President Obama to Troops in Alaska: 'We'll Give You the Strategy and Clear Mission You Deserve'

ABC News' Rachel Martin reports: President Obama stopped off in Anchorage, Alaska today to visit troops at the Elmendorf Air Base, before heading off to Asia for a one-week four nation trip, his first excursion to Asia as president.

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November 12, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (10)

Gates Irked By Recent Leaks: 'Everybody Out There Ought to Just Shut Up'

ABC News' Kirit Radia: Speaking to reporters traveling with him to Oshkosh, Wisconsin today, where he toured a plant building the new more mobile armored trucks called MRAP-ATVs that will be deployed to Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates lashed...

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November 12, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (28)

Seeking Benchmarks and "Off-ramps," President Obama Sends Pentagon Officials Back to their Desks

The president sent war council officials back to their desks to answer specific questions to which he has yet to hear the answers, senior administration officials tell ABC News.

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November 12, 2009 in Afghanistan, Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (42)

President Obama Announces 'Jobs Summit'

ABC News' Rachel Martin reports: President Obama today announced a “job creation forum” that will take place at the White House sometime in December. In short remarks today before leaving on his trip to Asia, the president said that while...

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November 12, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (101)

On Afghanistan, President Obama Presses Pentagon for More Information Before Making Decision

Some White House officials thought that President Obama's 8th "war council" meeting Wednesday to decide on a strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan might be the last.

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November 12, 2009 in Afghanistan, Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (216)

POTUS to announce WH Job Creation Summit in December

As he prepares to depart on a week long 4-country excursion to Asia, President Obama will make remarks this morning in which he will address the nation's 10.2% unemployment rate and call for a White House summit on job creation to be held in December, called the "Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth," administration officials tell ABC News.

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November 12, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (73)

The Presidential Planner

President Obama today will make his first trip to Asia as president, departing this morning for a four-country, weeklong tour of Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea. Mr. Obama is leaving for his trip one day later than scheduled so he could attend the memorial service at Ft. Hood on Tuesday and hold a meeting with his national security team on Wednesday. More from ABC’s Karen Travers and Yunji de Nies here.

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November 12, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (15)

Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden help Launch Service Nation Initiative

“One of the greatest privileges that I have as First Lady is the chance to meet with veterans, and to meet with service members, and their families all across America,” said the First lady to a crowded auditorium on Veterans Day at the George Washington University as part of the Mission Serve Event.

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November 11, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (35)

Rahm, Liberal Women's Groups, Have 'Frank Exchange' on Anti-Abortion Amendment

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and Domestic Policy Council director Melody Barnes, health care reform czar Nancy-ann DeParle and other White House officials met with a dozen officials from liberal women's and abortion right's groups this afternoon where they had a "frank exchange," in the words of one attendee.

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November 11, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (57)

Gen. Powell to President Obama on Af-Pak Strategy: "Take Your Time"

In an interview with Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell revealed that he recently advised President Obama to take his time in devising his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan

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November 11, 2009 in Afghanistan, Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (234)

Podcast Interview: Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe

On our Political Punch Podcast this week we interviewed former Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe, who we reached in San Francisco on his book tour for his campaign memoir “The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons...

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November 11, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (39)

President Obama Walks Among Gravesites at Arlington on Veterans Day

The rain was cold and steady during the president’s traditional Veterans Day address saluting all who have served in uniform, but after President Obama left the amphitheatre at Arlington National Cemetary, his car came to an unexpected stop by the gravesites of casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan.

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November 11, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (11)

Obama to Veterans: "America will not let you down"

In a place which President Obama said it would be "impossible" not to be moved by sacrifice Mr. and Mrs. Obama today marked Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery.

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November 11, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (71)

The Presidential Planner

On Veterans Day President Obama will start his morning with a Veterans Day Breakfast at the White House with the First Lady in the East Room. Veteran Service Organization leadership, veterans from all eras, and retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut Buzz Aldrin will be in attendance.

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November 11, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (102)

Vice President Biden Honors Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan at Ceremony at Fort Lewis

On the same day that President Obama honored the men and women killed at Ft. Hood last week, Vice President Biden spoke candidly about loss and sacrifice at a ceremony at Fort Lewis in Washington.

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November 10, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

President Obama Honors Fallen at Fort Hood, Alludes to Alleged Assailant’s Faith

During a memorial ceremony at Fort Hood Tuesday afternoon, President Obama said that while it “may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy … this much we do know: No faith justifies these murderous and...

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November 10, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (164)

A Look at the President's Meetings on Afghanistan and Pakistan

Tomorrow President Obama will sit down for his eighth strategy meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over the course of the past two months the President has met with different combinations of his National Security team to decide on a new strategy going forward in the region.

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November 10, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (35)

NOW President: It’s 'Not Acceptable' for President Obama to Achieve Health Care Reform 'By Pushing Women Back Into the Back Alleys to Die'

Terry O’Neill, the president of the National Organization of Women, was not happy to hear President Obama’s response when ABC News asked him about an amendment added to the House Democrats’ health care bill Saturday night that further restricts abortion services in both public and private insurance plans.

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November 10, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (123)

I’m in Stephen King’s New Book? Huh?

My friend Chris Cuomo sends along this little moment from his interview with author Stephen King on this morning’s Good Morning America, in which they play up what I’m told is a rather brief cameo appearance in King’s new novel Under the Dome.

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November 10, 2009 in Books | Permalink | User Comments (5)

Dunn Out, Pfeiffer Up, at White House Communications Shop

Anita Dunn, the White House communications director, is leaving the White House at the end of the month, sources tell ABC News. She will remain a consultant to the White House advising with long-term communications planning and other strategic issues.

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November 10, 2009 in Obama, Barack, White House | Permalink | User Comments (54)