General: More Troops in Afghanistan Means Less Risk
(AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
"Lots of people have defied threats of violence and terror to express their thoughts about the next government for the people of Afghanistan," spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters this morning.
How the vote shakes out as ballots are counted over the next two weeks will be key to helping White House officials determine how much more money and manpower they give to their commander on the ground, Gen. Stanley McChrystal when he presents his assessment on Afghan strategy in a few weeks. That's according to a series of discussions with senior White House officials, defense advisors and members of McChrystal's staff.
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W.H. Calls for Release of Political Prisoners in Myanmar
(AP Photo/John Yettaw family)
Yettaw was released after a visit to the country's reclusive military leader by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia.
"The president is pleased that Senator Webb has facilitated the release of American citizen John Yettaw from detention," said a statement from White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "He appreciates this decision by the Burmese government."
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Obama Encourages Increased U.S.- African Trade
(AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)
Formed from the African Growth and Opportunities Act that was signed by President Clinton and went into effect in 2000, the AGOA Forum is focused on discussing critical economic and trade issues facing sub-Saharan Africa. The AGOA was intended to expand access to American markets for the 39 Sub-Saharan African countries.
"By breaking down old barriers and opening new markets, we not only increase trade between our countries. We create powerful incentives for African entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, to create jobs and build a brighter tomorrow for their children," Mr. Obama said.
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Obama "Extraordinarily Happy" Journalists Are Home
5215881President Obama said the return of Euna Lee and Laura Ling to the U.S. is a "source of happiness, not only for the families, but for the entire country."
Mr. Obama spoke on the White House lawn soon after a welcome home ceremony for Lee and Ling at an airport hanger in Burbank, Calif., on Wednesday morning. The two journalists were released after months in a North Korean prison following a high-profile mission on the part of former President Bill Clinton. Mr. Clinton traveled to North Korea and met with leader Kim Jong Il and other officials.
In his remarks, Mr. Obama thanked Mr. Clinton as well as former Vice President Al Gore for their "extraordinary work." The two detained journalists worked for Gore's Current TV.
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Mr. Obama spoke on the White House lawn soon after a welcome home ceremony for Lee and Ling at an airport hanger in Burbank, Calif., on Wednesday morning. The two journalists were released after months in a North Korean prison following a high-profile mission on the part of former President Bill Clinton. Mr. Clinton traveled to North Korea and met with leader Kim Jong Il and other officials.
In his remarks, Mr. Obama thanked Mr. Clinton as well as former Vice President Al Gore for their "extraordinary work." The two detained journalists worked for Gore's Current TV.
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Text: Obama's Speech on U.S.-China Relations
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
"The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world," Mr. Obama said. "That really must underpin our partnership. That is the responsibility that together we bear. "
Among the other topics the president addressed in his remarks were climate change and nuclear proliferation.
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Clinton Remark on Iran Raises Concern in Israel
(AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi)
In a television interview in Bangkok, Clinton talked about extending a "defense umbrella" over U.S. allies in the Middle East in the event Iran develops a nuclear weapon.
"We want Iran to calculate what I think is a fair assessment: that if the United States extends a defense umbrella over the region, if we do even more to develop the military capacity of those (allies) in the Gulf, it is unlikely that Iran will be any stronger or safer because they won't be able to intimidate and dominate as they apparently believe they can once they have a nuclear weapon," Clinton said, according to the Associated Press.
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Iraqi PM to Visit White House Next Week
4926253Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visits the White House next Wednesday for the first time since President Obama took office.
The meeting comes three weeks and a day after American troops formally withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns as required by the Status of Forces Agreement between the U.S. and Iraq.
A spokesman says the security situation in Iraq will be discussed by the two leaders, but the agenda also includes the need for further political reconciliation among Shia, Sunni and Kurds, and the timeline for withdrawal of U.S. forces.
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The meeting comes three weeks and a day after American troops formally withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns as required by the Status of Forces Agreement between the U.S. and Iraq.
A spokesman says the security situation in Iraq will be discussed by the two leaders, but the agenda also includes the need for further political reconciliation among Shia, Sunni and Kurds, and the timeline for withdrawal of U.S. forces.
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Obama Sets High Bar for World Intervention
(AP Photo)
"There has to be a strong international outrage at what's taking place," Mr. Obama said in a press conference in L'Aquila, Italy, where the G8 summit has wrapped up. He called striking a balance between meeting that moral obligation and respecting national sovereignty "one of the most difficult questions in international affairs."
"I don't think there is a clean formula," he said. "In general, it is important for the sovereignty of nations to be respected."
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Obama: Putin Is Smart, Tough, Unsentimental
Updated 8:51 a.m. ET
President Obama met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for two hours this morning in Moscow and he told CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid how he found him a few hours later.
"He is smart, tough, shrewd... he is unsentimental," Mr. Obama said.
"He thinks in terms of what's good for Russia and will pursue interests aggressively, but he also wants to approach U.S.-Russian relations in a pragmatic way," Mr. Obama said.
Mr. Obama's remarks about Putin are being closely watched and compared to those made by former President George W. Bush after he first met with Putin as president in 2001, where he famously said that he trusted him by looking him in the eye and sensing his "soul."
"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul," Mr. Bush said then.
Mr. Obama said today that the two countries have common interests on terrorism and potential commercial ties. He also said he found nothing inconsistent between Putin and Russian President Medvedev.
"We disagree on spheres on influence," the president added. "If a country on Russia's border wants to join NATO it's their prerogative."
A White House official told the Associated Press that Mr. Obama and Putin "formed the basis of a good relation" during their meeting. "I would say he's very convinced that the prime minister is a man of today and he's got his eyes firmly on the future," the official told the AP.
Putin, for his part, said the meeting with Mr. Obama went "very well," reports the AP, saying it was "substantive, informative and collaborative" and that they had "many points in common."
You can watch the video above, where the president also talks about efforts to keep Iran and North Korea from having nuclear weapons.
Read more about the meeting between Obama and Putin
More from the interview: Obama Compares Jackson to Elvis, Lennon
President Obama met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for two hours this morning in Moscow and he told CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid how he found him a few hours later.
"He is smart, tough, shrewd... he is unsentimental," Mr. Obama said.
"He thinks in terms of what's good for Russia and will pursue interests aggressively, but he also wants to approach U.S.-Russian relations in a pragmatic way," Mr. Obama said.
Mr. Obama's remarks about Putin are being closely watched and compared to those made by former President George W. Bush after he first met with Putin as president in 2001, where he famously said that he trusted him by looking him in the eye and sensing his "soul."
"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul," Mr. Bush said then.
Mr. Obama said today that the two countries have common interests on terrorism and potential commercial ties. He also said he found nothing inconsistent between Putin and Russian President Medvedev.
"We disagree on spheres on influence," the president added. "If a country on Russia's border wants to join NATO it's their prerogative."
A White House official told the Associated Press that Mr. Obama and Putin "formed the basis of a good relation" during their meeting. "I would say he's very convinced that the prime minister is a man of today and he's got his eyes firmly on the future," the official told the AP.
Putin, for his part, said the meeting with Mr. Obama went "very well," reports the AP, saying it was "substantive, informative and collaborative" and that they had "many points in common."
You can watch the video above, where the president also talks about efforts to keep Iran and North Korea from having nuclear weapons.
Read more about the meeting between Obama and Putin
More from the interview: Obama Compares Jackson to Elvis, Lennon
Text: Obama's Speech in Russia
(AP)
"Your lifetime coincides with this era of transition. But think about the fundamental questions asked when this school was founded. What kind of future is Russia going to have? What kind of future are Russia and America going to have together? What world order will replace the Cold War? Those questions still do not have clear answers, and so now they must be answered by you – by your generation in Russia, America, and around the world. You get to decide. And while I cannot answer these questions for you, I can speak plainly about the future that America seeks. To begin with, let me be clear: America wants a strong, peaceful, and prosperous Russia."
"In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonizing other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over… The pursuit of power is no longer a zero-sum game – progress must be shared."
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Obama Reaches Out to Russian Media
(CBS)
The interview, published today, discussed the goals of the trip and touched upon the cause of the current economical crisis.
Mr. Obama said the U.S. is not responsible for the world's economic difficulties, contrary to the general opinion of the Russian public.
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Obama, Medvedev Announce New Afghan Cooperation
(AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
The two presidents signed a joint statement on cooperation that outlines concrete areas in which the United States and Russia will work together to attempt to stabilize and secure Afghanistan. During President Obama's trip to Moscow, the two leaders also oversaw a formalized agreement to allow the United States to transport military personnel and equipment across Russia to Afghanistan, as well as a new framework for resuming military-to-military cooperation.
"This provides a framkework for improved cooperation... so we can better address the threats we face from terrorism," Mr. Obama said on Monday in a joint press conference with Medvedev from Moscow.
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White House to Hold Firm on European Missile Shield
(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
"We don't need the Russians," says Michael McFaul, special assistant to the president and senior director for Russian affairs on the National Security Council staff.
In a conference call with reporters, McFaul responded with unusually tough talk when asked what reassurances Pres. Obama is prepared to give in his talks starting Monday with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
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Gibbs: The "Whole World's Watching" Iran
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was on CBS' The Early Show this morning to talk about Iran and preview President Obama's press conference today, which is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Gibbs said that Mr. Obama has been "struck" by the images coming out of the protests in Iran.
"I think we can hear their voices all the way over here and well beyond. I think the president has been struck by many of the images he's seen, particularly those images of women speaking out for their rights," Gibbs told co-anchor Harry Smith. "I think we've all been struck by that, and I think the president has talked about ensuring justice in Iran."
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Gibbs said that Mr. Obama has been "struck" by the images coming out of the protests in Iran.
"I think we can hear their voices all the way over here and well beyond. I think the president has been struck by many of the images he's seen, particularly those images of women speaking out for their rights," Gibbs told co-anchor Harry Smith. "I think we've all been struck by that, and I think the president has talked about ensuring justice in Iran."
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Clinton: U.S. Has "Responsibility" To Fight Trafficking
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote an op-ed piece for the Washington Post today emphasizing the importance of combating human trafficking.
"To some, human trafficking may seem like a problem limited to other parts of the world. In fact, it occurs in every country, including the United States, and we have a responsibility to fight it just as others do," writes Clinton.
The op-ed follows the State Department's release yesterday of the ninth annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).
Clinton describes a young Russian female, Oxana, who was forced into prostitution and killed after trying to escape. The secretary explains that victims of trafficking are people who are manipulated into leaving their families and moving abroad, after which they are sold into manual and/or sexual labor.
"They labor in fields and factories under threat of violence if they try to escape. They work in homes for families that keep them virtually imprisoned," Clinton explains.
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