Kerry introduces the bill to help Egypt and Tunisa - and he has Mccain and Leiberman backing him

[karynnj]

The money will come from existing money allocated to the State department. The goal is to use funds to encourage private investment as was done for Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Politico - http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0311/Kerry_McCain_Lieberman_push_funds_for_Egypt_Tunisia.html
Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/10/AR2011031004659.html

[karynnj]

1. Boston Globe article

Senator John Kerry will file legislation to funnel U.S. aid to Egyptian and Tunisian entrepreneurs to boost their economies and nurture democracy – but do so without stirring antagonism toward the United States.

In the wake of massive protests that unseated the governments of both countries, the legislation will create two funds that will be “an investment in the future of the Arab world and in the future of America’s national security,” the Massachusetts Democrat said.

“They will tell people across the Arab world that the United States is willing to help them build strong economies and strong democracies," Kerry said.

Kerry has previously called for such aid, but the announcement alongside Senator John McCain of Arizona, a Republican, and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an Independent, filled in some details.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/03/kerry_bill_will.html

This bill sounds so like everything Kerry has been pushing since at least 2004. As it uses existing money, I hope that it passes easily. This really is in the spirit of the Marshall plan, which may have been the best foreign policy thing we did in the last century.

[karynnj]

2. Distorted McCain/Kerry photo - that attempts to make them near the same height

This is not political, but I thought it interesting that a professional reporter took this photo. It actually made me slightly dizzy because the structural elements in the background are all very obviously slanted. This is just strange as everyone knows Kerry is very tall and McCain is not. No complaints - just think it weird.

http://www.thirdage.com/news-photo/sen-john-mccain-%2528r-az%2529-and-sen-john-kerry-%2528d-ma%2529-speaks-on-tunisia-and-egypt-in-washington/1614264