Politics News

Declaring "our security is at stake," President Barack Obama announces he is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, with the first Marines due to arrive by Christmas. But Obama also assures the nation that U.S. forces will begin coming home in July 2011.

As governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee commuted the prison sentence of a man now suspected of gunning down four Seattle-area police officers. Now that the Republican is considering another run for the White House, his clemency may come back to haunt him.
Also See: Manhunt on for Cop Killings Suspect

A new poll says that Americans consider Rush Limbaugh the nation's most influential conservative voice -- by a wide margin. According to the poll, which was conducted by "60 Minutes" and Vanity Fair, Limbaugh easily trounced such competitors as Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney.

Oprah Winfrey will interview President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as part of a primetime special to air Dec. 13 on ABC.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will try to bring his party together in the Senate to get health care reform legislation to the president's desk as debate starts. But it won't be easy. Some Democrats threaten to jump ship over the bill's abortion coverage. Others say they won't vote for it unless there's a public option.

A Senate report says U.S. troops had the ability to capture Osama bin Laden in December 2001, when American military officials pulled back on any massive pursuit of the terrorist leader. The report also finds that failing to catch bin Laden sparked the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan and the internal strife roiling Pakistan.