Beltway Insider:Troops Ordered to Iraq; Hobby Lobby;Ukraine Violence GRAPHIC VIDEO; June Jobs Report

President Obama has ordered additional U.S. military support to Iraq in the wake of the recent surge by the terror organization ISIS/ISIL as they have expanded in multiple directions throughout the countryside with a single determined purpose to destroy Iraq.

 

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week increased two percentage points to 45% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President remained constant at 51%. 

Troops Ordered to Iraq; ISIS/ISIL Surge

President Obama has ordered an increase in non-combat military personnel in Iraq as the hard fought victories won by United States are on the verge of collapse as the ISIS/ISIL surges forward taking border crossings, towns, and expanding their presence.

"The nation of Iraq is facing an existential threat posed by ISIL.  That extremist organization has carried out grotesque acts of violence, has perpetrated terrible acts of terrorism across the countryside, and poses a broader threat to that country.  As the pressure increases, it's important for the leaders of that country to stand up, to work together to unify the country in the face of that threat," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Although the number of combat ready troops is less than 1000, President Obama has remained adamant the amount of troops will not reach even post war transition levels.

The ISIS/ISIL threat, by the terror group loyal to Osama bin Laden, has been assessed by the White House military strategists and advisory teams and has been elevated and determined of greater and additional concern. The role combat troops would play in any assessment has been refused by the President as he has maintained a "no boots on the ground" position. Ground conditions are being assessed and military personnel have been deployed to assist in gathering data.

Iraqi leaders have indicated without U.S. airstrikes they are left to seek assistance from neighboring countries loyal to other extremists, including Syria, Iran and Russia. The lack of strength in the Iraqi people and leadership, the multiple factions, its strategic position have all contributed and once again moved the president to make a determination for military support.

 "The President has sent in some military personnel in two different stages, troops that are specifically focused on ensuring the security and safety of American personnel in Baghdad.  And the President is satisfied that, based on the military deployments that have occurred so far, those two, that at this point, as of today, that we can adequately account for their safety and security. Separate from that, the President has indicated a willingness to deploy military personnel to work closely with Iraq security forces to help them assess the conditions on the ground and also to assess the capability of Iraq security forces. " Earnest said.

 President Obama Reacts to Hobby Lobby Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court returned a controversial ruling on contraceptive care that challenged aspects of the Affordable Care Act for closely held corporations based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

The Hobby Lobby Ruling, a 5-4 decision, with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg writing the dissenting opinion, sparked debate from around the nation and while this not an abortion argument, essentially brought the pro-life argument to the steps of the highest court.

The Supreme Court decision argued and debated on points presented that when reduced lie in the sincerely held religious belief that life begins at conception and birth control denies the right to life to a yet conceived embryo that may possibly be conceived.

 "President Obama believes that women should make personal health care decisions for themselves rather than their bosses deciding for them. Today's decision jeopardizes the health of women who are employed by these companies.  As millions of women know firsthand, contraception is often vital to their health and wellbeing.  That's why the Affordable Care Act ensures that women have coverage for contraceptive care, along with other preventative care like vaccines and cancer screenings," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg wrote the scathing dissenting opinion, "In decision of startling breadth, the court holds that commercial enterprise, including corporation can opt out of any law (saving tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs."

This, of course, opens the door for deeper exception and examination by opportunists who have found some loop hole as the court did not define "sincerely held."

Although marital status was not determined in the argument, biblically, Christians, male and females are admonished to abstain from sexual practices. Without indicting the court held that values unique to a religion without the practice of them by a plaintiff, in this case Hobby Lobby, an arts and crafts store a closely held corporation owned by professing Christians, is sufficient in ordering the dissolution of ACA requirements that include family planning and contraceptive prevention.

 "President Obama believes strongly in the freedom of religion.  That's why we've taken steps to ensure that no religious institution will have to pay or provide for contraceptive coverage.  Now, we'll of course respect the Supreme Court ruling and we'll continue to look for ways to improve Americans' health by helping women have more, not less, say over the personal health decisions that affect them and their families," Earnest said.

Ukraine Violence

Russian President Vladimir Putin has continued to concentrate on a Soviet troop build-up along the Eastern Ukraine borders and persists in aggressively menacing the newly democratic Ukraine causing outrage from his former G8 colleagues.

Contending the troops are for the purpose of military exercises, Putin has allowed his country to face sectorial sanctions for the violation of the territorial sovereignty of neighboring Ukraine, and has yet to fully restore the nation to pre invasion border integrity and troop levels.

President Obama and Chancellor Merkel in a released phone read out "stressed that Russia must take immediate steps to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine and agreed that the United States and Europe should take further coordinated measures to impose costs on Russia if it does not take steps toward de-escalation in short order."

Newly elected Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko has quickly moved to solidify his allegiance with the European Union signing a Trade and Political deal that creates unprecedented access for the emerging nation to the EU's 500million population.

The deal, signed in Brussels included neighboring countries, and former Soviet territories, Moldova and Georgia.

Ukrainian leaders were actively working, prior to the general election in May, toward inclusion and European Union membership. Recently EU officials are concerned with the expanding membership and may be elevating entrance criteria that should not ultimately affect the Ukraine although it could affect state membership after.

President Obama and German Chancellor Angelea Merkel also expressed their support for diplomatic efforts to pursue a sustainable ceasefire that would be respected by the separatists and fully supported by Russia. 

No mention of returning Crimea to Ukraine authority as escalations along the heavily armed Eastern Ukraine border has left the peninsula connecting the two nations virtually out of negotiations although all members of the G7 are united and calling for pre-invasion border sovereignty.

Graphic video sent to Haute-Lifestyle.com contains the aftermath of an explosion that killed at least five people in Eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk. The target was the administration building. The blast came as Kiev deployed fighter jets to the city in eastern Ukraine. This and heavy gunfire on the ground caused panic among civilians. - Kiev has denied the airstrike.

The authenticity of the video has not been substantiated. WARNING GRAPHIC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Qmw41Mows&feature=youtu.be

Israeli Retaliates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken publically on the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens, one that held a dual American-Israeli citizenship, indicating those responsible either Hamas, or Israelis will be held accountable under the law.

After searching for nearly two weeks, the bodies of the three teens were found in Israeli occupied Hebron. Netanyahu along with President Obama have called for calm as the kidnapping and subsequent discovery of the murdered remains, have triggered additional violence.

"On behalf of the American people I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel – who held Israeli and American citizenship. I also urge all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilize the situation.  As the Israeli people deal with this tragedy, they have the full support and friendship of the United States, "the President said in a released statement.

The call for calm fell on deaf ears as tensions between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli people run deep and escalated resulting in the kidnapping and torture of an Arab-Palestinian youth who was set on fire and burned to death which brought immediate condemnation for all parties.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the heinous murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Hussein Abu Khudair. We call on the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take all necessary steps to prevent an atmosphere of revenge and retribution.  People who undertake acts of vengeance will only destabilize an already volatile and emotional situation "said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Strained Foreign Relations

Prime Minster Netanyahu in dealing with his current crisis is exhibiting a dedication to his citizens that is sorely lacking in the United States which has carried over into the handling of foreign relations with long time ally, Israel.

As Obama has courted, openly, the affections of neighboring Iran, and the newly elected moderate President Rouhani, the relationship between the two, long term allies, has been strained.  Each has pledged there is "no greater friend" than the other. Appearances hold to a strong bond and actions speak of less.

Netanyahu believes, and declares openly, that Rouhani is deceiving the world as he agrees to dismantle the nuclear program, believing the dedicated enemy of the Israeli people, is hiding a nuclear arsenal with plans to use the weapons to destroy the Israeli people.

As ISIS/ISLI moves taking more of Iran, and aligned with Syria, the most volatile nation in the Middle East may still be in control of a nuclear weapon or be aligned with terrorist loyal to Osama bin Laden.

The United States, and President Obama, needs to show your friendship as even the best of friends at times need reminders of devotion and dedication.  

Immigrants Returned

President Obama sent a letter to members of Congress this week, addressing the escalating influx of illegal's crossing the southwest border only to be captured, detained, processed and housed at the expense of tax payers and the United States government.

Buses transporting detained illegal's to processing centers located along the Rio Grande Valley have been met by protestors who are amassing strength voicing the swelling opinion of the American people who do not want to house the steady flow of adults and unaccompanied children in their town.

In several cases the showdown caused buses to turn around and returned to San Diego or other originating cities along the south west border.

 "We have seen a significant rise in apprehensions and processing of children and individuals from Central America who are crossing into the United States in the Río Grande Valley areas of the Southwest border," the President said.

The Administration attempts to balance humanitarian and while appealing to the population-at-large the need for compassion as these foreigners are victims.

Essentially, the Immigration program the Obama Administration is proposing is well known enough throughout Latin American countries that illegal's are attempting to secure post entry accommodations and considerations through securing entry, albeit illegally, and working out the issues once they arrive.  

A fact the President admitted created the need to "step up effort to work with our Central American partners to repatriate and reintegrate migrants returned to their countries, address the root causes of migration, and communicate the realities of these dangerous journeys; and the resources necessary to appropriately detain, process, and care for children and adults."

June Job Report Jubilant for White House

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released June Job Numbers this week and added extra firepower to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday as finally, indicators across the board show solid economic growth as the overall unemployment rate fell .02% to 6.1% the lowest in more than seven years.

The .02% decline represents a substantial, 1.5% drop from one year ago where it had remained constant at 7.6% for several months.

The economy added 288,000 non-farm jobs in June, a considerable amount, which was enough to bring down the total number of unemployed to 9.5million falling 2.3million from 11.8million one year ago.

Impressively, even the long term unemployed (those who have been without work for more than 27 weeks) declined in total by 293,000 to 3.1million.

 Jobs were added in Leisure and Hospitality, Business and professional services as well as the consistent Healthcare profession. 2.3mi

Trending employment sectors include temporary professional services which accounted for 67,000 new placements. Leisure and Hospitality added 33,000 jobs. Healthcare has remained a solid sector employing 21,000 jobs with more emphasis toward ambulatory services which added 13,000 jobs and facilities which added 6,000 jobs.

The BLS has revised up both April and May job numbers adding a total of 29,000 for both months.

The next job reports will be released in August 1, 2014.

 

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics

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