Obama orders 30,000-troop boost in Afghanistan
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Declaring "our security is at stake," President Barack Obama ordered an additional 30,000 U.S. troops into the long war in Afghanistan Tuesday night, nearly tripling the force he inherited as commander in chief. He promised an impatient public he would begin bringing units home in 18 months. The buildup to about 100,000 troops will begin almost immediately — the first Marines will be in place by Christmas — and will cost $30 billion for the first year alone.
FACT CHECK: Obama overlooks some tough realities
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's speech Tuesday night did not always match the reality on the ground in Afghanistan. The president raised expectations that may be hard to meet when he told Americans his troop increase in Afghanistan will accelerate the training of that country's own forces and be accompanied by more help from allies.
WH gatecrashers went without confirmed invitation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The attention-hungry couple that crashed the Obama administration's first state dinner admitted to a friendly Pentagon official that they went without a confirmed invitation — just in case they got approved at the last minute. Tareq and Michaele Salahi claimed a dead cell phone battery prevented them from hearing a voicemail earlier that day advising them they did not make the guest list
Tempers rise as Senate moves toward health vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican senator asserted Tuesday during a rancorous floor debate that President Barack Obama's health care overhaul will shorten the lives of America's seniors by cutting Medicare. "I have a message for you: You're going to die sooner," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., an obstetrician-turned-lawmaker.
Henderson exits as GM board seeks faster change
DETROIT (AP) — The leader of the new General Motors was done in by an old problem at the nation's largest car maker: Change wasn't happening fast enough. GM's board and CEO Fritz Henderson parted ways Tuesday, the board upset that the automaker's turnaround wasn't moving more swiftly and Henderson frustrated with second-guessing, two people close to the former CEO said.
Seattle police kill suspect in officer slayings
SEATTLE (AP) — A lone officer on patrol in the middle of the night Tuesday spotted a stolen car, its hood up and engine running, and pulled over to check it out. As the patrolman sat in his cruiser, a burly man with a large mole on his cheek came up from behind. The officer turned, stepped outside and recognized the most wanted man in the Pacific Northwest — the ex-con accused of gunning down four cops at a coffee shop.
Troops, families mixed over Obama's Afghan surge
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Battle-weary troops and their families braced for a wrenching round of new deployments to Afghanistan, but many said they support the surge announced Tuesday as long as it helps to end the 8-year-old conflict. As President Barack Obama outlined his plan to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan — while pledging to start bringing them home in 2011 — soldiers, Marines and their families interviewed by The Associated Press felt a tangle of fresh concerns and renewed hopes. Some took in the televised announcement as they played darts in a barroom near their base, while others watched from their living rooms.
Fine, points on license for Woods over SUV crash
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — All Tiger Woods has to do is pay a $164 fine — less than a round of golf at Torrey Pines — and his dealings with Florida authorities over his infamous car accident will be over. What hasn't ended is the public's fascination with his private life, which may get more complicated. Us Weekly magazine, which hits newsstands Wednesday, features a cover story alleging that a Los Angeles cocktail waitress had a 31-month affair with the world's No. 1 golfer — and that the proof was in 300 text messages.
Jesus Christ dumped from jury pool for disruption
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Court officials say a Birmingham woman who changed her name to Jesus Christ didn't live up to it when she reported for jury duty this week. The woman, previously named Dorothy Lola Killingworth, was sent to Judge Clyde Jones's courtroom for a criminal case Monday. Court officials told The Birmingham News Tuesday that the 59-year-old was excused because she was disruptive and kept asking questions instead of answering them.
FSU coach Bobby Bowden to retire after bowl game
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Bobby Bowden orchestrated one of the great runs in college football, building Florida State into a powerhouse that produced two national titles, dozens of All-Americans and some of the most memorable missed field goals ever. Bowden said Tuesday he will end his 44-year coaching career after the Seminoles play in a bowl game. Bowden was done in by a combination of off-field woes, too many defeats and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher ready to take over.
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