President Obama Prepares For Impeachment Speech
More videos at : http://www.youtube.com/user/THEINFOSWARRIORS topic in the chain : Bolshevism Gaza Genocide Iran Iraq Israel Jew World Order Jews Libya Max Igan middle east Neocons ...
By: Alex Jones Best Off
Read more:
President Obama Prepares For Impeachment Speech - Video
The Obama administration on Friday imposed a wave of sanctions against members of the North Korean government, amounting to the U.S. government's first official response to the cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Despite lingering questions from private security analysts over whether North Korea was responsible for the hack -- as the FBI has alleged -- the White House described the new sanctions as retaliation against Pyongyang.
"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement. "As the president has said, our response to North Korea's attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing. Today's actions are the first aspect of our response."
An executive order signed by President Obama authorizes sanctions against agencies and officials associated with the North Korean government and Workers' Party of Korea. Obama, in the order, cited North Korea's "provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies ... including its destructive, coercive cyber-related actions during November and December 2014."
The Treasury Department, in turn, designated three government-tied entities and 10 North Korean officials under those sanctions. The sanctions would deny them access to the U.S. financial system and bar them from entering the U.S.
The department does not name North Korean leader Kim Jong-un but does designate representatives of the government stationed in Russia, Iran and Syria, among others. It also names North Korea's primary intelligence organization, its primary arms dealer and an organization that deals with technology procurement called the Korea Tangun Trading Corporation.
North Korea is already subject to other U.S. sanctions over its nuclear program.
Some of those targeted by Friday's actions are already subject to sanctions. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for stronger measures.
Its good to see the Administration challenging North Koreas latest aggression - cyberattacks that can do grave damage, he said in a statement.But many of the North Koreans blacklisted today have already been targeted by U.S. sanctions. We need to go further to sanction those financial institutions in Asia and beyond that are supporting the brutal and dangerous North Korean regime, as was done in 2005.
The Sony hack severely disrupted Sony's systems and leaked private communications, embarrassing the company. U.S. officials indicated North Korea punished Sony over plans to release "The Interview," a comedy film about two journalists sent to assassinate North Korea's leader.
Originally posted here:
Obama administration imposes sanctions on North Korea after Sony hack - Targets of Obama's sanctions on North Korea ...
President Barack Obama is kicking off the new year Hawaiian-style.
Obama started Thursday snorkeling with his wife and daughters at a popular snorkeling spot outside of Honolulu, Hanauma Bay. They spent more than four hours at the site, which was closed to the public. The Obamas visit nearly every year.
Later, the family stopped in nearby Kailua for shave ice. It's a Hawaiian treat similar to a snow cone.
In casual clothes, Obama ordered a shave ice with melon, cherry and lilikoi syrup. Lilikoi is a Hawaiian term for passion fruit.
Obama wished his fellow customers a "Happy New Year" before heading back to his rented vacation home.
The Obamas finished the day by dining with friends at Vintage Cave in Waikiki. It's one of Honolulu's most exclusive restaurants where the average meal takes three hours.
His annual two-week vacation in Hawaii wraps up this weekend.
Heidi Chang in Kailua, Hawaii, contributed to this report.
Go here to read the rest:
Obama Kicks off 2015 With Snorkeling, Shave Ice
President Obamas increasing use of executive power could backfire in the new Congress as he seeks to persuade lawmakers to grant him special authority to negotiate his long-sought, mammoth free trade agreement with Pacific Rim nations.
Republican lawmakers have been more inclined than Democrats to give the president trade promotion authority, which would boost his chances of completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, centerpiece of his effort to focus U.S. policy on Asia.
But conservatives increasingly are balking at the idea of granting Mr. Obama any powers given his far-reaching executive actions, which included granting deportation amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba after the midterm elections.
SEE ALSO: Obama urges big labor to accept free-trade deal with Asia
An increasing number of members see [trade promotion authority] as a way of giving more power to President Obama, and therefore the whole debate will be longer, said Anthony Kim, a specialist on free trade and economics at the conservative Heritage Foundation. After the November election, we knew that President Obama had limited political capital to spend. He basically wasted that.
Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly has joined forces with Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips and former GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes, trying to persuade Republican lawmakers to oppose giving Mr. Obama the fast track authority.
Mrs. Schlafly has said it would be insane for Republicans to grant him the power after they complained loudly about the presidents expanding use of executive actions.
Fast-track authority essentially gives the president the power to negotiate agreements as he sees fit, and it assures foreign governments that Congress wont alter the terms of the deal after the agreement is signed.
The proposed trade deal has stood out as one of the best chances for Mr. Obama to work with the Republican-led Congress. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, who is in line to become chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has said the fast-track legislation would be a top priority.
The presidents director of the National Economic Council, Jeffrey Zients, said White House officials are still hopeful that Congress will advance trade promotion authority soon after it convenes this month. He said the administration has held nearly 1,500 meetings on Capitol Hill to pave the way for the TPP.
See the article here:
Obama executive actions put Asia free trade deal at risk
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday in response to a cyberattack against Sony Pictures.
The FBI has blamed North Korea for a cyberattack against Sony in reprisal for the movie The Interview, which is about a plan to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Obama's executive order called North Korea's actions "provocative, destabilizing and repressive." He said the attack constitutes a human rights abuse and is a threat to national security.
The order details tightened restrictions against three North Korean entities: Reconnaissance General Bureau, an intelligence agency involved in arms trade and cyber operations in North Korea; Korea Mining Development Trading Corp., a state-owned entity also involved in arms trade and had been previously sanctioned by the United States for its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and Korea Tangun Trading Corp., which is involved in "the procurement of commodities and technologies to support North Korea's defense research," a news release from the Department of Treasury said.
Ten individuals were also singled out in the order "for their status as officials of the North Korean government," the release said.
"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a U.S. company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," a statement from White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said."As the president has said, our response to North Korea's attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing. Today's actions are the first aspect of our response."
North Korea was already under sanctions by the U.S. government for its nuclear program.
The cyberattack resulted in the release of damaging private emails from Sony Pictures Chairwoman Amy Pascal and the cancellation of the release of The Interview after major theater chains refused to screen the film.
Sony eventually allowed the comedy, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, to be screened after several smaller, independent movie chains offered to show it. It was also released online.
North Korea has denied involvement in the Sony hacking case.
Read the rest here:
Obama imposes new sanctions on North Korea in response to Sony attack