healthcare, and education that will grow our economy. Obama also touched on the wars in Iraq, where he plans to withdraw most US combat troops by the summer of 2 010, and Afghanistan, where he is dispatching 17,000 more troops this spring. But the ailing economy was a dominant theme in Obama's address, with the president urging worried Americans to unite to get through a crisis he said would eventually abate.
The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere. But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before, Obama said to resounding applause.still faces a reluctant and energized GOP minority, which has emerged from two devastating elections to form a determined and unified front against Obama s economic agenda. The president s $ 787 billion stimulus plan passed without a single House Republican vote, and garnered just three aye votes from Senate GOP moderates.the official Republican response to Obama, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal accused Democrats of irresponsible spending that would leave the next generation in crippling debt.The Times3, 2009keeps powder dry as Nato awaits President Obama's plea for troops
Michael Evans, Defence Editoroptions for sending more British troops to Afghanistan are being studied across Whitehall in preparation for an appeal by President Obama for every Nato member to deploy additional manpower and firepower there. US President, however, is not expected to make any personal appeal to Gordon Brown when the two leaders meet in Washington today and the Prime Minister has not taken with him any British pledge of reinforcements. Prime Minister and the President appear to have agreed to defer the issue of whether Britain will add to its 8,300-troop presence in Afghanistan until the matter is raised within the Nato alliance at its 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg on April 3. sources said that Mr Brown and Mr Obama were expected to make a joint statement after today s meeting in which they would underline the efforts the US and Britain have taken together against the Taleban in Afghanistan.would also be a focus on the need for greater participation by civilian specialists to increase the level of reconstruction in the country. options are being drawn up by the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This is because of the expectation that Mr Obama will use the Strasbourg summit - his first opportunity to address the alliance directly - to emphasise the importance of the mission in Afghanistan and the need to increase the number of combat troops serving in the most unstable areas. reports that Taleban groups based in Pakistan are planning to join forces and confront Western troops, military commanders involved in the Afghanistan campaign have urged the alliance to send more soldiers. Mr Obama is expected to make an appeal to all Nato members to raise their contribution, either with more manpower or increased investment. senior source said that although the Prime Minister was not planning to talk about extra British troops in Washington, options had been drawn up. Prime Minister caught Whitehall off guard last year when he announced during a visit to Baghdad that some British troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by Christmas. This led to some confusion, and in later clarifications it emerged that the troops would not begin to leave until later this month. options include two additional deployments that have already been approved by the MoD: the sev en Merlin helicopters currently in Iraq are to be transferred to Afghanistan, although it will cost? 50 million - and take up to four months - to modify them; and about 300 explosives experts are to be sent to deal with the growing threat from roadside bom bs. s contribution to Afghanistan is to be increased on a small scale in October when Major-General Nick Carter takes command of Regional Command South headquarters.The Times3, 2009Brown travels in hope of new special relationship
Philip Webster and Tom Baldwin, WashingtonBrown sought a decisive break with the Bush-Blair era by heralding a special relationship that places economic harmony ahead of military cooperation. Before flying out of Britain for a meeting with President Obama today, he said: Past British prime ministers have gone to Washington to talk about wars. I m going to talk about stability for the future. Brown will use a speech to both Houses of Congress to warn that protectionist tendencies -as held by many senior Democrats in his audience - risk making the recession worse. He will offer strong backing to Mr Obama s green agenda in the teeth of fierce domestic opposition.is the first European leader t...
