Obama Attempts to Clarify Iraq Policy

Barack Obama outlined his foreign policy objectives at a speech in Washington DC. The basis of his foreign policy is to shift focus away from Iraq, which has been the Bush Administration's focus since 2002.

Obama would instead focus on these five things.

CUT: "Ending the war in Iraq responsibly; finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban; securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

In an effort to clarify his position on Iraq, Obama defined his plans, a policy specifics he's held since late 2007.

• Guantanamo Interrogation
• US Questions Army's Militarization of Africa
• Union Violence in Guatemala on the Rise
• Land Reform Creates Violence In Bolivia

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• Fed Chairman Bernake Reports the Obvious: the Economy is Sinking
• Obama Outlines Iraq War Policy
• Israeli Cabinet Agrees to Prisoner Swap with Hezbollah
• Belgian PM Hands in Resignation
• Mining Conflicts Come to a Head in Peru

Click here for newscast for Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Click here for newscast for Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Investigations continue on Capitol Hill into the treatment of detainees. A House panel held another in a series of hearings on the Bush Administration's use of harsh interrogation techniques – techniques many label torture.

Douglas Feith, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, who allegedly helped shape, or new about the interrogations, was the main witness after failing to appear at previous hearings. He testified to the humane treatment of prisoners.  But, in response to a question about whether the techniques used by the Bush Administration would be allowed under the Geneva Convention, he admitted that inhumane techniques could have been used.

"It depends how they are used . . . consistent with the convention."

The Department of Defense has recently become the dominant face of the US abroad, minimizing the role of the diplomatically focused State Department. No where is that more apparent than in Africa.  As Tanya Snyder reports from Washington, The US's creation of Africa Command, or AFRICOM, proves that the military is continuing to increase it's reach.

Click here for newscast for Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Union organizing has always been a risky endeavor in Guatemala. During the civil war that ended in 1996, hundreds of Union workers and activists disappeared or were murdered. A complaint submitted to the Guatemalan and US governments last month by the AFL-CIO on behalf of five Guatemalan Unions says the country could be returning to those levels of violence. The unions blame CAFTA - the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Trevor Snapp reports from Morales, Guatemala.

Click here for newscast for Tuesday, July 15th, 2008