Iraqi Parliament Approves Security pact With U.S.
Iraq’s parliament has approved a landmark security pact with the United States that paves the way for U.S. forces to withdraw by the end of 2011. The deal could mark the beginning of the end of a U.S. military presence in Iraq that began with the 2003 invasion. The security pact has been opposed by Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and some Sunni groups in part because it allows U.S. forces to remain for another three years. In a compromise, lawmakers agreed to hold a national referendum on the security pact in July. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Malaki. described the pact as one of the best achievements that will help recover Iraq’s sovereignty.

Nouri Al Malaki: “We have achieved one of our greatest achievements by signing the agreement of withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, to get back our sovereignty that we lost two decades ago, and I congratulate the Iraqi people.”

Obama To Introduce National Security Team
President-elect Barack Obama plans to officially introduce Senator Hillary Clinton as his nominee to be Secretary of State today. He is also expected to name retired General James Jones to be National Security Adviser and to announce that Robert Gates will remain as Secretary of Defense. Jones is the former commander of NATO. Since retiring he has served on the boards of Chevron and Boeing. Obama will also announce Eric Holder for Attorney General, Janet Napolitano for secretary of Homeland Security and Susan Rice to become ambassador to the United Nations.

Obama Defends Selection Of Top Aides
On Wednesday Obama defended his decision to surround himself with many former Clinton administration officials and other Washington insiders despite campaigning on a message of change.

President-Elect Barack Obama: “What we are going to do is combine experience with fresh thinking. But understand where the—the vision for change comes from first and foremost. It comes from me. That’s my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing it.”

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