Poll: Obama Better Than Bush — On National Security And Terrorism

This should be obvious to anyone who has closely followed what President Obama has done since taking office, compared to what Bush/Cheney didn't do for eight years. But the combination of Republicans claiming they are tough on terrorism, the media echoing this assumption, and many Democrats being too afraid to say otherwise are all preventing the good work of the Obama administration and the military over the last year. Fortunately, more people than not are recognizing the positive changes:

When it comes to national security, do you think President Obama is doing better, worse, or about the same as President George W. Bush?

Total better: 39
Total worse: 31

And:

When it comes to combating terrorism and handling terrorism suspects, do you think President Obama is doing better, worse, or about the same as President George W. Bush?

Total better: 38
Total worse: 31

Learn more

Half of Afghanistan Taliban Leadership Arrested in Pakistan

Pakistan has arrested nearly half of the Afghanistan Taliban’s leadership in recent days, Pakistani officials told the (Christian Science) Monitor Wednesday, dealing what could be a crucial blow to the insurgent movement...

...In total, seven of the insurgent group’s 15-member leadership council, thought to be based in Quetta, Pakistan, including the head of military operations, have been apprehended in the past week, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.

"A year ago when this [Obama] administration was completing its first Afghanistan review and we asked the Pakistanis about the Afghan Taliban leadership operating from their country, they flatly denied it," says Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst who led President Obama’s initial Afghanistan policy review. "Now not only do they say there are senior Taliban leaders in their country, but they are frankly taking action against them."

Read more