American Morning
Pentagon sends out 'don't ask, don't tell' survey
Lt. Dan Choi, a graduate of West Point, takes part in the 39th annual gay pride parade June 28, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)
(CNN) – The Pentagon on Wednesday began sending out to troops a survey of more than 100 questions seeking their views on the impact of repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" restrictions prohibiting gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military. An administration official confirmed to CNN that the survey is being sent to 200,000 active duty troops and 200,000 reserve troops. The official declined to be identified because the survey has not officially been made public. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr breaks it down for us. Watch 
Petraeus heads to Afghanistan as U.S. battles Taliban
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/02/kunduz.afghan.gi.art.jpg caption="Afghan children walk along a street as smoke rises from a building in Kunduz, Afghanistan on July 2, 2010."]
(CNN) – Gen. David Petraeus is on his way to Afghanistan today. It's been two days since he was confirmed for the job and now he's got to study the battle plan, get his staff in place and turn things around after the deadliest month of the nine year war.
Paying for progress isn't cheap. President Obama asked for billions more to win this war. And late last night, despite the growing discord between Democrats and the president's policy, the House approved $37 billion to fund the fight in Afghanistan.
And the war is raging on during the change in command. Overnight, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a U.S. aid agency in northern Afghanistan, which killed at least four people. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the report. Watch
Read more: Taliban attack U.S. agency compound
Vets exposed to HIV & hepatitis from dental tools
(CNN) – Over 1,800 veterans who went to a Missouri VA hospital are now facing possible exposure to HIV and hepatitis. And we now know why: improperly cleaned dental tools. But hospital officials say laziness wasn't a factor. Missouri Democrat Rep. Russ Carnahan is calling for a full investigation and he joined us on Thursday's American Morning to explain.
Read more: VA hospital may have infected vets
Leadership, goals and obstacles in Afghanistan
(CNN) – The situation in Afghanistan is intensifying. Gen. David Patraeus is sailing towards a full confirmation as the top commander, but there's still plenty of debate. The biggest being the July 2011 deadline for troop withdrawal. An attack this morning on the Jalalabad airport by Taliban insurgents only underscores this reality. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the report.
Pentagon brass 'stunned' by McChrystal remarks
(CNN) – "Stunned" and "sick" is how the top brass at the Pentagon are reacting to comments made by ousted General Stanley McChrystal and his aides. Those comments, published by Rolling Stone, brought about a change in command, but a new top U.S. commander in Afghanistan does not mean change in policy. Our Barbara Starr has the report. Watch
Should Gen. McChrystal be fired?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/23/mcchrystal.wh.gi.art.jpg caption="General McChrystal arrives at the White House on Wednesday, June 23, 2010."]
(CNN) – The White House has asked the Pentagon to make a list of possible replacements for General Stanley McChrystal because Obama wants to be ready if he decides to fire the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, a senior administration official told CNN Wednesday.
McChrystal is unlikely to survive the fallout from the Rolling Stone story, a Pentagon source who has ongoing contacts with the general told CNN earlier.
He will likely resign Wednesday, the source said. Obama was "angry" after reading the general's remarks, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.
Michael O'Hanlon is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He joined us on Wednesday's American Morning where he made his case for why the president should keep the general. Watch
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