Petraeus’ son served in Afghanistan

Petraeus’ son served in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON

Challenged by a congressman to “be honest” about how long American troops might have to fight in Afghanistan, Army Gen. David Petraeus revealed that he has a personal stake in ensuring that the U.S. war objectives are met — his son, Stephen, whose recent combat tour was kept “very quiet.” In an emotional exchange with Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., Petraeus said “if I ever felt that we couldn’t achieve our objectives,” he would be “very forthright” not only with his superiors in the military chain of command but also with President Barack Obama and members of Congress.

Clinton: No interest in job beyond 2012

WASHINGTON

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she does not want to stay in her job if President Barack Obama wins a second term in 2012. The nation’s top diplomat also firmly said she has no plans to mount another White House bid and no interest in other posts, such as vice president or defense secretary.

‘Blood money’ frees CIA contractor

WASHINGTON

Pakistan abruptly freed the CIA contractor who shot and killed two men in a gunfight in Lahore after a deal was sealed Wednesday to pay $2.34 million in “blood money” to the men’s families. The agreement, nearly seven weeks after the shootings, ended a tense showdown with a vital U.S. ally that had threatened to disrupt the war on terrorism. In what appeared to be a carefully choreographed conclusion to the diplomatic crisis, a U.S. official said Pakistan had paid the families whose pardoning of Raymond Davis set the stage for his release. That arrangement allowed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to assert in a news conference the U.S. didn’t pay compensation.

US has been flying drones into Mexico

MEXICO CITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been surreptitiously flying Predator drones into Mexico for two years, helping Mexican authorities spy on suspected drug traffickers, The Associated Press has learned. The border-security agency’s surveillance flights, approved by Mexico but never announced by either country, predate occasional flights into Mexico by the U.S. Air Force’s Global Hawk drone that began last month.

Dog who wouldn’t die is a celebrity

OKLAHOMA CITY

A stray dog who survived an attempt to put him to sleep at an Oklahoma animal shelter has become a canine celebrity, with thousands seeking to adopt him, an appearance on a national television show and growing concerns about his safety as his fan base increases.

Wall-E was among several dogs abandoned by the Sulphur Animal Shelter less than a month ago. A local veterinarian tried to euthanize the puppy because of overcrowding, but he somehow survived.

Now, about 3,000 people have expressed interest in adopting him, and $1,200 has been donated for his care.

Lawsuit filed over Wis. union law

MADISON, Wis.

Republican lawmakers violated Wisconsin’s open- meetings law when they amended a contentious plan that bars most public employees from collective bargaining, a Madison prosecutor alleged in a lawsuit Wednesday.

Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne’s legal challenge is the second from a county official since Gov. Scott Walker signed the bill into law Friday. Ozanne filed his lawsuit after Democrats in the Wisconsin Assembly alleged Republican leaders didn’t give enough public notice that a committee planned to meet to amend the bill.

Associated Press