Gates: 2-4 years of big Afghan role for US troops
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Americans should expect a significant U.S. military presence in Afghanistan for two years to four years more. Just as in Iraq, the U.S. eventually will turn over provinces to local security forces, allowing the United States to bring the number of troops down steadily, according to Gates, who appeared on three Sunday talk shows with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss President Barack Obama's new Afghan war plan.
Obama heads to Hill to push on health bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is paying a rare visit to Capitol Hill to urge Senate Democrats forward as they work through the weekend to try to resolve their differences on his sweeping health care overhaul. The president's planned appearance at a Senate Democratic caucus meeting Sunday afternoon answers appeals from a number of lawmakers eager for him to step in and help Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., finish the job.
Gates: Pakistan now putting pressure on Taliban
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pakistan has acknowledged a growing threat from within its borders and is changing its attitude toward fighting terrorists, U.S. officials say. "The Taliban in Pakistan have been attacking Pakistani civilians, Pakistani government officials, military officials, trying to destabilize the government of Pakistan," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates, joined on three Sunday talk shows by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Gates rejects transition date emboldens Taliban
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates rejects any suggestion that setting a transition date for withdrawing U.S. forces in Afghanistan will embolden the Taliban. Gates tells CBS' "Face The Nation" that the Taliban read the newspapers and are able to determine public opinion in the United States and Europe.
Clinton says Pakistanis now see a growing threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Pakistanis have experienced a change in attitudes about fighting terrorism as they see a growing threat to their own nation. Clinton tells CBS' "Face the Nation" that Pakistan's civilian and military leadership have had a significant change in attitudes about fighting terrorists.
Obama to promote new job ideas in Tuesday speech
WASHINGTON (AP) — In his latest job creation effort, President Barack Obama is trying to find practical and politically feasible ways of spurring hiring among skittish employers. Among the ideas expected in his economic speech Tuesday is an expanded program that gives people cash incentives to fix up their homes with energy-saving materials, senior administration officials have told The Associated Press. Obama is leaning toward new incentives for small businesses that hire new workers and new spending on roads, bridges and other public works, the officials said.
Gay House members say gay-friendly bills are near
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two of Congress's three openly gay members said Saturday that the U.S. House is poised to pass bills to provide health coverage for the same-sex partners of gay federal workers and to protect all gay and transgender employees from job discrimination. Speaking to an international conference of gay politicians in San Francisco, U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Jared Polis, D-Colo., said they expect a domestic partner benefits bill to come up for a vote by the end of the year and the employment bill to reach the floor early in 2010.
US envoy stops in SKorea en route to NKorea
INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — President Barack Obama's special envoy arrived in South Korea on Sunday en route to North Korea for a rare meeting aimed at bringing the communist country back to international nuclear disarmament talks. Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, will travel to Pyongyang on Tuesday in what would be the first bilateral talks between the U.S. and the North since Obama took office in January. The two countries last met one-on-one on the sidelines of now-stalled six-nation nuclear talks in Beijing in December 2008.
Gates: Afghan relationship will begin to change
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States' relationship with Afghanistan is going to begin changing in July 2011. Gates made the comments in an interview to be aired Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation.
Baucus: Girlfriend merited US attorney nomination
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus defended recommending his girlfriend for appointment as Montana's U.S. attorney, saying Saturday his one-time staff member and the former state prosecutor is "highly qualified" but eventually withdrew her nomination. Baucus said that he began dating former state office director Melodee Hanes after they were both separated from their spouses. The Montana Democrat said they did not have an affair, but began dating while she worked for him.
