wider audience in the near future.