Obama: No plan to deploy to Yemen
Los Angeles Times - 9 hours ago
Washington - President Obama says he has no intention of sending American troops to Yemen or Somalia. Obama told People magazine in an interview to be published Friday that he still believes the center of Al Qaeda activity is along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Obama Plays Down Military Role in Yemen New York Times
CIA director defends agency after Afghanistan suicide blast
Christian Science Monitor - 18 hours ago
The director of the Central Intelligence Agency has spoken out to defend the agency against accusations that lax security allowed a Jordanian man to kill seven CIA agents and agency contractors when he blew himself up in Khost Province, Afghanistan on Dec. 30. In an opinion piece published in Sunday's Washington Post, Leon Panetta stridently denied reports that the deaths were made possible by the agency???s ???poor tradecraft.???
Bomber triggers switch before pat-down Denver Post
Karzai offers new Cabinet lineup
Los Angeles Times - 2 days ago
Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai snubbed two prominent warlord figures in a new Cabinet lineup unveiled today but unexpectedly offered a ministerial spot to the leader of a political party founded by a key Pakistan-based insurgent commander. The list of Cabinet nominees also included three female ministers, including a prominent women's-rights activist chosen as minister of women's affairs.
Rejected cabinet picks omitted from new Karzai list Reuters
China again denounces U.S. arms sale to Taiwan
Reuters - 2 days ago
BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Saturday again denounced U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying they were an intrusion in Chinese internal affairs that risked undermining its relations with the United States. The latest condemnation by the Chinese Foreign Ministry was directed at a $1.1 billion order received by Raytheon Co for ground-system hardware to support Taiwan's Patriot air defense capability.
China complains about arms sales to Taiwan CNN
Billboard featuring Obama coming down
CNN - 2 days ago
A billboard ad with a photo of President Obama wearing a Weatherproof brand jacket hangs in Times Square January 7. Company spokesman: Ad will be removed "in an expeditious manner"
Outerwear company says it will take down Obama billboard at White House request _ in 2 weeks Chicago Tribune
White House, Giuliani Spar Over Terrorism Policies
New York Times - 2 days ago
The White House press secretary took issue this afternoon with comments made Friday morning by former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani about the president’s terrorism policies, saying the criticisms didn’t seem to jibe much with reality. The press secretary, , was responding to questions about remarks made by Mr. Giuliani on “Good Morning America,” when asked about lapses in intelligence by the Obama administration that led to the attempted bombing on an airplane approaching Detroit.
Giuliani lauds Obama for declaring fight with terrorists a 'war,' says more toughness needed Chicago Tribune
Bush holdover Gates agrees to another year with Obama
CNN - 2 days ago
In addition to helping craft the strategy in Afghanistan, Robert Gates also worked to reshape the Defense Department's budget. Gates has described his job as a "very painful thing" and "not a job anybody should like"
Obama's Cabinet Stays On, So Far New York Times