Obama to meet military advisers on day one, aide says
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WASHINGTON - On his first full day as president, Barack Obama will meet with high-ranking military officers to discuss the Iraq war and other issues, a top adviser to Obama said yesterday.
Wednesday's meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military commanders and aides will fulfill a key campaign promise and bring the Iraq war back to the political forefront after months of being overshadowed by the economy.
In the early stages of his two-year presidential campaign, Obama vowed to wind down the war, a stance that helped him eclipse Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries.
In the past year or so, however, Iraq lost prominence in the national debate, and Obama gave himself some slight wiggle room on the pace of withdrawing troops. He also stressed the need to pump more US military power into Afghanistan.
Still, many of his backers recall his remarks about Iraq in July, when he said: "I intend to end this war. My first day in office, I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in, and I will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war responsibly and deliberately but decisively."
The Obama adviser, who would speak only on condition of anonymity because the Wednesday meeting has not been formally announced, said the session will include several top commanders and aides in addition to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The military meeting will be one of many events on Obama's jam-packed first full day as president. Although he may not get to bed before 3 a.m. after attending 10 inaugural balls, Obama also has scheduled a church service, diplomatic actions, and a White House reception for hundreds of visitors.
Obama has deliberately raised Wednesday's symbolic importance, citing various things he would do on day one of his administration. Scores of special-interest groups have jumped in, imploring him to enact this or that policy right away.
The new president will start Wednesday at Washington's National Cathedral for the National Prayer Service, which dates to George Washington's time. His office said he and his wife, Michelle, will welcome "hundreds of special guests" on "day one, when we open the doors of the White House to you." (Ticket-seekers were directed to the website www.pic2009.org/dayone).
And Obama told USA Today that he will assemble a team "on day one" to deal with violence in Gaza and other Middle East problems.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In the letter signed "Love, Dad," and printed in weekend editions of Parade magazine, Obama gives some family insights as he prepares to take the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States.
"When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me, about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful and get the things I want," he wrote. "But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day."
"And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours," he said.
Among the principles Obama laid out for the girls to live by were these:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Center for Responsive Politics said executives of finance, insurance, and real estate companies and their family members gave $7.1 million to Obama's inaugural committee.
Top donors from the world of high finance included George Soros, Ronald Perelman, and David Shaw, the center said.
REUTERS
