WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama starts his first full day on the job in prayer. He plans to end it with meetings on two pressing issues.
The president's attending a worship service at Washington's National Cathedral, and will also welcome hundreds of members of the public at an open house in his new home.
Then the heavy lifting begins. Obama's expected to meet with his economic team on the stimulus plan and with his Iraq war advisers.
In his inaugural address yesterday, Obama declared that "bold and swift" action is needed to right America's economy. Obama pledged to "begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan."
President Barack Obama will also begin today to put his imprint on the nation's war strategy.He's gathering his top military and national security advisers at the White House for what is expected to be the start of the new commander-in-chief's shift in emphasis from Iraq to Afghanistan.
According to officials, there will be a video teleconference late in the afternoon of Obama's first full day in office. It will include members of the National Security Council as well as the U.S. military commanders in both countries.
Obama has said he wants combat troops out of Iraq in 16 months and a greater effort in Afghanistan.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
