"It's been described by some as an arbitrary date. It's not an arbitrary date. In fact, those of us in the military believe that that date is a date where we will know certainly whether we're succeeding or not in Afghanistan with this strategy," said Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of US Joint Chief of Staff, at a Congressional hearing.
Retired Admiral Dennis Blair, the Obama Administration's Director of National Intelligence, in his first appearance before the US Congress, told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that "on the global state, Indian leaders will continue to follow an independent course characterized by economic and political pragmatism."
The high numbers are becoming the centre of a political storm.
In a major setback to the Obama Administration, Republican Senator Judd Gregg withdrew his nomination as Commerce Secretary due to "irresolvable conflicts" over the stimulus package with the US President.
"I would like to say with respect to the Indians and Afghanistan that they have provided a very helpful role to the United States and to Afghanistan and to the region," Tim Roemer, the nominated US Ambassador to India, told lawmakers at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday wound up his four-day State visit here, first by a foreign leader under the 10-month-old Obama Administration, during which the two countries decided to transform their ties into "one of the defining" relationships of the 21st century.
Opponents of the clause argue that the real world is too complicated to be viewed in these terms. The opposition comes from economists as well as politicians in other countries.
The Assistant Secretary of State said trade and agriculture is a major pillar of Indo-US relationship.
"I don't think there needs to be any concern in India about what the president said in China. We have very important relations with China. But we have equally important relations with India," the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, told media persons at a news briefing.
Pakistani Americans, in a move to counter Indo-American groups active in lobbying in the United States, have urged the Obama administration and US lawmakers against listening to India.Accusing Indian American groups of lobbying with Washington to put pressure on Islamabad in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack, the Pakistani-American groups are telling the US that Islamabad has been a reliable ally in its war against terror.
Robert O Blake, the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, making his debut before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday, said Secretary of State Hillary's Clinton's trip to India next month will be a tangible manifestation of the Obama Administration's commitment to take the Indo-US relationship to the next level.
'Clawback' provisions tied to federal bailout funds will be hotly contested. Right now only bankers who committed clear fraud are liable
The Barack Obama administration is honouring Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as its first state guest later this month, during which 'at least 10-12 agreements and MoUs' are likely to be signed, but it seems that China will be the new 'dragon' in the room when the two leaders meet in the White House.Dr Singh arrives in Washington DC on November 22, only three days before Obama would have returned from his maiden but extensive Asia tour which begins on November 11,.
The Obama Administration has cautioned Pakistan that it would be held accountable for the security in the border regions of Afghanistan and that its performance in the fight against terrorism would be linked to the financial aid to it. "President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will increase non-military aid to Pakistan and hold them accountable for security in the border region with Afghanistan," the White House said in its foreign policy agenda document.
Some South Asian experts in Washington, DC argue that such an envoy should concentrate only on Afghanistan and Pakistan; another section holds that India should be included and that a discussion on Kashmir is inevitable; and a third section of opinion contends that the whole idea is misguided.
An Asia Society task force -- working on advancing relations between India and United States -- on Friday urged the incoming Barack Obama administration to pursue deeper collaboration with New Delhi for mutual benefits on a host of global challenges raging from security and economic growth to climate change, education and tackling HIV/AIDS.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-1 to clear the 61-year-old former first lady's nomination as the top diplomat of the country.
The White House has said the Indo-US relationship has been exceedingly well in the last eight years of Bush regime and is expected to continue during the incoming Obama Administration.
The pace of economic downturn has diminished as a result of the steps taken by the Obama administration, including those under mega stimulus package, the White House said on Tuesday.
The US is quietly going ahead with its plan of a civilian surge in Afghanistan for more than tripling the numbers in less than a year, even as a final call is awaited from the White House on sending thousands of more troops to the war-torn country.
The Obama administration has made it clear that there has been no change in the United States' policy towards Tibet even as it decides to hold talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama after President Barack Obama's visit to China scheduled in November.
With the US economy in recession, the Obama administration is coming under a domestic pressure to protect its economy by restricting outsourcing of manufacturing and services. Newly appointed US trade representative Ron Kirk said in Geneva on Wednesday that countries like India and China which are seeking leadership position in WTO should agree to give improved market access.
The Indian elections in no way precluded the United States from working jointly with India to try to alleviate the lot of the affected Tamil civilians caught up in the crossfire between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan troops, the outgoing point man on South Asia for the Obama Administration has said.
Holbrooke declared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, "We do not think that Pakistan is a failed State. We think it's a State under extreme test from the enemies who are also our enemies and who have the same common enemy -- the United States and Pakistan. It just isn't (a failed State). But it is a State under enormous social, political and economic pressure. And India is always a factor."
Karl 'Rick' Inderfurth, foreign policy advisor on South Asia for United States President-elect Barack Obama's campaign, who is expected to play an influential role in the Obama administration's policy on the subcontinent, says, "It was said immediately after the 9/11 attack that 'we are all Americans'. Now, in the wake of the Mumbai tragedy, it is right for all of us to say 'we are all Indians.'
The payment of $1,90,000 to a high-profile lobbyist firm in Washington, BGR Holding, was made by RIL in the first quarter of 2009, and is the first instance of any lobbying by the Indian company with the US lawmakers.
Hillary Clinton has decided to accept the post of Secretary of State in the incoming Obama administration, a media report said on Saturday, raising prospects of the former Democratic rivals joining hands to guide the United States foreign policy amid steep challenges at home and abroad.Clinton came to her decision after additional discussions with President-elect Barack Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy.
On whether President Bush will leave this (the agreement) up to the next President -- as far as final bureaucratic things are still on his table -- Perino said, "Well, I think that the next administration will be able to decide for itself whether or not they want to continue that relationship that we've established with India. But I would see no reason why they shouldn't."
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said he would not rule out the option of forcing out chief executives of banks which have received taxpayers' money but are not performing well.
In its first substantive remarks on India, the Obama Administration wants New Delhi to support Pakistan in rooting out terrorism arguing that it has a "big stake" in the success of the democratic government in the Islamic nation.
Biden, 77, who served as vice president of the US for eight years from January 2009 to January 2017, would deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday.
