Lady Gaga beats Obama for Facebook record
President Obama has lost out to Lady Gaga in the battle to be the first living person with more than 10 million fans on Facebook. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
(CNN) - As if we already didn't know Lady Gaga is the biggest thing in the universe right now.
On Friday the shock singer broke 10 million followers on Facebook making her the first living person to have so many friends on the social networking site.
Gaga had been running neck and neck with President Barack Obama for the honor, but soon surpassed the Commander-in-Chief.
Related: Obama, Lady Gaga compete for Facebook fan record
Republicans line up on opposite sides over latest Steele controversy
Washington (CNN) - Republicans lined up on opposite sides Sunday over comments by the chairman of the Republican National Committee that the Afghanistan war launched by former President George W. Bush was "of (President Barack) Obama's choosing" and may be unwinnable.
Speaking from Afghanistan, GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina lambasted Michael Steele for the comments, which McCain called "wildly inaccurate" and Graham characterized as "uninformed, unnecessary, unwise, untimely," while follow Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina said Steele should apologize to the military.
However, conservative GOP Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, in a statement to CNN, supported Steele and said the RNC chairman's characterization of the war was correct.
Updated: 4:48 p.m.
Military heroes to celebrate July 4 at the White House
Red, white, and blue dominate the preparations for Sunday's July 4 barbecue on the South Lawn of the White House. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Washington (CNN) – Members of the military and their families will be the guests of honor at a Fourth of July celebration at the White House Sunday.
In addition to a barbecue and an opportunity to watch fireworks over the National Mall, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will host a USO concert on the White House South Lawn featuring Brandi Carlile, Cedric "The Entertainer," The Killers, and "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band.
In a message entitled "Supporting Our Military Families" emailed from the White House Sunday, the first lady called on all Americans to find a way in their communities to support members of the military and their families. "A small percentage of Americans fight our wars, but we need 100 percent of Americans to support these brave men and women and their families back home," Mrs. Obama said in her message.
The first lady said she and the president will welcome more than 1,200 service members and their families to the White House festivities.
Lawmakers less than optimistic on Afghanistan outlook
Washington (CNN) – A trio of lawmakers with unique perspectives on the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan were all less than optimistic about the outlook in the next year in the struggling, war-torn country.
Rep. John Boccieri, D-Ohio, and Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, both served in the military in both Iraq and Afghanistan and Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, served in Iraq in 2005 and was also a part of Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
In an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, all three men expressed reservations about whether the situation in Afghanistan can be stabilized by the July 2011 target date President Obama has set for beginning to draw down U.S. troops in the country.
Related: Afghan ambassador to U.S. calls deadline unrealistic, unhelpful
Critics press Obama on Afghanistan withdrawal deadline
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/04/art.jawad0704.cnn.jpg caption="The Afghan ambassador to the U.S. told CNn Sunday, 'if you over emphasize a deadline that is not realistic, you are making the enemy a lot more bold.'"]
(CNN) - The July 2011 deadline to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan is unrealistic and unhelpful, Afghan Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.
"First, if you over emphasize a deadline that is not realistic, you are making the enemy a lot more bold," Jawad said. "You are prolonging the war. That deadline should be realistic. The line should be based on the reality on the ground and we should give a clear message to the enemy, to the terrorists who are a threat to everyone, that the United States, NATO, Afghans are there to finish this job."
He continued, "If that's not the feeling, we lost the support of the Afghan people, and also make the neighboring countries of interest a lot more bolder to interfere in Afghanistan."
Petraeus formally assumes command in Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) - Gen. David Petraeus formally assumed command of NATO's International Security Assistance Force during a ceremony Sunday at the command's headquarters in Kabul.
In a speech, Petraeus said NATO's strategy in Afghanistan had not changed.
"We must help Afghan leaders develop their security forces and governance capacity so that they can, over time, take on the tasks of securing their country and see to the needs of their people," he said. "And, in performing these tasks, we clearly must pursue the insurgents relentlessly."
Petraeus said the war had reached a "critical moment."
"We must demonstrate to the Afghan people, and to the world, that al Qaeda and its network of extremist allies will not be allowed to once again establish sanctuaries in Afghanistan from which they can launch attacks on the Afghan people and on freedom-loving nations around the world," he said.
McCain question's Steele's ability to lead RNC
In an interview that aired Sunday, Sen. John McCain said there was no excuse for RNC Chairman Michael Steele's recent comments about the war in Afghanistan. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
(CNN) - Sen. John McCain sharply criticized Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Sunday, calling his comments on the war in Afghanistan "wildly inaccurate."
In an interview from Afghanistan broadcast on the ABC program "This Week," McCain, R-Arizona, said there was no excuse for Steele's statements that the war launched by former President George W. Bush was "of (President Barack) Obama's choosing" and may be unwinnable.
"I think that Mr. Steele is going to have to assess whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee," said McCain, a veteran senator who was the Republican presidential candidate in 2008.
FULL POST
Ron Paul endorses Michael Steele's Afghanistan comments
Washington (CNN) - Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is praising Michael Steele for suggesting last week the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable, a statement that prompted some influential GOP voices to call on him to step down as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
“Michael Steele should not resign," Paul said in a statement sent to CNN. "Smart policies make smart politics. He is guiding the party in the right direction and we are on the verge of victory this fall. Chairman Steele should not back off. He is giving the country, especially young people, hope as he speaks truth about this war."
Except, Steele has stepped back from his original comments in which he also charged that Afghanistan "was a war of Obama's choosing."
On Friday, the RNC chairman released a statement where he emphasized his support for the war in Afghanistan.
"The stakes are too high for us to accept anything but success in Afghanistan," Steele said.
But Paul, who ran in 2008 for the Republican presidential nomination, wants the U.S. to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
“I would like to congratulate Michael Steele for his leadership on one of the most important issues of today," Paul said. "He is absolutely right: Afghanistan is now Obama’s war. During the 2008 campaign, Obama was out in front in insisting that more troops be sent to Afghanistan. Obama called for expanding the war even as he pretended to be a peace candidate."
(Read Paul's full statement after jump)
FULL POST
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