News of the Week - Online

The biggest story online is the stimulus plan dubbed the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." Although it doesn't have the same ring as the New Deal, we are still taking on a debt of epic proportions. The 3 trillion dollar debt is going to be met with a 787 billion dollar stimulus package that the following video will demonstrate from the Washington post.
Washington Post
Question - Do you believe this plan will be anywhere as effective as the "New Deal"? When do you believe that we will start to notice the effects of the plan?

On other terms President Obama will be sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan which is a 50% increase on the already 36,000 that are already there. This comes in opposition to his statements of less troops being deployed but he says this is a necessary and swift action that must be taken. Also noting that the troops in Iraq will be dwindling while the conflict in Afghanistan escalates. The generals are demanding as much as 30,000 troops but Obama is finding a middle group between both sides. This is according to the New York Times online.
NY Times
Question - Do you find this to be a contradiction to what he promised before his election? Do you believe they are just redirecting the military effort?

According to CNNMoney.com, President Obama will be unveiling a plan to help fix the foreclosure problem that America is facing in these present times. Although the exact details are being kept under wraps, the plan seems to be for a 50 billion dollar bailout to help not only homeowners but also the banks that supported and let this catastrophe happen. There are already a million homes in foreclosure and another two are suspected to succumb within the year. The plan will focus on the modification of loans given to homeowners and also a remodel of the loan plan and making it harder for banks to give away easy money. The following map shows a idea of the kind of problem that we are facing now.
Map
Question - Do you feel that he is misappropriating the bailout funds or do you feel this will help the current housing market?

The associated press noted that Obama is taking a stance on the issue of the arms race in North Korea. He notes that they will use their connections with Japan as a heart of America in the east to help and try to confront the Korean issue. He noted that he will try and encourage peace and to develop a position that will prevent what he calls the next arms race in the East. Although he has yet to make any formal plans on the issue he is announcing it as a issue he will face in his candidacy.
APOnline
Question - Do you think he needs to concentrate on the Middle East and our problems at home before trying to cure the world of all it's issues?