General Petreaus responded in great detail about the many U.S. and allied programs in progress to help with the development of Afghanistan and its people, including building schools, roads, water supplies, and other basic infrastructure, while at the same time working closely with authentic Afghan leaders. The event was covered on C-SPAN.

Among the initiatives facilitated by the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program. This program was designed to bring former fighters who have broken ties with terrorists back into their communities. The aim of all programs of the ISAF is to enable the government and economy of Afghanistan to grow and become more stable, with the goal of preserving human rights and providing a sustainable, secure environment for the people of Afghanistan.

General Petraeus, who has received several Distinguished Service Medal awards, served as Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) for nearly two years. In summer 2010, he became Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO International Security Assistance Force. Prior to his position at CENTCOM, he held the post of Commanding General of Multi-National Force-Iraq.

1. Using the principles of “Reaganomics,” President Reagan introduced a broad-based economic policy based on the pillars of governmental spending reduction, decreased government regulation, monetary supply control to reduce inflation, and lowered income and capital gains taxes.

2. The Reagan Doctrine provided aid to anti-communist organizations in order to decrease the influence the Soviet Union held in the world. The Doctrine led directly to the end of the Cold War, and ultimately the fall of the Soviet Union and reunification of Germany.

3. President Reagan oversaw one of the longest periods of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression, due in large part to his economic policy.

4. President Reagan’s meetings with Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev led to the elimination of immediate-range nuclear missiles.

5. The Reagan Presidency was the first to declare war on international terrorism after a Libyan sponsored terrorist attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.

6. The administration’s economic policies led to the creation of 17 million new jobs.

Paraguay, like Bolivia, is a land locked country with an interesting history. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the inhabitants of what is now Paraguay lived a semi-nomadic life, which we know little about. Archeological evidence from this period is scant, although the country was occupied for at least 1,000 years prior to the arrival of the Spanish.

Starting in the 1500s, Spanish settlers, mostly men, began arriving. As a result, Paraguay quickly developed a large population of mixed or “mestizo” people. Unlike many other countries of the hemisphere, arriving Europeans usually learned the native language. Even today, Paraguayans respect the Guarani culture and language and many Spanish speakers learn to speak Guarani.

During the colonial era, Paraguay remained relatively tranquil, as compared to many other colonies in South America. The landlocked county was too far away from the significant ports of South America to become a major exporter, and Paraguay furthermore did not produce many goods that the Spanish considered useful. As such, the country remained isolated until it achieved independence in 1811. Beginning in the mid to late 19th century, Paraguay embarked on a series of unsuccessful wars with its neighbors, under the leadership of dictatorial governments. Some of these conflicts set the stage for the modern-day political divisions in the country. For instance, the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870), in which Paraguay attacked Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, resulted in the formation of the two-party system that continues to dominate Paraguayan politics.

From the end of the War of the Triple Alliance until the 1950s, Paraguay experienced a series of regular political upheavals, with a new dictator almost every two years. In 1954 began the thirty four – year Dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner. His overthrow in 1989 by Andres Rodriguez began a serious transition towards democracy and social justice, a process that is not yet complete today. The large gap between the rich and the poor continues to serve as a cause of political tension to this day.

The second TV station to launch in the District of Columbia, Washington-based WJLA-TV (then WTVW) has now existed for more than 60 years. Shortly after its inception as WTVW in 1947, the station was renamed WMAL-TV and entered into brief affiliate partnerships with NBC and CBS. Upon the entry of ABC into the burgeoning television marketplace in 1948, WMAL-TV abandoned its interests with CBS and became the third-ever affiliate of ABC. Less than 30 years later, Joseph L. Allbritton acquired WMAL-TV and subsequently renamed the station WJLA-TV, using his initials as its call sign. To this day, WJLA-TV remains the key Washington affiliate of ABC, operating under the brand of ABC 7 for general programming and ABC 7 News for newscasts. Over the years, WJLA-TV’s ABC 7 News staff has included an array of recognized figures in the field of journalism, including news anchor Charles Gibson, sports reporter James Brown, and ABC News correspondent Christianne Klein. Past slogans of WJLA-TV and ABC 7 News have been “Your 24-Hour News Source,” “Where News Can Change the World,” and “Washington’s Watching WJLA.” At present, ABC 7 News uses the slogan, “On Your Side.”