Obama: 'Larger paychecks' for U.S. workers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday "155 million workers will see larger paychecks this month" because of tax cuts enacted and signed into law last month.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, the president noted that the private sector added more than 100,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell in December, following growing strength in auto sales and manufacturing.
"Now, we know that these numbers can bounce around from month to month," Obama said. "But the trend is clear. We saw 12 straight months of private sector job growth -- the first time that's been true since 2006. The economy added 1.3 million jobs last year. And each quarter was stronger than the last, which means the pace of hiring is picking up."
The president said tax cuts passed during the recent session of Congress are "in part" responsible for optimistic forecasts for 2011 but he acknowledged that the United States "still has a lot of work to do. The recession rocked the foundations of our economy, and left a lot of destruction and doubt in its wake."
He said the administration will focus on acceleration hiring and growth, and said growth will be helped along by the payroll tax cut included in the tax package he signed, which he said "will mean $1,000 more this year for a typical family."
"In fact, 155 million workers will see larger paychecks this month as a result of this tax cut," Obama said.
Republicans attack healthcare agenda
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. economy can't get back on track with existing Democratic healthcare policies, House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Saturday.
In the party's weekly radio and Internet address, Cantor derided the 10-month-old healthcare package as flawed and claimed it was hindering economic recovery, The Hill reported.
"At a time when we need to do everything in our power to encourage job creation, the healthcare law hangs around the necks of businesses small and large, causing them to not hire new workers -- or worse, be forced to let current employees go," he said.
Cantor said a scheduled vote on repealing the measures Wednesday would be a message to voters the party was determined to scale back government's role.
"The best boost that Congress can provide to the economy is to send a credible signal that we are serious about cutting spending and eliminating job-killing regulations," Cantor said.
The repeal measure is expected to be passed by the Republican-dominated House, but thwarted in the Democrat-controlled Senate, the report said. President Barack Obama has already stated he would veto any repeal measures.
Iraq's Sadr returns with anti-U.S. theme
NAJAF, Iraq, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A militant Shiite Muslim leader ended his exile in Iran and was back in Iraq calling for national unity and an end to the U.S. military presence.
Moqtada Sadr, 39, returned to the south-central city of Najaf after four years of self-imposed exile in Iran and called for fellow Shiites to support the government, the BBC reported Saturday.
He also led chants of "No, no, to America" to a crowd of thousands, urging "all other kinds of resistance" to the U.S. military presence in the country.
Sadr is the leader of the Shiite Mehdi militia, formed as resistance to former President Saddam Hussein's Sunni Muslim-controlled government.
"Whatever happened between brothers happened, but that page must be forgotten and turned forever," Sadr told the cheering crowd. "The Iraqi government has been formed. If it serves the Iraqi people, and provides services, we will stand by it, not against it."
Sadr's political wing has 39 seats in the 325-seat parliament.
"This is a new government, we must give it a chance to prove that it can serve the people," he said.
U.S. wounded rate in Afghanistan soars
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. troops wounded in battle in Afghanistan in 2010 more than doubled from the previous year, The New York Times reported Saturday.
The newspaper cited reports it obtained from the Pentagon that showed almost 5,500 soldiers were injured in 2010 in the NATO intervention to oust Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents from Afghanistan.
In 2009, 2,415 U.S. soldiers were wounded in action, the report said. The year's death toll for U.S. troops was 430, the newspaper said.
The wounded rate was almost six times higher than 2008, although data indicated advances in emergency care reduced the mortality rate to 7.9 percent last year from 14.3 percent in 2008, the Times said.
Military officials said soldiers were better trained and equipped to deal with injuries.
"This is just basic techniques -- trained well," said Lt. Col. Michael Wirt, brigade surgeon in the 101st Airborne Division.
U.S. to offer Pakistan more aid
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Vice President Joe Biden is to take a message to Pakistan that the United States is prepared to supply military aid its government wants, officials say.
The Washington Post described President Barack Obama's plan as challenging Pakistan, calling on its political and military leaders to specify what they need to drive the Taliban from tribal areas. Biden is scheduled to travel to Pakistan next week for meetings with Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, the head of the military, and other officials.
Pakistani officials have complained that U.S. military aid is both inadequate and late to arrive. The report on Obama's Afghanistan policy review said unspecified "adjustments" were needed for Pakistan.
One senior official told the Post the review concluded the United States must "make sure that our sizeable military assistance programs are properly tailored to what the Pakistanis need and are targeted on units that will generate the most benefit."
The official said other parts of the strategy include easing Pakistani fears that India is becoming a force in Afghanistan and working toward a political solution. The official said Pakistan is vital to efforts to negotiate with the Taliban.
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