Senator: Troop hike must help boost Afghan forces
WASHINGTON (AP) — The leading Senate Democrat on military matters says President Barack Obama's anticipated plan for significantly expanding U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan must show how these reinforcements will help increase the size of the Afghan security forces. Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Sunday that more Afghan army and police are central to succeeding in the 8-year-old war and more U.S. trainers and equipment can help meet that goal. But it's unclear, Levin said, what role tens of thousands additional combat troops will play and Obama has to make a compelling case during a national address he's scheduled to give Tuesday night from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Senators: Take action against White House crashers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two senators say authorities ought to pursue criminal charges against the Virginia couple who crashed last week's state dinner at the White House. Democrat Evan Bayh of Indiana and Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona say such behavior should be strongly discouraged.
Turbulence ahead: Senate opens health care debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The 60 votes aren't there any more. With the Senate set to begin debate Monday on health care overhaul, the all-hands-on-deck Democratic coalition that allowed the bill to advance is fracturing already. Yet majority Democrats will need 60 votes again to finish.
Senate report: Bin Laden was 'within our grasp'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Osama bin Laden was unquestionably within reach of U.S. troops in the mountains of Tora Bora when American military leaders made the crucial and costly decision not to pursue the terrorist leader with massive force, a Senate report says. The report asserts that the failure to kill or capture bin Laden at his most vulnerable in December 2001 has had lasting consequences beyond the fate of one man. Bin Laden's escape laid the foundation for today's reinvigorated Afghan insurgency and inflamed the internal strife now endangering Pakistan, it says.
Huckabee leaning against another presidential run
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he's leaning slightly against running for president in 2012 but says it's far too early to say what he will do. Huckabee says how the 2010 congressional elections turn out will affect his decision. He also will be looking at whether the Republican Party is willing to unite behind him as a candidate.
GOP senator says health care bill can't be fixed
WASHINGTON (AP) — The No. 2 Republican in the Senate is urging his Democratic colleagues to start over in crafting a bill to overhaul the health care system. But that's not likely given that debate on the bill is set to begin this week.
Vt. senator opposes a second Bernanke term at Fed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected to face tough questioning during a reappointment hearing this week, and one senator already says he won't support another term for the Fed chief. Vermont independent Bernie Sanders says Bernanke is "part of the problem" facing the U.S. economy.
Road out of recession may be long and winding
WASHINGTON (AP) — The road from recession to recovery is rarely smooth, straight or short. It comes with detours, forks and even dead ends. And sometimes surprises. While each American recession is different, most major ones end with pessimism heavy in the air.
Exec: Obama dinner crashers shopping interview
NEW YORK (AP) — The couple who crashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner are peddling their story to broadcast networks for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a television executive says. The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network does not publicly discuss bookings, told The Associated Press that representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an interview. The executive said the Virginia couple was looking for a payment in the mid-six figures range.
Whitman tries courting women in Calif. gov race
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — As Meg Whitman has been introducing herself to California voters, she retells a line that usually generates a chuckle: "The next governor of California needs to know exactly what SHE believes." The statement conveys the kind of confidence the former eBay executive displayed in her trailblazing role as the female head of a Fortune 500 company. It also is a reminder of the pioneering role she would play if she is elected as the first woman to California's highest office.
