In the beginning, the Obama administration directed a spotlight toward its careful, thoughtful decision-making process on Afghanistan. National security meetings were announced, photographed and highlighted in background briefings to the media. President Obama would apply the methods of the academy to the art of war - the University of Chicago meets West Point - thus assuring a skittish public that deliberation had preceded decision. ...more

November 20, 2009

President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao promised a determined, joint effort to tackle climate change, nuclear disarmament and other global troubles yet emerged from their first full-blown summit Tuesday with scant progress beyond goodwill. ...more

November 17, 2009

President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, a senior administration official said Wednesday. ...more

November 11, 2009

JACKSONVILLE (AP) — President Barack Obama pledged today not to "rush the solemn decision" to send more troops to battle in Afghanistan as he weighs military options on what to do next in the troubled war. ...more

October 26, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate has confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state. ...more

January 21, 2009

Vice President-elect Joseph Biden said Barack Obama would be quickly tested by a dangerous world, with the test coming from anywhere. In a possible warning not to underestimate him, Obama has filled his national security team with centrists and relative hawks. And his willingness to talk to America's adversaries will actually make their lives harder. "What Obama absolutely must prove early on in his administration is that he cannot be played for a patsy, that he has the strength ... and that he understands his No. 1 duty is as commander in chief and protector of the United States," said Robin Niblett, the director of Chatham House, the London-based think tank. Obama's foreign policy test might come from anywhere, but there are signs that some of America's most strident foes are not eager for a fight. ...more

January 4, 2009

President George W. Bush knows he's unpopular. ...more

December 17, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama this week named his national security team and his choice for commerce secretary, and he squeezed in a meeting with the nation's governors. ...more

December 6, 2008

So much for "change we can believe in." ...more

December 3, 2008

"I assembled this team because I'm a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made. One of the dangers in the White House, based on my reading of history, is that you get wrapped up in group think and everybody agrees with everything and there's no discussion and there are no dissenting views." ...more

December 2, 2008