BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2009. On behalf of NATO, I strongly condemn the bombings that have taken place in Baghdad today, which have killed scores of innocent people. There can be no justification for this kind of terrorism. I express my condolences to the many families who have lost loved ones today,[Read More…]
National
Statement by NATO Secretary General on Force Generation for Afghanistan
BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2009. I am pleased that we have had a successful Force Generation Conference at NATO military Headquarters in Mons, building on last week’s Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels. On top of the 30,000 forces coming from the United States, NATO Allies and Partners have made pledges to add[Read More…]
Gates: NATO Steps Up, Pakistan Makes Strides
KABUL–(ENEWSPF)–Dec. 8, 2009 – NATO’s commitment of 7,000 additional troops for the International Security Assistance Force it leads in Afghanistan comes as a pleasant surprise to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who calls it a sign of the alliance’s renewed commitment there. “Frankly, my hope was that we could get[Read More…]
Defense Secretary Gates Meets With Karzai, Other Afghan Leaders
KABUL–(ENEWSPF)–Dec. 8, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today, the first senior U.S. official to visit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai since President Barack Obama’s announcement last week of his new strategy for Afghanistan. Gates was slated to kick off his visit with a one-on-one session with[Read More…]
House Holds Hearing On Death Penalty Appeals
WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)—December 8, 2009. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today held a hearing on the need for reform of death penalty appeals. Specifically, the hearing focused on the impact of habeas corpus limitations to pending death penalty sentences. The right to habeas corpus allows[Read More…]
Remarks by President Obama on Job Creation and Economic Growth
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2009 – 11:23 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much, Strobe, for your extraordinary leadership here at Brookings, and thanks to all of you in attendance. Almost exactly one year ago, on a frigid winter’s day, I met with my new economic team at the headquarters[Read More…]
Statement by President Obama on the Settlement of Cobell Class-Action Lawsuit on Indian Trust Management
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2009. “Today, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Attorney General Eric Holder announced that, at long last, a settlement has been reached in the Cobell class-action lawsuit. This suit was originally filed in 1996 over the United States government’s trust management and accounting of hundreds of thousands of[Read More…]
Administration Launches Comprehensive Open Government Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2009. As part of the Obama Administration’s work to change how Washington does business, the White House Tuesday issued the Open Government Directive requiring federal agencies to take immediate, specific steps to open their operations up to the public. The Administration also released an Open Government Progress[Read More…]
President Obama Announces Proposals to Accelerate Job Growth and Lay the Foundation for Robust Economic Growth
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2009. Today, the President laid out some of the broad steps that he believes should be at the heart of our efforts to help put Americans back to work and get businesses hiring again. This announcement is part of the President’s ongoing effort to take every responsible[Read More…]
Remarks by Secretary of State Clinton to U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 7, 2009. SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, thank you all very, very much. This is an extraordinary evening, and I am deeply honored to receive this award on behalf of the State Department and USAID, the work that is done every single day by the men and women who serve[Read More…]