Rep. Paul Ryan Defends GOP Budget

"Rep. Paul Ryan Defends GOP Budget" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, April 18, 2011:

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan defended the Republicans’ budget proposal Sunday, arguing the plan reforms the tax system and gets rid of loopholes while enforcing strict caps on domestic spending. Ryan, who unveiled the GOP 2012 budget plan last week, says the proposal can reduce the deficit by $4.4 trillion over ten years by repealing health care reform, restructuring Medicare and Medicaid entitlements and making cuts to defense.

"We want financial controls, we want cuts in spending accompanying the raising of the debt ceiling,” said Ryan. “Nobody wants to play around with the country's credit rating, nobody wants to see default happening, but we also think it is important to get a handle on future borrowing as we deal with raising the debt ceiling."

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L.A. Community College Renovation Projects Face Criticism

"L.A. Community College Renovation Projects Face Criticism" by Reut Cohen for Neon Tommy, April 13, 2011:

Officials promised quality control and rigid oversight for a 5.7 billion initiative to bring neglected Los Angeles community college campuses up-to-date, but a Los Angeles Times investigation suggests massive waste and shoddy work.

At Los Angeles Valley College the new 48 million dollar Allied Health and Science Center continues to be plagued with problems.

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War, Morality, and the Israeli Soldier

"War, Morality, and the Israeli Soldier" by Reut Cohen for Pajamas Media, April 13, 2011:

IDF soldiers share the challenges they face on and off the battlefield.

Israel, whose military includes significant populations of Druze, Bedouins, and other minority groups, is the only Western nation to draft and assign women to combat roles. Israel’s geographic location and perpetual conflict with its neighbors make compulsory military service an official necessity.

“Being a commander in the army is like being a mother,” said Shira Lawrence, a second lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in an interview with this author. “You’re with your soldiers way more than their parents. You’re responsible for making them transition from civilians to soldiers.”

Lawrence is a marksman instructor at the IDF School for Counter-Terrorism that trains IDF Special Forces and elite units.

“It’s understood that women will play the same role as men,” said Lawrence.

Her job is focused on teaching ethical warfare in order to minimize civilian casualties....

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