Politics

Days 47-48: Obama Signals Openness To Talking To Taliban

By Brian Montopoli

March 9, 2009 / 8:30 AM EDT / CBS News

(AP PHOTO)

President Obama spent the weekend with his family at Camp David, but that didn't mean he didn't make news. In an interview with the New York Times, the president suggested he might be willing to meet with more moderate elements of the Taliban in order to help resolve the war in Afghanistan.

"…it's going to be critical for us to not only, get through these national elections to stabilize the security situation, but we've got to recast our policy so that our military, diplomatic and development goals are all aligned to ensure that al Qaeda and extremists that would do us harm don't have the kinds of safe havens that allow them to operate," he said.

On a lighter note, the president also stopped by a birthday celebration for Sen. Ted Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, and led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday."

Check out CBS News reporting on the president's weekend below.