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by George Bao

LOS ANGELES, March 16 (Xinhua) — Immigration and civil rights groups in the United States are planning to assemble thousands of people in Washington D.C. on Sunday to call for immigration reform.

The demonstrators\’ demands for reform will include better wages and working conditions and more labor protections. Moreover, a fair balance in salary between Main Street and Wall Street will also be demanded.

\”Immigration reform must include a path to earned citizenship for the undocumented that helps new Americans learn English, become naturalized, and contribute fully to our economic renewal,\” the organizers said.

They claim that immigration policy that keeps families together is good for the country because families help their relatives get jobs and housing, and become acclimated to their new environment.

Anti-family policies have put more than 5 million Americans who have applied to bring relatives here into a never-ending bureaucratic line and thousands have been thrown into poverty because the breadwinners have been deported, the activists say

The organizers believe that decades without immigration reform created a second class of workers who are exploited by unscrupulous employers.

\”It\’s been 24 years since Congress last addressed this issue comprehensively,\” said California State Assemblyman Kevin De Leon.

The organizers also criticized anti-immigrant conservatives as whittling away the U.S. justice system, putting important court decisions in the hands of low-level clerks.

\”It\’s time to restore justice by ensuring immigrants have full due process protections and by re-prioritizing judicial discretion over capricious bureaucracy. It\’s time to take back the American story and American values by enacting true immigration reform,\” the organizers said.

Meanwhile, De Leon has introduced a resolution into the state Assembly that intends to signal the federal government that immigration reform is urgently needed.

\”The state with the largest immigrant population is sending a clear and strong message to the president and the Congress that inaction on immigration reform is not an acceptable or beneficial option for the nation,\” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.

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BRASILIA, March 17 (Xinhua) — The gap between the opposition presidential candidate, the governor of Sao Paulo Jose Serra, from the Social Democratic Party (PSDB), and the ruling candidate, chief of staff Dilma Rousseff, from the Workers\’ Party (PT), reduced to 5 percentage points, according to a poll released Wednesday.

According to Ibope poll, commissioned by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), 35 percent of voters support Serra, against 30 percent for Rousseff.

The figures show a sharp reduction in the gap between the main candidates, compared with Ibope poll conducted last December, when the gap was of 21 percentage points.

Currently, the third place is occupied by Deputy Ciro Gomes, from the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), who enjoys 11 percent in favor, followed by former Environment Minister, Senator Marina Silva, from the Green Party (PV), with 6 percent of support.

In case there is run-off, Serra holds the advantage over Rousseff, with 44 percent of support versus 39 percent for the minister.

The survey also showed that 53 percent of voters want to vote for the candidate supported by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, although so far only 42 percent of respondents know that the Da Silva supports Rousseff.

The next general elections in October will be the first one in more than two decades that Lula will not be a candidate, since he has already served two consecutive presidential terms, the maximum allowed by Brazilian law.

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — U.S. wholesale prices declined by 0.6 percent in February, larger than the economists\’ expectation, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

The rise in the department\’s Producer Price Index (PPI), a measure of inflation at the wholesale level, followed a 1.4 percent gain in January. Economists had forecasted a 0.2 percent drop.

Excluding the volatile food and energy sectors, core wholesale prices rose by 0.1 percent in February, matching the economists\’ expectation.

Over the past 12 months, wholesale prices are up 4.4 percent, core inflation is up a much more subdued 1 percent over the past year.

Economists believe that inflation remains not a problem at the moment and is not likely to become a threat any time soon because of all the downward pressures on wages and prices as a result of the recession.

They also believe that the subdued inflation pressure gives the Federal Reserve room to keep interest rates low to boost the recovery.

The Fed reaffirmed Tuesday to hold the federal funds rate at historic low level for \”an extended period.\”

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — The U.S. and Pakistan will hold their first ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue in Washington next week, which will be co-chaired by State Secretary Hillary Clinton and its Pakistani counterpart Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, State Department said on Wednesday.

Topics of the meeting, which is due on March 24, ranges from economic development, water and energy, education, security and so on, according to the press release by State Department.

\”President Obama and Secretary Clinton have repeatedly stressed the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, a partnership that goes beyond security,\” it said.

U.S. and Pakistan had hold a strategic dialogue in Washington in April 2006, co-chaired by Pakistan\’s then Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan and then U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns.

Last year, Pakistan and the U.S. had agreed to raise strategic dialogue to the ministerial level, the first of its kind since President Obama has announced new strategy for the region.

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Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has claimed responsibility for the botched Christmas Day bombing of a US airliner and said strikes on US targets will continue, in an audio statement broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite television.(Xinhua/AFP File Photo)

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan, said Wednesday the military still aims to catch al-Qaeda terror network leader Osama bin Laden alive.

McChrystal, briefing reporters in Washington via teleconference from Afghanistan, said if bin Laden enters Afghanistan, the military would certainly try to \”capture him alive.\”

The comment contradicts Attorney General Eric Holder\’s Tuesday comment that bin Laden will never appear in a U.S. courtroom because he won\’t be brought in alive.

\”The reality is that we will be reading Miranda rights to the corpse of Osama bin Laden. He will never appear in an American courtroom,\” Holder said during a House appropriations subcommittee hearing.

\”He will be killed by us or he will be killed by his own people, so he\’s not captured by us,\” said Holder.

McChrystal also said Wednesday that efforts to retake Taliban strong-hold Kandahar is already underway.

NATO and Afghan armies have recently launched a major operation in Afghanistan\’s Helmand province, adjacent to Kandahar. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Tuesday the offensive is the beginning of a larger campaign which will \”unfold over the next 18 months.\”

Related:

Osama bin Laden won\’t appear in U.S. court alive: attorney general

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Tuesday that al-Qaida world network leader Osama bin Laden will never appear in a U.S. courtroom because he won\’t be brought in alive.

\”The reality is that we will be reading Miranda rights to the corpse of Osama bin Laden. He will never appear in an American courtroom,\” Holder said during a House appropriations subcommittee hearing, when he was defending his decision to try 9/11 suspects in criminal courts instead of military tribunal.? Full story

Bin Laden claims responsibility for Christmas plane bombing attempt

CAIRO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) — Al-Qaida leader claimed responsibility for a foiled attempt of bombing a U.S.-bound airplane on Dec. 25, and vowed further attacks against the United States, in an audio recording aired Sunday by pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV.

\”From Osama to Obama … If our messages would possibly be carried to you by words, we would not have carried them to you by planes,\” Osama bin Laden said in the tape.? Full story

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — The United States and India signed an agreement Wednesday to strengthen trade and investment ties, concluding a deal that leaders of the two sides announced last year.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma signed a \”Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment\” in Washington.

This agreement will encourage small businesses in both countries and boost cooperation on clean energy technologies.

\”There is almost limitless potential for growth in trade between our two countries,\” Kirk said, \”and that can contribute to economic recovery and job creation in the United States and continued economic growth in India.\”

\”We also intend to use this framework to encourage the development and deployment of clean energy and environmental technologies as well as to support India\’s infrastructure growth,\” Sharma said.

Trade between the two economic powers has more than doubled in the last five years to more than 37.6 billion dollars in 2009. Sharma said the possibilities for trade between the United States and India \”have not been tapped fully as yet.\”

U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to double U.S. exports within the next five years, and the administration hopes to use India\’s fast growing economy to help meet that goal.

Kirk and Sharma announced their intent to finalize the \” Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment\” when they co- chaired the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum meeting in New Delhi in October 2009.

The United States-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF), established in July 2005, is the principal bilateral forum for the two governments to discuss the entire spectrum of trade and investment issues.

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SANTIAGO, March 12 (Xinhua) — After being sworn in as president of Chile on Thursday, Sebastian Pinera worked into night discussing measures with cabinet members for recovery from the 8.8-magnitude quake that hit the South American nation on Feb. 27.

The first Council of Ministers began late Thursday night with the Emergency Committee, governors, military chiefs giving detailed reports on the situation of devastated areas.

Chile\’s government spokeswoman Ena von Baer said that Education Minister Joaquin Lavin had been instructed to work for swift reopening of schools.

The discussion of the key task force in recovery efforts — the Reconstruction Committee — began at 1:30 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Friday.

The committee, comprising ministers of interior, presidency, public works, housing, transportation, education, health, treasury and economy, is expected to launch an all-round campaign to restore normality to affected regions.

The hardest-hit regions by the earthquake and the following tsunami accounted for 13 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and about 25 percent of the industrial production of the country, according to the Central Bank.

Economists have predicted a 4.5 percent growth of GDP for 2010, 1.5 points lower than the 6 percent average annual expansion proposed by Pinera\’s economic program.

However, the new government has foreseen an upturn of the country\’s economy in the second half of the year.

Loss caused by the quake, which killed more than 500 people, is estimate

d at between 20 billion and 30 billion U.S. dollars.

Considering the magnitude of the damage, Pinera\’s government estimates that reconstruction efforts will span at least three years.

SURVEY ON MAJOR DAMAGE

A preliminary inspection on infrastructure reports damage on 1,200 spots of roads, ports and airports, most of which are reparable in six months.

Around 5 percent of the damage is serious, and several collapsed bridges have to be reconstructed. Their repairing work will take between 1 billion and 2 billion dollars.

Meanwhile, around 20 hospitals were damaged and one fifth of schools in the cities of Santiago and Concepcion were affected, which, in combination, calls for an investment of 5.1 billion dollars.

Grain and wine storages and cargo services were interrupted, causing losses of up to 550 million dollars. Insurance companies are expecting at least 100,000 complaints.

Related:?

Aftershocks symbolize challenges facing Chile\’s new government

VALPARAISO, Chile, March 11 (Xinhua) — The strong aftershocks that delayed by 25 minutes the swearing-in ceremony for Sebastian Pinera, Chile\’s new president since noon Thursday, could be an indicator of the challenges that face Pinera and his team as they assumed power 12 days after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit the country and killed at least 497 people.? Full story

FLASH: FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER FALLS ILL IN SEOUL

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — For the first time since U.S. President Barack Obama took office more than one year ago, more Americans disapprove of his job performance than approve, according to the latest Gallup survey released on Wednesday.

The survey shows 47 percent of Americans disapproved of his job performance, one percentage point higher than those who approve.

Obama\’s approval rating has experienced a sharp decline since he took office at Jan. 21, 2009, when 68 percent of Americans approved of his job performance.

In recent months, Obama\’s approval rating has been hovering around 50 percent. His weekly approval rating for March 8-14 tied the lowest weekly average of his administration so far, standing at 48 percent.

Another Gallup\’s survey found that Obama has largely missed public expectations with respect to his environment and energy policy as well as making America prosperous.

Among these three issues, Americans\’ ratings for his energy policy saw the sharpest decline, from 72 percent one year ago to the current 43 percent.

The declines are understandable, given the high expectations for Obama when he took office and the erosion in his overall job approval rating over the past year, said Gallup.

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WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) — The White House on Saturday confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have agreed to sign a nuclear arms control treaty soon.

\”The results of their talks are encouraging, and both leaders are committed to concluding an agreement soon,\” said White House spokesman Mike Hammer, referring to an earlier telephone conversation between Obama and Medvedev.

The Kremlin said earlier that the two presidents have agreed to \”talk about specific dates for signing a new arms reduction treaty, \” which is expected to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.

Related:

Russia, U.S. look to date for signing new arms treaty

MOSCOW, March 13 (Xinhua) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday that it was now possible to talk about specific dates for signing a new arms reduction treaty, the Kremlin said.

Medvedev spoke over phone on Saturday with Obama about the preparation for a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.Full story

New nuclear arms treaty could be ready within weeks: Russian FM

MOSCOW, March 9 (Xinhua) — A new Russia-U.S. treaty on nuclear arms reduction could be signed within two or three weeks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

\”We would like everything to be finished in two or three weeks. The chances are there,\” Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

\”If everyone strictly abides by the central principle – the principle of parity underlying this document – all issues will be resolved soon,\” he said.?? Full story

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — A senior al-Qaida member suspected to be behind a recent suicide bombing attack on a CIA outpost in Afghanistan was believed to be killed last weeks, local media quoted counter-terrorism sources as saying on Wednesday.

The al-Qaida operative, Hussein al-Yemeni, was believed to be killed in Pakistan\’s North Waziristan region. The CIA is believed to be using unmanned drones to hunt and kill al-Qaida militants in that region, although the agency has never officially acknowledged doing so.

An important al-Qaida attack planner and facilitator, al-Yemeni was believed to be behind the Dec. 30 CIA base attack in Afghan province of Khost, in which a suicide bomber killed seven CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer, the deadliest attack against the CIA since 1983.

Al-Yemeni was an expert in explosives and specialized in organizing suicide attacks. He was killed in North Waziristan\’s main city of Miram Shah, said the unnamed counter-terrorism official.

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RIO DE JANEIRO, March 17 (Xinhua) — Brazil\’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reaffirmed on Wednesday his support to a Palestinian state and said he is willing to do whatever he can to help the Palestinian people.

Government news agency Agencia Brasil quoted the President as saying that he supports an independent Palestinian state, and believes that Palestinian and Israeli will find a way to share \” their predecessors\’ land.\”

In a visit to Ramallah, President Lula christened the Brazil Street, located in front of the Palestinian Authority headquarters. He said he was happy to christen the street, which according to him represents the love between the Palestinian and Brazilian people.

Lula also put flowers on the grave of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, died in 2004.

The Brazilian President criticized the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier, saying that it is the cause of great human suffering.

\”It divides families, drives friends apart, disarticulates the production and as a consequence scares away the investments,\” he said.

Lula also said that the Palestinian people need union and called on the Hamas and the Fatah to join forces. He said he would be willing to meet Hamas leaders.

\”Brazil is willing to talk to everyone, with whoever is at the negotiation table, and there is not a political force, of left of right, with which Brazil cannot talk. All forces should participate in the peace process,\” he said.

After visiting Ramallah, the Brazilian President headed to Jordan, where he met with Kind Abdullah II and Queen Rania. Jordan is the last leg of Lula\’s trip to the Mid-East.

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — President Barack Obama on Wednesday convinced the Israelis that the U.S.-Israel relations would not be undermined by their disagreement over Jewish settlement activities.

\”Israel\’s one of our closest allies, and we and the Israeli people have a special bond that\’s not going to go away,\” Obama said in an interview with the Fox News, adding the United States remains its commitment to Israel.

There was \”no crisis\” in the U.S.-Israel relations, said Obama, referring to the tension between the two countries over Israel\’s decision on building more homes in East Jerusalem.

The Obama administration has been very angry over the Israeli government\’s approval of 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem last week when Vice President Joe Biden was pushing both Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace talks.

Both Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton rarely have issued condemnation on Israel for the move, which was described by Clinton as \”a deeply negative signal\” about Israel\’s approach to relations with Washington.

In Wednesday\’s interview, President Obama said that Israel\’s settlement activities are not helpful for pushing peace process, but saying \”friends are going to disagree sometimes.\”

The Obama administration has been exerting pressure on the Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to resume the talks in order that the two sides could reach a permanent peace agreement that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within two years.

The talks were stalled in December 2008 when Israel launched a massive military campaign against the Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

PNA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas insists that the talks would not be resumed until the Israeli government totally freezes the Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank, while the Israeli side vows to ensure the \”natural growth\” of the Jewish settlements.

At least 450,000 Israelis live in more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

After Israel\’s announcement to build more homes in East Jerusalem, the PNA decided to suspend the indirect talks with Israel, which was brokered by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell following tough shuttle mediation between Israel and the Palestinians.

Related:

Israel, U.S. seek to ease tension with warm words

JERUSALEM, March 16 (Xinhua) — Israel sought on Tuesday to ease up a strained relationship with the United States by welcoming U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton\’s comment about the two nations\’ \”close bond.\” Full story

Israeli president highlights importance of relations with U.S.

JERUSALEM, March 16 (Xinhua) — Israel cannot afford to lose the traditional friendship with the United State, said President Shimon Peres on Tuesday, as a visible relationship crisis is brewing between the two allies. Full story

Colombia\’s former Defense Minister and presidential candicate Juan Manuel Santos casts his vote during the congress elections in Bogota, capital of Colombia, March 14, 2010. Colombians kicked off legislative elections on Sunday morning. Some 30 million Colombians are registered to vote to choose from about 2,500 candidates to fill 268 seats in the Congress. (Xinhua/Marino)

BOGOTA, March 14 (Xinhua) — Colombians went to the polls Sunday to vote for a new Congress.

The elections are widely regarded as a strong indicator of who will succeed President Alvaro Uribe this year.??

People queue up to vote during the congress elections in Bogota, capital of Colombia, March 14, 2010. Colombians kicked off legislative elections on Sunday morning. Some 30 million Colombians are registered to vote to choose from about 2,500 candidates to fill 268 seats in the Congress. (Xinhua/Marino)

People queue up to vote during the congress elections in Bogota, capital of Colombia, March 14, 2010. Colombians kicked off legislative elections on Sunday morning. Some 30 million Colombians are registered to vote to choose from about 2,500 candidates to fill 268 seats in the Congress. (Xinhua/Marino)

A Colombian Indian man comes to a polling station to vote during the congress elections in Bogota, capital of Colombia, March 14, 2010. Colombians kicked off legislative elections on Sunday morning. Some 30 million Colombians are registered to vote to choose from about 2,500 candidates to fill 268 seats in the Congress. (Xinhua/Marino)

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SANTIAGO, March 17 (Xinhua) — The death toll of Chile\’s Feb. 27 quake and tsunami might reach 630, according to data published by the nation\’s Investigative Police Directorate (PDI) on Wednesday.

\”There are more than 500 people who are identified, of whom more than half have received a death certificate,\” PDI chief Marcos Vasquez told a press conference. \”There are another 130 affidavits of presumed deaths,\” he added.

The government of Sebastian Pinera, which took office Thursday, has not published an official death toll, after an incident during the closing days of his predecessor\’s government lead to a major recount of the dead.

The government of Michelle Bachelet had initially pegged the death toll above 800, but lowered the toll after it was discovered that some bodies had been counted twice. Since then, authorities have only issued only the names of those who have been identified after their families have been informed.

\”A final total could be published as soon as next week,\” Vasquez said. All Chileans have identity cards that include their fingerprints and photos, which helps police identify bodies.

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People sit outside a house during a blackout in Vina del Mar city, about 75 miles (121 km) northwest of Santiago, March 14, 2010. Cities throughout Chile were without power on Sunday evening due to a problem with one of the country\’s main power grids, according to witnesses and local media.?(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
SANTIAGO, March 14 (Xinhua) — A massive power blackout struck most of Chile Sunday night, plunging the capital Santiago and many other cities into darkness.

Media reports said the blackout might have been caused by problems with a main power grid in central Chile and authorities said they were trying to restore power to parts of Santiago in three to four hours.

The area affected by the power cut includes the southern regions of Maule and Bio Bio, which were hit hardest by the Feb. 27 devastating earthquake in Chile.

People wait for the bus during a blackout in Vina del Mar city, about 75 miles (121 km) northwest of Santiago, March 14, 2010. Cities throughout Chile were without power on Sunday evening due to a problem with one of the country\’s main power grids, according to witnesses and local media.?(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

People ride a bus during a blackout in Vina del Mar city, about 75 miles (121 km) northwest of Santiago, March 14, 2010. Cities throughout Chile were without power on Sunday evening due to a problem with one of the country\’s main power grids, according to witnesses and local media.?(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — The U.S. Department of Defense said Wednesday that the long-delayed Nuclear Posture Review is nearly completed, and would be sent to Congress within a month, putting it off past the middle or late March deadline.

The Nuclear Posture Review originally was scheduled to be released this month, but defense officials concluded that additional time was needed to address the range of issues under consideration in the report, said James Miller, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, quoted by the Pentagon\’s news service.

U.S. President Barack Obama has sought to minimize the role of nuclear weapons in defense policy, with the ultimate goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

The Nuclear Posture Review, as Miller put it, is intended to be a practical work plan which will provide concrete steps outlining how the United States will carry out this process while still maintaining a secure and effective nuclear arsenal as long as other nuclear states remain. He said it\’s essential that the United States continues to invest in its nuclear arsenal and infrastructure.

Miller also said the nuclear review would be valuable for the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) negotiations with Russia, helping to refine several U.S. negotiating positions, particularly on the treaty\’s limitations of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles.

The fiscal 2011 defense budget submitted to Congress already reflects several conclusions drawn from the review, Miller said. The United States will retain a \”nuclear triad\” under the new START, composed of land-based missiles, submarine-launched missiles and bomber aircraft.

Related:

Obama promises to reduce number, role of nuclear weapons in U.S. security strategy

WASHINGTON, March 5 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday his administration will reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons in U.S. national security strategy.

The administration\’s upcoming Nuclear Posture Review \”will move beyond outdated Cold War thinking and reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy,\” Obama said.? Full story

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