Petraeus: We Must Demonstrate That ‘We Are In This To Win’
Gen. David Petraeus formally took command of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan on Sunday. “We are engaged in a contest of wills,” said Petraeus, who also added: “In answer, we must demonstrate to the people and to the Taliban that Afghan and international forces are here to safeguard the Afghan people, and that we are in this to win.”
Biden To Iraqi Leaders: ‘My Plea To You Is Finish What You Started’
Speaking in Baghdad, Vice President Joe Biden urged Iraqi leaders to end their political deadlock. “You should not, and I’m sure you will not, let any state — from the United States to any state in the region — dictate what will become of you,” said Biden. “So my plea to you is finish what you started through legitimate representative government that meets the needs and aspirations of all Iraqi people.”
No Obama Events Today
President Obama does not have any scheduled public events for today.
Hillary Clinton: U.S. Supports Democracy In Georgia
Speaking in the former Soviet state of Georgia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged U.S. support for the country, which was invaded by Russia in 2008, and for its domestic human rights activists. “We take seriously threats to democracy, wherever they occur,” Clinton said. “So we’re going to continue to support democracy here in Georgia.”
Teachers’ Unions Shun Obama Aides at Convention
The New York Times reports: “For two years as a presidential candidate, Barack Obama addressed educators gathered for the summer conventions of the two national teachers’ unions, and last year both groups rolled out the welcome mat for Education Secretary Arne Duncan. But in a sign of the Obama administration’s strained relations with two of its most powerful political allies, no federal official was scheduled to speak at either convention this month, partly because union officials feared that administration speakers would face heckling.”
Democrats Told To Press Social Security Fears Over Recess
The Hill reports: “Democratic leaders encouraged their rank-and-file to use recent controversial remarks by Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) to differentiate their party from Republicans over the weeklong recess break. Caucus Chairman Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) told The Hill on Thursday that his members head home for the recess focused on five issues; key among those is how Democrats would handle Social Security.”
Democrats Won’t Rubber-Stamp South Korea Trade Deal
Roll Call reports: “President Barack Obama is riling his base of supporters again, this time over his push for action on a free trade agreement with South Korea — a deal that has stalled for years amid a Democratic outcry over the potential effect on manufacturing jobs in their districts…The sudden timeline for wrapping up the agreement set off a firestorm among Democrats in manufacturing-heavy states, who say the president first needs to endorse legislation that ensures equal market opportunities for American workers. For Democratic trade critics, Obama’s free trade push runs contrary to his talk during the Democratic primaries of getting tough on trade agreements and adds to already sky-high anxieties over jobs in their districts.”
