By Suzanne Kelly

The Obama administration publicly justified its use of unmanned drones to target suspected terrorists overseas for the first time Monday, with a top official saying the strikes are conducted "in full accordance with the law."

John Brennan, President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism adviser said strikes are used when the option of capture is not feasible. Brennan discussed the strikes during a Monday address at the Woodrow Wilson Center, a Washington think-tank.

"President Obama said here five years ago, if another nation cannot or will not take action, we will," Brennan said. "And it is an unfortunate fact that to save many innocent lives we are sometimes obliged to take lives – the lives of terrorists who seek to murder our fellow citizens."

Full post on CNN Security Clearance blog

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer responds to Romney's attacks on Obama's comments to the Russian President.

By CNN's Wolf Blitzer

(CNN) - Among the Republican presidential hopefuls, Mitt Romney is the candidate the Democrats fear most. That’s been clear to me for weeks.

Obama campaign staffers and Democratic Party activists have been going after the former Massachusetts governor on a whole host of issues, but especially on his so-called “flip-flops.”
FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama will use the power of the executive branch to do as much as possible to reinvigorate the slumping economy without assistance from a divided Congress, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told CNN Tuesday.

"Whatever he can do as president, he will do," Carney said during an appearance on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."

FULL STORY

CNN's Wolf Blitzer speaks to author Ron Suskind about his new book about the Obama administration, "Confidence Men."

RELATED STORY: Book claims White House hostile to women

A book on the Obama administration alleges women are shut out of the president's inner circle. CNN's Brian Todd reports.

By James Carville, CNN Contributor

(CNN) – People often ask me what advice I would give the White House about various things. Today I was mulling over election results from New York and Nevada while thinking about that very question. What should the White House do now? One word came to mind: Panic.

We are far past sending out talking points. Do not attempt to dumb it down. We cannot stand any more explanations. Have you talked to any Democratic senators lately? I have. It's pretty damn clear they are not happy campers.

This is what I would say to President Barack Obama: The time has come to demand a plan of action that requires a complete change from the direction you are headed.

FULL STORY

Washington (CNN) – White House Chief of Staff William Daley is still optimistic that some sort of deficit crisis deal will be worked out by Tuesday’s Treasury-imposed deadline. But he says he’s not so certain about the future of America’s AAA credit rating.

In an exclusive interview with me at the White House, Daley said, “The four leaders of the Congress have said that the debt ceiling will be extended” and he’s “confident that they will come together.”
FULL POST

CNN's Wolf Blitzer talks to White House Press Secy. Jay Carney about Obama's efforts to reach a debt relief solution.

CNN's Brianna Keilar reports on President Obama's changing role in debt ceiling negotiations.