White House spokesman says simply hoping corruption vanishes in Afghanistan isn’t enough

November 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai Monday to being a "new chapter" for his country by initiating reforms and cracking down on corruption. Obama telephoned Karzai after he was declared the winner in the presidential election to offer congratulations but also to urge him to get serious about improving the government, fighting corruption and speeding up the training of Afghan security forces.

October 26th, 2009 Small plane vanishes from radar in south TexasCORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A small plane with four people aboard is missing in southern Texas after vanishing from radar shortly after the pilot reported encountering turbulence. A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman says the last known position of the twin-turboprop Beechcraft King Air was about 40 miles from Corpus Christi.

October 20th, 2009 Gates: Afghan runoff won't solve corruption issuesTOKYO — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday a runoff election in Afghanistan won't solve the problem of corruption in that nation's government.

October 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan is not among the options under consideration by US President Barack Obama as he outlines a new strategy for the conflict. "I don't think we have the option to leave," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday.

October 5th, 2009 Obama to meet with lawmakers on AfghanistanWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has invited a bipartisan group of congressional leaders to the White House on Tuesday to confer about the eroding war in Afghanistan. The meeting comes at a pivotal time as the war is about to roll into its ninth year.

October 5th, 2009 White House: Leaving Afghanistan not an optionWASHINGTON — The White House said Monday that President Barack Obama is not considering a strategy for Afghanistan that would withdraw U.S. troops from the eroding war there.

October 2nd, 2009 Spokesman says Obama-McChrystal meeting productiveABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — The White House says that President Barack Obama's meeting with his top commander in Afghanistan was very helpful to his review of war strategy. Obama and Army Gen.

September 30th, 2009 President to meet NATO secretary generalWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama meets at the White House today with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (AHN'-derz FOHG RAHS'-moo-sihn). The likely topic of discussion: Afghanistan.

September 1st, 2009 Obama to get first look at Afghan report this weekWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will get his first look at a classified assessment on the war in Afghanistan when he heads to Camp David Wednesday. The report from the top U.S.

July 28th, 2009 Ala. student vanishes during trip to ThailandAUBURN, Ala. — An Auburn University veterinary student has vanished during a sightseeing trip to Thailand, and officials from the Alabama school are in Tokyo trying to find him.

July 9th, 2009 Woman vanishes from NYC office towerNEW YORK — Police are searching for a woman who vanished from a Manhattan office tower midway through her shift on the evening cleaning crew, and hasn't been heard from since. Eridania (ehr-ee-DAH'-nee-uh) Rodriguez disappeared from her job in the financial district Tuesday night.

June 25th, 2009 White House likes chances on House energy billWASHINGTON — The White House says it likes its chances as the climate bill heads toward a House vote. President Barack Obama is calling lawmakers to seek their support and he spoke in the Rose Garden on Thursday to build momentum.

May 1st, 2009 Obama to meet with Afghan, Pakistan leadersWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will meet Wednesday with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss their troubled region. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two at the White House.

May 1st, 2009 White House: Obama to meet with Karzai, ZardariWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will meet Wednesday with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss their troubled region. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two at the White House.

February 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama will soon announce his decision on the deployment of more troops in Afghanistan, the White House has said. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, who travelled with the president from Chicago to Washington, told reporters Monday that the government was reviewing the US policy towards Afghanistan and may take a decision soon to send additional troops to the war-torn country.