Congress worries about Obama's plan for Pakistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers criticized Pakistan on Thursday as an unreliable partner in the war on terrorism and one that could turn the tide of the war if it wanted. "They don't seem to want a strategic relationship," New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said of the government in Islamabad. "They want the money. They want the equipment. But at the end of the day, they don't want a relationship that costs them too much."
Afghan training mission faces tough obstacles
WASHINGTON (AP) — America's eight-year effort to build a functional Afghan security force has been a study in slow motion, raising doubts about President Barack Obama's new plan to quickly get the nation's army and police in shape so U.S. forces can begin to leave in 18 months. A lack of competence, resources and confidence have hampered Afghanistan's army and police, as have illiteracy and corruption. Those continuing obstacles provoked skepticism from Congress this week about whether the U.S. military can train the Afghans quickly and effectively enough to begin to replace American forces by Obama's proposed exit start date of July 2011.
Senate votes to keep Medicare cuts in health bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Casting its first votes on revamping the nation's health care system, the Senate rejected a Republican bid Thursday to stave off Medicare cuts and approved safeguards for coverage of mammograms and other preventive tests for women. The first round of votes ended with a fragile Democratic coalition hanging together. Senators voted 58-42 to reject an amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would have stripped more than $400 billion in Medicare cuts from the nearly $1 trillion measure. It would have sent the entire 2,074-page bill back to the Senate Finance Committee for a redo.
Secret Service puts 3 on leave over gate crashing
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Secret Service asserted Thursday that the security breach at last week's White House state dinner was an aberration but has put three uniformed officers on leave. President Barack Obama says his confidence in the agency remains unshaken. The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said the country is fortunate the affair didn't end in a "night of horror."
Obama bemoans desperation of people out of work
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says a jobs forum he hosted at the White House generated many useful ideas for jump-starting job creation, some of which can be put into action "immediately" by his administration. The president said Thursday at the close of the jobs summit that other ideas will become part of legislation for Congress to consider. He said he was most struck by the overlap between the sessions on specific topics, leading him to conclude that job creation needs to be better coordinated.
Gates: 3,000 extra troops could go to Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said he'd send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. But the actual number could be higher. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he asked the president for flexibility on the number in case military commanders in the field request additional medics or troops trained to detect improvised explosive devices.
Pelosi: Bailout money to fund jobs initiative
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Democrat on Capitol Hill said Thursday that Congress will tap unused funds from the Wall Street bailout to pay for new spending on roads and bridges and save the jobs of firefighters, teachers and other public employees. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said money from the bailout should be used to pay for jobs legislation that would funnel billions of dollars to road, bridge and other infrastructure projects and also help struggling state and local governments retain public employees. She also promised help for small businesses reeling from a credit crunch.
'Sexting' is more common than you might think
WASHINGTON (AP) — Think your kid is not "sexting"? Think again. Sexting — sharing sexually explicit photos, videos and chat by cell phone or online — is fairly commonplace among young people, despite sometimes grim consequences for those who do it. More than a quarter of young people have been involved in sexting in some form, an Associated Press-MTV poll found.
Virginia regulators probe Salahis' fund-raising
WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia regulators said Thursday they are investigating the fund-raising practices of an enterprise run by Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the couple that got into a White House state dinner without an invitation. The probe is focused on the Salahis' annual polo cup event, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a two-sentence statement.
FBI adds 4 hijackers to wanted terrorists list
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four men wanted for the 1986 hijacking of a Pan Am plane have been added to the FBI's most wanted terrorist list — with a $5 million reward for each. The suspects were allegedly part of the Abu Nidal terrorist group when they attacked Flight 73 during its stop in Karachi, Pakistan — leading to the deaths of 20 passengers and crew, including two Americans. Pakistan tried and convicted the men, but they were apparently released in January 2008.
