A book slated for release Monday puts President Barack Obama in a critical light with regards to the Afghanistan war, CNN reports. Veteran journalist Bob Woodward, well-known for his work reporting the Watergate scandal, uses accounts of lengthy interviews, closed-door strategy sessions and internal memos to paint a picture of a president at odds with top military officials. Other revelations include allegations that this "dissent" has gone as far as name-calling within the administration, and that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is manic depressive. An unnamed senior White House official downplayed the book’s contents, however, saying Obama came across in the book "as a commander-in-chief who is analytical, strategic, and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security, and his role."
The Minnesota Twins clinched the American League Central division last night with a win over the Cleveland Indians, combined with a loss by the second-place Chicago White Sox. This is the team’s sixth central division title in the last nine seasons, according to the team’s website. This year’s clinch was earlier than average, as the race to secure the division often is decided in the final week of games. The Twins have 11 more regularly scheduled games this season.
Democrats’ and gay rights advocates’ last efforts to appeal the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy was blocked by Senate Republicans yesterday afternoon, MPR reports. Democrats attached the repeal – of a ban to prevent people from serving openly gay in the military – to a $726 billion defense spending bill in hopes of wooing some Republicans, but to no avail. Those in favor of appealing the law saw this as their last change for change before the November general elections, which could result in Democrats losing many key seats. MPR estimates 13,000 people have been discharged for being openly gay since the law was enacted in 1993. Gay rights’ groups allege the DADT is also used by "vindictive co-workers to drum out troops who never made their sexuality an issue."
