by Mark Silva
Much was made of the war councils which President Barack Obama assembled in the months leading to the announcement of a strategy for a new way forward in Afghanistan.
The president made a public address with his decision.
Now a summit fit for a war council will assemble to assess what went wrong with U.S. intelligence and security in the runup to an attempted airliner-bombing on Christmas Day and what to do about it.
The president will make a public address afterward.
Following intelligence and other briefings today at the White House, the president, just returned from vacation, will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Eric Holder, Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence, Leon Panetta, director of the CIA, Robert Mueller, director of the FBI, TG Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, Michael Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Gen. James Jones, National Security Advisor, John Brennan, assistant to the presidenti for counterterrorism and homeland security, and others.
Afterward, at 4 pm EST, the president plans to deliver an address in the Grand Foyer of the White House which will be open to news coverage.
If that's not enough controversy for one day, the president plans to meet n the Oval Office with Democratic leaders of the House and Senate this evening as negotiations for a health-care overhaul get underway. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoeyer are expected to join Obama at the White House, with Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid and Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois patching in via conference call.
The president plans no public address afterward.
Comments
As a team, they may want to look into how an ex-vice president may be adding to our security worries. And, that ex-VP seems to make a perfect saboteur. The team may also need to look into how the senate is keeping Americans' air travel unsafe due to not allowing confirmation of a TSA director. Harry Reid could proceed with the process while ignoring DeMint's hold--it's been done before. DeMint is free to vote 'no' whenever it's time for all senators to actually vote on the matter. Obama might want to put someone else up for the job--just get someone qualified in there ASAP--not for sparring egos--but for continuity and our safety.
Posted by: Vivian | January 5, 2010 7:40 AM
Republicans may be pressuring the president to get tough on terror, but the ONLY issue to most Americans is the economy. He needs to find a balance between the two if he wants 2010 to be a better year.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | January 5, 2010 8:08 AM
Apparently, it has finally come to the attention of this administration that there are terrorists out there bent on attacking America and her interests. Even if they are still confused and in denial about their role in this war.
Posted by: Douglas4517 | January 5, 2010 8:11 AM
It appears that President Obama is going to ignore at least two of his campaign promises and probably a third as they craft the health care bill.
First he promised that the health care bill would be bipartisan. If only the Democrats from the House, Senate and White House are allowed to craft the final bill then it appears that any attempt at bipartianship is out the window.
Second it is being forged in back rooms and not on C-Span as he promised many times on the campaign trail in 2008.
Third he it appears that it will be loaded up with earmarks and special interest segments that he assured us would lead to his veto pen being activated.
This is not "Change You Can Believe In" this is just your normal politician at work!
Posted by: Pat H | January 5, 2010 8:27 AM
The team may also need to look into how the senate is keeping Americans' air travel unsafe due to not allowing confirmation of a TSA director.----------------------------------------------Oh, you mean the confirmation of Ozero's pick that used a goverment database to dig up dirt on his Ex's boyfriend? not to mention wants to unionize the TSA? O' has a knack for picking unqualified, radical individuals for post's and let's not even get into his "Czars". Look at who he picked to run homeland security, clueless Janet "the system worked" Napolitano.
Posted by: Dave | January 5, 2010 10:09 AM
Harry Reid and Nacy P would be excellant picks.
Posted by: Inky | January 5, 2010 10:10 AM
If more talkie-talk could kill the terrorists, we'd already be safe.
But talk from people who can't even keep gate-crashers out of the White House doesn't scare anyone.
Talk is all Obama offers. Talk is the only thing Obama is good at.
Posted by: Bruce | January 5, 2010 10:59 AM