Theresa Fallon
“Many people would like to see China play a constructive role, but I think now that we're in the third year of the war, this idea is wearing a bit thin.”
1 hour ago
Mahjoob Zweiri
“What we have witnessed in the past few hours is that they talk about an agreement on the first stage. It could be understood that Hamas wants to release itself from the pressure globally, including the United States. So, they are giving concessions on the first stage, which leads to 40 days of ceasefire and exchange of captives. I think 33 old and sick captives. And then moving on to other stages. But we are seeing that we are going back to the main conditions, which means we are still talking about the main principles [complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza] that Hamas talked about. As the time of some sort of agreement on the first stage came, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to say actually, there is no agreement: We will go to Rafah regardless of any agreement. It reflects the divisions within the Israelis and crisis within the Israeli politics. On the other hand, Hamas has been more cautious. They do not want to show real progress made but they also do not want to say things have not changed. I think it's obvious some change has happened otherwise we would not expect [CIA chief] William Burns to be in the region.”
1 hour ago
Theresa Fallon
“Many people would like to see China play a constructive role, but I think now that we're in the third year of the war, this idea is wearing a bit thin.”
1 hour ago
Mahjoob Zweiri
“What we have witnessed in the past few hours is that they talk about an agreement on the first stage. It could be understood that Hamas wants to release itself from the pressure globally, including the United States. So, they are giving concessions on the first stage, which leads to 40 days of ceasefire and exchange of captives. I think 33 old and sick captives. And then moving on to other stages. But we are seeing that we are going back to the main conditions, which means we are still talking about the main principles [complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza] that Hamas talked about. As the time of some sort of agreement on the first stage came, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to say actually, there is no agreement: We will go to Rafah regardless of any agreement. It reflects the divisions within the Israelis and crisis within the Israeli politics. On the other hand, Hamas has been more cautious. They do not want to show real progress made but they also do not want to say things have not changed. I think it's obvious some change has happened otherwise we would not expect [CIA chief] William Burns to be in the region.”
1 hour ago
“American citizens should leave now. It's not like we're dealing with a terrorist organization. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”
“The likelihood that Ukraine is going to join NATO in the near term is not very likely, based on much more work they have to do in terms of democracy and a few other things going on there.”
“My guess is he will move in. He has to do something. Russia will be held accountable if it invades - and it depends on what it does. It's one thing if it's a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and what to not do, etcetera. But if they actually do what they're capable of doing … it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine.”
“Omicron is a source of concern, but it should not be a source of panic. We're prepared and we know what it takes to save lives, protect people and keep schools and businesses open. We just have to stay focused and continue to work together. If you need something, say something and we are going to have your back any way we can. Seeing how tough it was for some folks to get a test this weekend shows that we have more work to do. It's clearly not enough. If we'd known, we would've gone harder and quicker if we could have.”
“The main thing I want to say...the way you all come together, the way people just come out of nowhere to help, as a community, that is what you are supposed to be doing. That's what America's supposed to be. There are no red tornadoes or blue tornadoes. There are no red states or blue states when this stuff starts to happen and I think, at least in my experience it either brings people together or takes them apart.”
“We stand at an inflection point in our history. The choices we make in my view in this moment, are going to fundamentally determine the direction our world is going to take in the coming decades. Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Or will we together, together have a vision … and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward.”
“What I am doing is putting together what I believe to be the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr. Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he's going to do.”
“This variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic. If you are vaccinated, but still worried about the new variant, get your booster. If you aren't vaccinated, get that shot. Go get that first shot. We'll fight this variant with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed, not chaos and confusion. The point of the [travel] restriction is to give us time to get people vaccinated.”
“We [the US] are not encouraging independence. We're not going to change our policy at all. I said that they have to decide - they, Taiwan, not us. We're encouraging that they do exactly what the Taiwan act requires. That's what we're doing. Let them make up their mind. Period.”
“It seems to me we need to establish some common sense guardrails, to be clear and honest where we disagree, and work together where our interests intersect, especially on vital global issues like climate change. And I think it's very important, as I've told other world leaders when they ask about our relationship, is that we have always communicated with one another - with one another very honestly and candidly. We never walk away wondering what the other man is thinking.”
“The arbitrary imprisonment of nearly 40 opposition figures since May, including seven potential presidential candidates, and the blocking of political parties from participation rigged the outcome well before election day. Long unpopular and now without a democratic mandate, the Ortega and Murillo family now rule Nicaragua as autocrats, no different from the Somoza family that Ortega and the Sandinistas fought four decades ago.”
“Finally, infrastructure week. I'm so happy to say that: infrastructure week. This is a blue collar blueprint to rebuilding America. Generations from now, people will look back and know this is when America won the economic competition for the 21st Century.”
“It just is a gigantic issue and they walked away. How do you do that and claim to be able to have any leadership? It's been a big mistake, quite frankly, for China not showing up. The rest of the world looked at China and said 'What value are they providing?'.”
“I think, what happened was to use an English phrase, what we did was clumsy. The submarine deal was not done with a lot of grace. I was under the impression that France had been informed long before.”
“The bill will represent the most significant investment to address the climate crisis ever and will truly transform this nation. We are going to get off the sidelines of manufacturing solar panels and wind farms. The package will help double the number of electric cars on US roads within three years and provide 500,000 new charging stations for the vehicles. We are once again going to be the innovators. It's a big deal. The weather is not going to get better, it's going to get a heck of a lot worse. It's a blinking code red for America and the world.”