Report: White House To Remove References To ‘Islamic Radicalism’
The Obama administration will reportedly remove terms such as “Islamic radicalism” from the upcoming National Security Strategy document, in an effort to emphasize that the administration does not view Muslim nations through a lens of terrorism. “You take a country where the overwhelming majority are not going to become terrorists, and you go in and say, ‘We’re building you a hospital so you don’t become terrorists.’ That doesn’t make much sense,” said National Security Council staffer Pradeep Ramamurthy.
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 9:30 a.m. ET. He will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET, and meet with senior advisers at 11 a.m. ET. He will depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 7:30 p.m. ET, en route to Prague, Czech Republic, where he will sign the new nuclear arms control treaty with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will be in San Antonio, Texas. At 10 a.m. ET, they will visit the Brooke Army Medical Center. They will return to Washington in the evening.
Specter Claims Deal With Reid For Judiciary Chair
In an interview with The Hill, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) claimed that he has an arrangement with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), in which the former Republican Specter would become chairman of the Judiciary Committee after current Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) leaves the post. “The arrangement I had with Reid is that I would have the same seniority as if I had been elected as a Democrat in 1980,” said Specter. “I would be behind Leahy, and when he moved up to chairman of Appropriations, I would move to chairman of Judiciary.”
Geithner Hails Economic Partnership With India
On a trip to India, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner touted a new economic partnership that would allow American companies to invest in the country’s infrastructure. “We meet at a time of encouraging prospects for the U.S. and Indian economies, and the beginnings of global economic recovery,” Geithner said. “We’re at a time of great optimism in the United States and around the world about the prospects for growth and reform in India. And I think we have a chance to demonstrate together this economic relationship offers very promising growth and opportunities for American firms just as it does for Indian firms.”
Republicans Step Up Opposition To Liberal Judicial Nominee Goodwin Liu
Senate Republicans have intensified their opposition to Goodwin Liu, who has been nominated by President Obama for a San Francisco-based appeals court judgeship, after Liu submitted a corrected questionnaire to the Judiciary Committee. Liu, the assistant dean and a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, has been discussed as potentially the first person of Asian descent who could be chosen for the Supreme Court.
Oprah To Interview Rielle Hunter
Oprah Winfrey will interview Rielle Hunter, the former mistress of former Senator and ex-presidential candidate John Edwards (D-NC). The interview, which will take place at an unspecified date, will be Hunter’s first televised interview since Edwards admitted to having fathered a child with her. Hunter previously did an interview with GQ magazine, which was published last month.
