US, Iran Have 'Cordial' Chat in the Hague

(NEWSER) - President Obama's advisers are divided over the Pentagon's expected request for more troops to be deployed to Afghanistan, reports the New York Times. Joe Biden is leading the just-say-no camp, arguing that the mission in Pakistan is more important. The opposition includes envoy Richard Holbrooke, who says US troops are vital to the task of protecting Afghan civilians. It's a "healthy debate," said one administration official. More»

Decision to attend may indicate US overtures to Tehran are working

(NEWSER) - Iran plans to attend a US-initiated UN conference on the situation in Afghanistan, Reuters reports. A foreign ministry rep said Tehran hasn't decided who to send; other attendees include Ban Ki-Moon and Hillary Clinton. “Iran will participate,” the spokesman said. “The level of participation is not clear.” Iran will advocate a regional approach to the crisis; it has said in the past it would like to help stabilize its neighbor. More»

Rejecting Bush approach, she wants Tehran at conference table

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton has announced the US is inviting Iran to a major conference on Afghanistan this month, setting up the first possible face-to-face meeting between Tehran and the Obama administration. The secretary of state said at a NATO meeting in Brussels that Iran could play a critical role in stabilizing Afghanistan, although she continued a hard-line opposition to any Iranian nuclear program. More»

Former senator gets Mideast portfolio; ex-ambassador Afghanistan and Pakistan

(NEWSER) - President Obama and newly minted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton moved quickly today to build the administration’s diplomatic efforts, naming George Mitchell and Richard Holbrooke special envoys, Reuters reports; both appointments were expected. Former Sen. Mitchell will focus on facilitating peace talks between Israel and Palestine, while ex-UN ambassador Holbrooke will address issues in war-torn Pakistan and Afghanistan. More»

At NATO summit, Obama supports 2014 pullout

(NEWSER) - President Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai today at the NATO summit and urged world leaders to agree on post-2014 Afghanistan, MSNBC reports. "What this NATO summit reflects is that the world is behind strategy we've laid out," Obama said of the plan to pull out coalition troops in two years. Standing with Obama in Chicago, Karzai said he looked forward to a time when his nation "is no longer a burden on the shoulder of our friends in the international community." More»