July 2, 2009

Afghanistan offensive:

U.S. forces are participating in a major offensive in southern Afghanistan a stronghold of the Taliban.

Nearly 5,000 troops -- mostly U.S. Marines, but Afghan forces are involved -- began Operation Khanjar early Thursday with a goal of stabilizing the region prior to the Aug. 20 Afghan presidential elections.

The offensive is the first major thrust since U.S. President Barack Obama shifted major military attention from Iraq to Afghanistan. Operation Khanjar also points to a new tactic for coalition forces.

"Where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces," Marines Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson said in a statement issued by the military.

Last week he told a briefing, "One of the most critical things is to tell people why we're there and we are going to have a limited opportunity to gain their trust."

Unemployment figures:

The June U.S. unemployment figure was up to 9.5 percent and the economy lost 467,000 jobs -- much higher than anticipated -- data released Thursday by the U.S. Labor Department indicate.

Economists' expectations were that the unemployment rate would be 9.6 percent and the economy would lose 363,000 jobs. The unemployment rate is expected to soon top 10 percent and flirt with the 11 percent mark by the end of the year.

Prior to taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama said passing the $787 billion stimulus bill would keep the unemployment rate at 8 percent or less. By the middle of June, Vice President Joe Biden told NBC's "Meet the Press" that "everyone guessed wrong" on the economy.

"No one realized how bad the economy was. The projections, in fact, turned out to be worse. But we took the mainstream model as to what we thought -- and everyone else thought -- the unemployment rate would be," Biden said.

Last month's report set the U.S. unemployment rate at 9.4 percent and indicated a loss of 345,000 jobs.

It's not very rosy elsewhere, either. Eurozone unemployment in May was 9.5 percent, a 10-year high, data released Thursday show.

North Korea launches:

South Korean defense officials say North Korea launched a pair of short-range surface-to-ship missiles Thursday.

Pyongyang has warned international shipping concerns to keep out of the area for the first half of July and it was assumed the country planned to test missiles.

North Korea has carried out a series of such firings in recent months. Japanese intelligence said Pyongyang may also be preparing to fire a long-range missile as a test of that weapon's capabilities. That firing could perhaps come this weekend.

Obama on the road again:

U.S. President Barack Obama leaves for a four nation trip next week. He stops first in Russia then attends the Group of Eight summit in Italy. He has a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican and wraps up the trip with a stop in Ghana.

In Russia, cuts in nuclear weapons arsenals are to top the agenda. The G8 leaders try again to tackle the global recession. Obama is likely to get the same earful from the pope that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., got regarding abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. In Africa, the meeting with Ghanaian President John Atta Mills is to highlight how "sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development," a White House release said.

Fireworks:

Before he heads off to Europe and Africa Obama will have a prime viewing location for the massive fireworks display at the National Mall. But the recession is leading many localities to cut back on such celebrations.

ABC News reported the cost of Chinese fireworks has gone up about 30 percent this year, adding thousands to the costs of fireworks displays -- and those increases come at a time when communities can hardly afford to pay for essentials, much less fireworks.

Many areas have canceled fireworks and citizens in others, such as Pittsburg, Kan., have taken up collection among themselves to cover the costs for what they consider an important chance to mark the United States' Declaration of Independence.

Manny returning to being Manny:

The 50-game banned-substance-violation suspension of Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Manny Ramirez comes to an end Friday in San Diego.

Ramirez was suspended by Major League Baseball May 7 after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Ramirez said a doctor unknowingly prescribed medication banned by the MLB drug policy. ESPN reported the drug in question was a women's fertility drug taken by PED users following a steroid cycle.

The Dodgers haven't missed the slugger much. They have the best record in baseball (50-29) and lead the National League West by seven games. And fans don't seem to mind the suspension. When Ramirez played for a minor league team last week, the games were sold out and the hottest item at the souvenir counter was the hat/wig combination designed to look like Ramirez's lengthy dreadlocks.