Barack Obama

US to pursue broader military ties with Pakistan

US to pursue broader military ties with PakistanWashington, Apr 22 : The Obama Administration wants to pursue broader military ties with Pakistan in order to help Islamabad combat a growing threat from militant groups including the Taliban, a senior Pentagon official has said.

US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Michele Flournoy said Washington wants to provide the Pakistani Army with training and advice on counterinsurgency tactics developed in Iraq and Afghanistan and support ongoing operations with intelligence and other assistance.

Obama administration provides new details on military’s brutal techniques

barack obamaWashington, Apr. 22 : A newly declassified Congressional report released Tuesday has outlined the most detailed evidence yet that the military’s use of harsh interrogation methods on terrorism suspects was approved at high levels of the Bush administration.

The report focused solely on interrogations carried out by the military, not those conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency at its secret prisons overseas.

It rejected claims by former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and others that Pentagon policies played no role in harsh treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq or other military facilities.

Obama invites Mideast leaders to White House

Obama invites Mideast leaders to White House Washington - US President Barack Obama had invited the Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian leaders to Washington in the weeks ahead for talks on resuming the peace process, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Obama will hold separate meetings with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Gibbs said. No dates have been set for the three visits, he said.

Obama won't rule out prosecution of interrogation memo drafters

US President Barack Obama Washington  - US President Barack Obama has not ruled out the possibility of prosecuting officials who drafted the policies allowing harsh interrogation tactics against prisoners in the war on terrorism.

Obama said Tuesday that the decision will be left to the chief of the US Justice Department, Attorney General Eric Holder, about whether those who drafted the policies should be criminally investigated.

Ahmadinejad's remarks harmful to better US relations, Obama says

United States President Barack ObamaWashington  - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinjed's remarks against Israel at a UN racism conference were "appalling and objectionable," and damaging to the prospects of better relations with the United States, President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

During a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah, Obama responded to Ahmadinejad's comments a day after the Iranian president called Israel a "racist regime" created "under the pretext of Jewish suffering."

Obama calls on Israelis, Palestinians to build confidence

US President Barack ObamaWashington  - US President Barack Obama Tuesday called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take steps in the coming months to build confidence and establish a foundation for resuming peace talks.

Obama, meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah, said the United States plans to be deeply involved in the peace process to build a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.

"My hope would be that, over the next several months, that you start seeing gestures of good faith on all sides," Obama said.

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