American Morning
White House forum aims to get Americans working again
The president shifts his focus from Afghanistan to jobs today. He's hosting a forum at the White House, looking for ideas to put 16 million unemployed Americans back to work. And he has his work cut out for him. Our Jim Acosta reports.
CNNMoney: White House job summit seeks solutions
Lawmakers question 2011 Afghan exit plan
Washington (CNN) - Conservative and liberal lawmakers Wednesday sharply criticized President Obama's plan to start a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in July 2011.
Most Republicans backed the president's decision to send more troops. They claimed, however, he was playing politics by setting an "arbitrary" withdrawal deadline while insisting that any transfer of responsibility to the Afghan government ultimately will be based on conditions in that country.
They also argued he inadvertently strengthened the hand of Taliban and al Qaeda extremists by allowing them to know when a U.S. departure from the war-torn country would begin.
Several members of the Democratic caucus, on the other hand, expressed unease with the president's decision to send thousands of additional troops over the next several months. They questioned whether the war is winnable.
Obama's blueprint faced questions Wednesday as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before two key committees.
McCain supports Obama's plan, for the most part
Top Republicans are weighing in on President Obama's prime time address last night.
Senator John McCain attended a White House briefing yesterday on the new Afghanistan strategy, and today he says he supports the president's decision – mostly. Sen. McCain spoke to John Roberts on American Morning Wednesday with his reaction to the speech.
Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama's opponent in last year's election says he supports the president's buildup of troops in Afghanistan, but Senator John McCain believes laying out an exit strategy is a mistake.
"If you say there's a date certain for withdrawal, your friends and enemies who will be in the region make accommodations accordingly," McCain said.
During Tuesday night's prime time address laying out his Afghanistan troop buildup, President Obama said that a troop withdrawal could begin as early as July 2011.
McCain said Wednesday in an interview on CNN's American Morning that Obama "gave an excellent speech and I think the policy, although it's very extended period of deliberation which is now behind us, is a good one, and I'm confident the president will do exactly as he says."
Republicans in focus group praise Obama's Afghan speech
As one might expect, some Americans who listened to President Obama's Afghanistan speech last night liked it while others didn't. As the president outlined his new war plan at West Point, our Jim Acosta was getting a real-time reaction from a focus group in Virginia that put the speech to a "dial test."
War tax proposed to pay for troop surge
After weeks of anticipation, President Obama is finally scheduled to unveil his plans for Afghanistan in a prime time speech tomorrow. He's expected to call for an additional 34,000 U.S. troops.
Some congressional Democrats are already voicing concern about the costs and are even proposing a surtax to fund future military operations in Afghanistan.
Connecticut Rep. John Larson co-authored the legislation for a war tax. He spoke to Kiran Chetry on American Morning Monday.
Related: Share the Sacrifice Act of 2010
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