Here is your R&D for October 13th:
Don’t-Ask Policy is Halted by Judge from the Wall Street Journal
In another headache for the Obama administration, a federal judge ordered the military to stop enforcing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law yesterday. The ruling forces President Obama to make a decision of whether to appeal and if he does it may anger a key Democratic constituency prior to next month’s midterm elections.
Colombia: President Santos’s Conflict Resolution Opportunity from the International Crisis Group
In this summary and full report (which you can access on the right of the webpage after you click on this link), the International Crisis Group lays out how Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos can end Colombia’s armed conflict and create a more stable nation.
French pension strikes go into second day from the BBC
French workers who are on strike to protest government reforms of the pension system are in their second day. Yesterday saw the biggest strikes so far and rail service was restricted throughout the country, creating congestion and delays.
Washington Schools Chancellor to Resign from the New York Times
Michelle Rhee, the chancellor of the Washington D.C. school system, announced yesterday that she is resigning her position. The move comes after incumbent mayor Adrian Fenty lost last month’s Democratic primary in the District.
A Divided and Insular EU from the Council on Foreign Relations
In this interview, Stewart M. Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director of the Program on International Institutions and Global Governance, tells the Council on Foreign Relations that Europe’s financial problems have weakened the EU and the conflicts created by it among EU members will force the U.S. to look for reliable partners elsewhere.