TPMDC Tom Vilsack
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
U.S. Says Number Of Troops In Iraq Below 50,000
Reuters reports: "The U.S. military said on Tuesday it had cut the number of its troops in Iraq to below 50,000 ahead of an August 31 deadline set by President Barack Obama to end its combat missions. The U.S. military commander in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno, said troop numbers were at around 49,700 and would stay at that level for the next year ahead of a full withdrawal by the end of 2011 agreed in a bilateral security pact. 'My planning is it will stay at that level through next summer,' Odierno told reporters in Baghdad, adding that the timeline would give the U.S. Embassy the space it needed to take over tasks still being undertaken by the military."
Iraq Troop Drawdown, Mideast Peace Talks Give Obama Risky Chance For Momentum
The Washington Post reports: "The White House faces a delicate messaging task next week as President Obama seeks to bring one foreign engagement to an end while making a new bid for American influence abroad. Obama's return to Washington from 10 days in Martha's Vineyard and a quick stop in New Orleans to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina will begin with an address to the nation marking the end of combat operations in Iraq. Days later, he will preside over the start of a new round of Middle East peace talks in Washington."
Topics: 2010 elections, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Iraq, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney, Roundup, Scott Brown, Shirley Sherrod, Tom Vilsack
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama: Vilsack 'Jumped The Gun' On Sherrod
In an interview with ABC News, President Obama said that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack "jumped the gun" in the firing of Shirley Sherrod. "He jumped the gun, partly because we now live in this media culture where something goes up on YouTube or a blog and everybody scrambles," said Obama. He also added: "I've told my team and I told my agencies that we have to make sure that we're focusing on doing the right thing instead of what looks to be politically necessary at that very moment. We have to take our time and think these issues through."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 11 a.m. ET, and meet at 11:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. He does not have any public events scheduled for today.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Jack Lew, Joe Biden, Nuclear nonproliferation, OMB, Pentagon budget, Roundup, Russia, Shirley Sherrod, Tom Vilsack, Trade
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