House SubCommittee on (Drugs?), Chmn M Souder (R-IN)

Afghanistan's situation, top secret, would "outrage" Americans, and handling opium production is being overriden by political considerations.
• 80% of Afghanistan is a "DMZ" (comparison made to FARC area in Colombia when Uribe took office).

House SubCommittee on , Thursday, Chairman (M Souder (R-IN), Witness ONDCP J Walters

Chair's opening statement: The Chairman is bringing up the massive cuts to the (A, B, and Haida?) programs, related to drug enforcement.  Concerned about Federal/State+Local cooperation.  Some increases in treatment programs.
  Elimination and level funding for programs, "Safe and Drug Free Schools" eliminated.  Reducing demand is a crucial, he says.

Chairman ONDCP "Tax dollers should be spent wisely or not at all."

Chairman claims drug use soared after the fact of Clinton changing White House (ONDCP?) staff from 120 to 20.  Here are some facts on teen drug use, here and a graph. Claims a one-shot increase in anti-steriods funding sounds more like a headline grabber than an actual policy.
• Effort to sustain programs that are working is something we all believe in.  I guess he says the Drug Safe Schools program is worthless.
• Real cheap shot, the truth is more than half goes to interdiction, law enforcement, and internatinoal.

State Department Briefing, Thursday, Spokesperson A Ereli

No statements, just questions.

Questioner 1:
Question on North Korea.
What is the goal, North Korea(DPRK) as a member of the community, or dealing with the nuclear issue?
• Inherent problem with nukes on the Korean penninsula(?)
Similar statements by DPRK in past, is this one worse?

Where is Ambassador DiTrani(sp?). Does C Rice plan to ask the Ambassador to return to the region?
• He's in Washington.  Doesn't know about any C Rice plans.

Questioner 3: Would the DPRK be welcome into the world if they give up nukes?
• The US has no hostile intent towards North Korea.  Prepared to participate in multi-laterial "security assurances." (<-- meaningless words).  Prepared to work with DPRK for diplomatic solution to this problem (except 1-on-1, duh).  And can't take any steps until "these programs are dismantled." 
Can any benefits happen before full dismantlement?
• "I don't want to parse it further"

Questioner 4: The podium has been used to promote diplomacy, and the old line was that the benefits could begin before full stop of nuclear weapons program, and now you aren't saying that. 
• Refuses to answer.

A British Questioner: Some talks with North Korea, which claims to have a nuclear weapons, no talks with Iran, although they only may/may not have a weapon.
• Different levels of technology.  Different international systems apply.  Different regional interests.  Our national security, humanitarian interests, he refuses to disentangle them.  Bah.

Washington Journal, Thursday

I am of mixed mind considering blogging Washington Journal, but I will today.

Calls on Dean and the DNC Chair, Democrats only.
• First caller is happy.
• Second caller, a young woman, claims he will isolate Western and Southern voters.(?)
• An older woman, Green Party county coordinator, praises Dean bringing up the Ohio recount situation.

Host: Bush supporting new bill on aliens, back to the callers.
• A young man complains Dean lacks message discipline, then suggests he lacks discipline.
• An older man wants the next half hour to be on Republicans views on Rove getting a policy job.