Obama in Afghanistan / Clinton in Bahrain / Banjo Diplomacy

President Obama makes a surprise visit to Afghanistan to deliver holiday greetings to the troops. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Iran’s nuclear ambitions are a global concern. We’ve got two stories on trade: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says trade can no longer depend so heavily on consumers, and the U.S. and South Korea wrap up four days of trade talks. A presidential commission releases a controversial new plan on reducing the budget deficit. And finally, find out how the U.S. and Russia are strengthening their relationship, with banjos.

President Obama in Afghanistan
President Obama made a quick, unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Friday. He traveled there to meet with American officials, speak to Afghan president Hamid Karzai, and thank U.S. troops for their service. Above, Obama is greeted by NATO Commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus, left, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Elkenberry, center, after stepping off Air Force One.

Iran’s Nuclear Threat
There is “no debate” in the international community over its shared concern that Iran may be developing nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. Speaking with Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa in Manama, Clinton says a nuclear armed Iran could destabilize the Middle East.

Easing World Trade Imbalances
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says nations that have been overly reliant on exports to fuel economic growth will benefit by pursuing policies that will help boost their own consumer demand. “We can no longer depend so heavily on consumers in the United States, Europe and other developed countries to be engines of global economic growth,” says Locke.

U.S.-Korea Trade Talks Conclude
U.S. and South Korean trade negotiators wrapped up four days of trade talks on a bilateral free trade agreement. An announcement of the details is not expected before negotiators brief President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Cutting the U.S. Deficit
Warning Americans that “the moment of truth” had come, a presidential commission released a sweeping and controversial plan to reduce U.S. chronic budget deficits and slow the growth of the public debt by 2020. The proposal calls for drastic cuts in defense and other government spending, the elimination of popular tax breaks, and an increase in taxes most working Americans pay for social programs.

Building Bridges with Banjos
The banjo, a traditional American instrument, is helping strengthen relations between the American and Russian people. The California-based Deering Banjo Company recently chose Liza Karpacheva, a 15-year-old Russian orphan from Obninsk, Russia (sister city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee), to receive the Brian Friesen Banjo Award. Karpacheva, right, is the first non-American to receive this award.

Obama, Medvedev Sign Nonproliferation Treaty

The two largest nuclear powers in the world – the United States and Russia – have signed a treaty to decrease nuclear arms by 30 percent.

President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the treaty in Prague, Czech Republic April 8.

“This day demonstrates the determination of the United States and Russia,” Obama said, “the two nations that hold over 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons — to pursue responsible global leadership.”

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Medvedev toasts Obama after signing the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

According to the White House, decreasing U.S. nuclear warheads by 30 percent includes ballistic missiles, submarine missiles and bombers.

The treaty states that Russia and the United States will also be permitted to monitor each other’s adherence to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) through inspections and other forms of transparency.

But the United States also issued a statement allowing for the continued development and deployment of its missile-defense systems for national security.

The treaty must also be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Senate to take effect.

“But nuclear weapons are not simply an issue for the United States and Russia,” Obama said. “A nuclear weapon in the hands of a terrorist is a danger to people everywhere … Next week, 47 nations will come together in Washington to discuss concrete steps that can be taken to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years.”

Obama Condemns Bombings in Russia

Two deadly bombings on Moscow’s subway system during rush hour March 28 were the result of two female suicide bombers, media reports said.

More than 38 people were killed and 60 wounded in the early morning explosions. One of the attacks took place below the Federal Security Service – Russia’s secret police headquarters.

The bombings came after Russian police killed several Islamic militant leaders in the Caucasus and two days after President Barack Obama’s renewed arms-control treaty with the nation.

“I send my deepest condolences to the people of Russia after the terrible loss of life and injuries resulting from the bombings on the Moscow Metro,” Obama said. “The American people stand united with the people of Russia in opposition to violent extremism and heinous terrorist attacks that demonstrate such disregard for human life, and we condemn these outrageous acts. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones, and I wish all who sustained injuries a successful recovery.”

“America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia”

Obama congratulates graduate

In Moscow today, President Obama addressed graduates of the New Economic School, telling the students that they would play a key role in shaping future Russian-American relations.

“What kind of future are Russia and America going to have together? What world order will replace the Cold War?” Obama asked. “Those questions still don’t have clear answers, and so now they must be answered by you — by your generation in Russia, in America, and around the world. You get to decide.”

Speaking about the Cold War – an era of heightened tensions between the United States and what is now Russia – President Obama said many feel these two nations are destined to be rivals. “These assumptions are wrong. In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonizing other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over,” he said.

What do you think of the president’s remarks? Will the United States and Russia be able to forge a strong partnership?