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USA Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Gen. Wesley Clark: This is the moment for American leadership in Middle East. We can't miss it.
Iran's long-standing quest for nuclear weapons was at least set back for many months, and probably several years. This is the moment for American leadership. After 12 days of Israeli air strikes, Iran's air defenses were largely disabled, above-ground nuclear facilities destroyed, and much of its ballistic missile production and launch capacity wrecked. Nevertheless, Iranian retaliation caused destruction and loss of life in Israel. Then the U.S. entered the fight on the evening of June 21. Iran's three principal, known nuclear enrichment sites, were pounded and penetrated with 14 of the 30,000 Massive Ordnance Penetrators and more than two dozen sea-launched cruise missiles. By the early morning of June 24, Iran and Israel had agreed a ceasefire in the destructive campaign each was waging against the other. It was a triumphant moment for President Donald J. Trump, under whose direction the U.S. armed forces had launched the largest, most complex stealth bomber and TLAM strikes ever undertaken. Iran's long-standing quest for nuclear weapons was at least set back for many months, and probably several years. Many parties had much to gain from the ceasefire: Crown prince of Iran: Israel weakened Iran regime. World must help finish the job | Opinion What happens now for Iran and the rest of the world? But now what? Israel has been highly successful in the use of military force over many decades in the region – from the 1948 war of independence, through the 1956 war in Sinai, the 1967 preemptive war against Egypt, Jordan and Syria, the 1973 war, the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, strikes against the PLO in Tunisia in 1985, and later operations in Lebanon and Gaza. U.S. military action in the Gulf War in 1991 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003 were also highly successful. At this time, Israel, with U.S. help, has stripped Iran of its protective shields of Hezbollah and Hamas, and Iran, without effective air defenses, is laid bare. But outstanding military operations are not sufficient – they must be followed by successful work to end the roots of the conflict. Not once has this happened in the Middle East. Hatred, resentment, anger, terrorism and war have become endemic to the region. This is the moment to end the pattern of continuing conflict. But that requires new appreciation among the leaders in the region of the realities underscored by this latest bout of conflict. Iran, you're not going to have a nuclear bomb, no matter what. And if you continue to seek it, your regime will be defeated along with the destruction of your country. Israel, you cannot continue to use force with impunity – even with the best technology, your own people are vulnerable. To others in the region: Israel and the Palestinians are both permanently in the region; and with all due respect to the different religion, sects, and ethnicities at play, and the pain of history, both must be accommodated, accepted, and, ultimately, embraced as part of a thriving and prosperous Middle East. If there was ever a moment for fundamental change within the region, this is it. The world has come face to face with the potential of a spiraling conflict. Many of the Gulf States have achieved unprecedented wealth and are on the path to world-leading economic, social and technical advances. The region is still and will likely remain the center of global energy production, distribution and investment. There is everything to gain from seizing this moment. Gen. Wesley Clark: Trump needs to push Putin hard to end war in Ukraine – now | Opinion This is the moment for American leadership But how to proceed? Based on the model followed by President Clinton in dealing with the Balkans in the 1990's, it is best to start with a set of principles agreed upon objectively, by those outside the conflict but with the influence and will to deal with the respective parties. The principles must be fair and practicable. It required many weeks of shuttle diplomacy for the much simpler issues in the Balkans, and then, ultimately a 78-day air campaign by NATO in parallel with Presidential-level mediation by outside parties. In all, it entailed more than five years of continuous effort by the United States. In this region, the issues are deeper and more complex, but certainly among the principles, Iran must renounce its efforts, overt and covert, to destroy the state of Israel, and Israel must respect the rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to govern and develop their own self-governing state. Terrorism against Israel must be halted. Countries in the region must participate in rebuilding the Palestinian homeland in the West Bank and Gaza. Sanctions against Iran will be lifted, and Iran will be provided the materials it needs for peaceful nuclear energy. Progress must be phased and accompanied by confidence-building measures. Perhaps the Abraham Accords will be fully implemented, and the U.S. will provide a security umbrella for all in the region. International organizations will no doubt remain part of the solution. Perhaps Russia and China, and other interested parties will be invited as observers. Iran today is a wounded tiger. Maybe 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium is still available, maybe some other country will provide nuclear weapons or materials. Revenge will be sought. We cannot permit the next conflict – it could well go 'nuclear.' So neglect or failure are not options. This is the moment for American leadership. It is the moment for President Trump to exercise his broader vision for strategic realignment of the region, and in so doing, to end the Middle East as a cockpit for continuing conflict. Wesley K. Clark is a retired four-star general who served as commander of U.S. Southern Command and then as commander of U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Report finds five north country hospitals at risk if Republican Medicaid cuts pass Congress
Jun. 26—Five hospitals in the north country could be faced with steep cuts to their operating revenues if the budget bill Republicans are pushing through Congress right now passes, according to analysis from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill's Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Analysis from the center found that rural hospitals across the country would be majorly hurt by the Medicaid cuts the Republican budget bill calls for, because rural hospitals often have a significant portion of their patient pool, sometimes a majority of it, in the Medicaid or Medicare programs that serve poor and elderly people, respectively. The Sheps Center looked for hospitals that are both in the top 10% of Medicaid payer mix, meaning they have the largest proportions of Medicaid patients to non-Medicaid patients, and that have reported three straight years of negative total operating margins, meaning they've been paying out more money than they've been taking in. In New York, 11 hospitals fit that criteria, including 5 in the north country; Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, Massena Hospital, Clifton-Fine Hospital in Star Lake, Gouverneur Hospital and Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville. Ogdensburg and Lowville are not considered top Medicaid providers, but they do each serve a significant number of Medicaid recipients each year and both demonstrate negative annual margins. The Sheps Center analysis posits that the cuts to Medicaid, which come from a combination of changes to federal support for Medicaid spending, expanded work requirements and adjustments to the fees and taxes states can charge providers, would result in significant numbers of everyday Americans being kicked off of the program. Those people would still need emergency medical care as they receive at hospitals, which have a duty to provide it, but those hospitals would no longer be paid for the care they provide at all. In a letter to President Donald J. Trump and the Republican leaders in the House and Senate, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and three other Democratic Senate leaders implored them to reverse course on the Medicaid cuts outlined in the reconciliation bill, which Trump has named the "One Big Beautiful Bill." "Many of these rural hospitals are facing financial instability today, even before any of the Republican health care cuts take effect," their letter reads. "Rural hospitals will be disproportionately impacted by health care cuts. Addressing the crisis in rural health care access is a national, bipartisan priority, and it should be bipartisan to not worsen it. However, if your party passes these health care cuts into law, Americans in rural communities across the country risk losing health care services and jobs supported by their local hospitals." State Democrats are criticizing north country Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, for backing the bill and continuing to support it as Republicans push it to final approval. "Five hospitals in Elise Stefanik's district are on the chopping block because of her vote for the largest cut to Medicaid in history," said Addison Dick, spokesperson for the state Democratic Party. "Instead of fighting for her constituents, Stefanik is caving to Trump and supporting his budget that will rip away coverage, increase health care costs, and devastate rural health care." A spokesperson for Stefanik pushed back on the claims that the Medicaid provisions in the reconciliation package will result in loss of coverage for her constituents, which he called an "indespensible lifeline for our nation's most vulnerable." "However, far left Democrats continue to fearmonger because they know that President Trump is delivering results for the American people," the spokesperson said. "He ran on the promise that he would root out the wasteful and fraudulent government spending. In New York alone, an estimated $20 billion is spent on fraudulent Medicaid claims annually. On top of this insurmountable burden resting on the shoulders of hardworking taxpayers, illegals are also eligible for Emergency Medicaid which has ballooned more than 1,200 percent since 2014. This spending is unsustainable and in order to continue protecting and preserving benefits for America's most vulnerable, waste, fraud, and abuse must be rooted out." The Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative New York think tank, found in late 2024 that as many as 3 million New Yorkers may be fraudulently collecting Medicaid and other health insurance benefits from the state, basing their analysis off of census data and information obtained from the state Medicaid program. Overall, 44% of New Yorkers receive Medicaid or a similar program, including children on the state-level Child Health Plus program and the New York Essential Plan, provided through the American Care Act health insurance marketplace and providing Medicaid-like coverage to people making up to 250% of the federal poverty level. The Empire Center also found earlier this year that the state program to offer emergency medicaid to undocumented immigrants, which has 480,000 people enrolled as of March, represents 7% of total Medicaid enrollment in the state. If the reconciliation package passes into law with the provisions for Medicaid included in the House-passed version, the federal government could cut the money it pays to the state for its portion of Medicaid funding, which would reduce available benefits for all recipients. Stefanik, who has floated a run for governor next year and has made criticisms of state programs aiding undocumented immigrants a core part of her early, pre-campaign message, said in a visit to Albany last month that she would seek to use executive actions and push the state legislature to end the emergency Medicaid program and cut down on fraud if elected. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul, who is running for reelection, has not expressed any interest in changing that aspect of the state's Medicaid operations. It's not clear if the final package will include the major Medicaid provisions as passed by the House. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Parliamentarian, which is charged with ensuring all actions taken by that chamber follow the proper laws and procedures, struck many of the most impactful Medicaid provisions from the bill for procedural reasons. Whatever resulting legislation passes in the U.S. Senate will have to go back to the House for a final vote before it can go to the president for approval. The two chambers have not seen eye to eye on many aspects of the reconciliation bill. Trump has demanded that lawmakers deliver a finished bill to his desk by July 4.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Trump 'terminating' trade talks with Canada over digital services tax
Article content OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday he is putting an end to trade discussions with Canada because of the digital services tax moving ahead next week. Article content Article content 'We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with… has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country,' he wrote. Article content 'Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately. We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period.' Article content Article content Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.27.25 01:44 PM EST — Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 27, 2025 Article content Article content Carney had already lowered expectations this week about reaching an agreement with Trump for an economic and security pact within 30 years, as agreed to during the G7 summit in Alberta, by saying 'the right deal is possible, but nothing's assured.' Article content The first payment for Canada's digital tax is due Monday, according to the Finance department, and covers revenue retroactively to 2022. The tax is three per cent of the digital services revenue a firm makes from Canadian users above $20 million in a year. Earlier this month, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said his government was moving ahead with the tax even though it remained an irritant with the United States. Article content 'That's the law in Canada. We had fairly long, extensive discussions at the G7 about the different regimes that you find in different parts of the world. That's not unique to Canada, by the way,' he said. Article content Article content Trump accused Canada of 'copying' the European Union (EU), which has many countries that also have a digital services tax in place. Article content Article content The EU is also in talks with the U.S. to avoid so-called 'reciprocal tariffs' of up to 50 per cent. Trump issued a deadline of July 9 to strike a deal but said in a press conference on Friday he could decide to extend the deadlines or make them shorter if he wanted to. Article content Trump said he has already made deals with a handful of countries on the world stage, including China and the United Kingdom, and was in the process of making some others. Article content
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Palantir Teams Up With The Nuclear Company on AI-Driven Nuclear Construction Platform
Palantir Technologies (PLTR, Financials) is teaming up with The Nuclear Company to launch NOS, an AI-powered software platform designed to streamline nuclear reactor construction; the goal is faster builds, fewer delays, and lower costs. NOSbuilt on Palantir's Foundrywill offer real-time data tools to manage supply chains, prevent costly errors, and automate regulatory reviews; digital twin models and predictive analytics will help spot issues before they escalate. The system is part of Palantir's Warp Speed initiative and will be developed by an embedded team working alongside The Nuclear Company's engineers. The partnership aligns with President Donald J. Trump's recent executive orders calling for 400 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2050; the orders also target 10 large-scale reactors under construction by 2030. Palantir's Mike Gallagher said the software could reshape U.S. energy infrastructure; The Nuclear Company's CEO Jonathan Webb called it key to ending chronic delays and keeping pace with China's aggressive nuclear rollout. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Palantir shares gain over 1% today as company announces AI partnership for nuclear energy infrastructure
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 26, 2025, 20:40 IST Shares of Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) rose over 1% on Thursday, June 26, 2025, trading near $143.56 as of 11:07 AM ET, after the company unveiled a strategic product partnership with The Nuclear Company to develop AI-driven software for nuclear reactor construction. The new product, called NOS (Nuclear Operating System), will leverage Palantir's Foundry platform to help modernize and digitize the construction of gigawatt-scale nuclear plants across the U.S. The software aims to address key industry challenges such as cost overruns and schedule delays by providing real-time data analytics, supply chain tracking, predictive maintenance, and AI-based regulatory compliance support. Palantir highlighted that NOS will deliver schedule certainty, cost savings, problem prevention, and regulatory efficiency by embedding AI and large language models directly into site operations. The announcement aligns with President Donald J. Trump's recent executive orders targeting 400 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2050 and mandates for 10 large-scale nuclear reactors under construction by 2030. Palantir's latest nuclear project marks another step under its Warp Speed initiative, with engineering teams working closely with The Nuclear Company's staff to integrate nuclear data across multiple critical systems. The stock, which has a 52-week range of $21.23 to $147.67, saw intraday highs of $148.21 earlier today, reflecting investor optimism over Palantir's growing footprint in national infrastructure and defense-related projects. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
