This Week In Washington DC
Top 5 Stories
1.
President Obama acknowledged the
US underestimated the threat posed by ISIS and overestimated the Iraqi
military's capacity to counter the group, while emphasizing the international
character of the conflict.
Look ahead: The White House
maintains its position that "there will not be U.S. ground invasion of
Iraq or Syria."
2.
Following an oversight hearing
during which lawmakers questioned her capacity to lead the agency amid revelations
of serious security lapses, Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigned
after only 18 months at the helm.
Look ahead: Joseph Clancy, a former
chief of the agency's presidential-protection division, who later headed
corporate security for Comcast, will serve as acting interim director.
3.
Thomas Duncan, a 42-year-old
Liberian national, was diagnosed with Ebola after arriving in the United
States, and is undergoing treatment at a Texas hospital.
Look ahead: The CDC has dispatched
10 experts to Dallas, where authorities are monitoring as many as 100 people
who may have come into contact with Duncan, to oversee Duncan's treatment and
the effort to prevent new infections.
4.
The government of Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani, who was inaugurated this week pursuant to a
power-sharing agreement with former rival Abdullah Abdullah, signed a bilateral
security agreement with the US.
Look ahead: Under the pact,
approximately 9,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan at the start of
2015.
5.
Economic data was mixed this
week, with ADP reporting private-sector employers added 213,000 positions in
September, and consumer spending increasing 0.5% in August, but consumer
confidence dipping unexpectedly and home prices rising at their slowest pace in
20 months.
Look ahead: The Labor
Department's employment situation report for September, due for release Friday,
should provide more clarity, following August's disappointing showing of
142,000 jobs added to nonfarm payrolls.
No comments:
Post a Comment