Military: Afghan War Needs More Time, Cash

Military: Afghan War Needs More Time, Cash
The situations in Afghanistan is dire, and progress will demand a substantial and sustained commitment, military leaders told Congress. But some members of the Senate Armed Services committee were skeptical.
Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
ABC News' Kirit Radia reports: The controversial private security firm Blackwater's contracts in Iraq have been replaced by Virginia-based Triple Canopy, the State Department said today. "[On] March the 31st the department awarded Triple Canopy the ground task order for...
McCain needles Obama on 'war on terror'

by Frank James

Sen. John McCain couldn't resist directing a little sarcasm towards the Obama Administration today for putting to rest the term "war on terror," the phrase the Bush Administration used to describe the fight against terrorists it waged since 9/11.

McCain's comment came in an exchange he had with Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Central Command, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the Afghanistan War. McCain had asked Petraeus about a threat made Tuesday by the head of the Pakistan Taliban to attack Washington and the White House:

SEN. MCCAIN: He said that there would be -- he would orchestrate -- he would arrange an attack -- there would be an attack on Washington, D.C. How seriously do you take that threat? GEN. PETRAEUS: Well, I think any time there is any threat that could be against the homeland, I think you have to take it seriously. We are doing what is -- in the intelligence circle is called a "deep dive" to determine the possibility of that, if you will. There are some questions about capacity of that organization in terms of transnational activities. But I can assure you -- and I just talked to a senior member of the National Security council staff this morning about that. And obviously everyone is quite riveted on analyzing that and seeing what further we can find out about that.

SEN. MCCAIN: Well, we certainly wouldn't want to call it a global war on terror. I thank you, thank the witnesses.

Opponents Focus On Cost In Death Penalty Debate

In several states, economic concerns have become part of the argument against the death penalty. Opponents say capital punishment costs states considerably more than sentencing someone to life in prison.