Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Pres. Obama's inner circle is on the offensive trying to get Congress and the American people on board with the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.

The commander-in-chief revealed last night in a speech at West Point that he's ordering an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan over the next six months. He also wants to start bringing home U.S. forces in July 2011, just a year-and-a-half from now.

Most Republicans are backing the plan, but several Democrats are questioning Pres. Obama's decision.

The new strategy was debated on Capitol Hill today when Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with two key committees.

A key exchange between Secretary Clinton and Rep. Gary Ackerman, (D) New York, gives a good sense of the emotions at play.

"I'm trying to think this thing through. I think the best I come up with is that we have a shack that is on fire, but it is located next to the dynamite factory and the question that I think I know the answer to but my constituents keep asking - Is it worth risking the lives of those who respond to the fire in a place that may or may not hold a lot of value in and of itself? And what is going to be the result and what would happen if we don't respond?"

"I guess the question I will ask is this, as of 8 o'clock last night do we have a new war or do we have an old war under new ownership," Ackerman added.

Secretary Clinton responded to the questions.

"I think it is fair to say that if the president could have concluded that this was an old war that could be wound down and walked away from, that would certainly have been an easier choice. He is, as we all are, well aware of the political and economic and the loss of young men and women that this decision presages, but the dynamite factory is there and unfortunately it's been stocked with even more dynamite in last couple years and therefore we feel we have to address it," she said.

Meanwhile, General Stanley McChrystal, who requested the extra troops, briefed U.S. forces in Afghanistan on the new war strategy.

"If you think about where we are now, even though it's eight years, this is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end. I think it is the end of the beginning. I think everything changes right now," he said as he channeled the words of Sir Winston Churchill during World War Two.

Tonight on 360°, you'll hear from the Gen. McChrystal's boss, Gen. David Petraeus – who is the chief of U.S. Central Command.  We've also gathered our team of reporters who've been to Afghanistan to dive into whether the war plan makes sense.

Join us for this story and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

U.S. troops search for militants in the mountainous Taliban stronghold in Paktika Province in Afghanistan.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Pres. Obama says the war in Afghanistan is not lost. But he says for several years it has "moved backwards." He has a new strategy that he hopes will change that course.

The commander-in-chief announced tonight at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York he is deploying 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in the first part of 2010.

Pres. Obama is also seeking more support from NATO allies.

The boost will mean about 100,000 U.S. troops will be in the region, along with about 45,000 NATO troops.

Pres. Obama is ordering the Pentagon to have the new troops in Afghanistan within six months. Pres. Obama said the additional forces "will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011."

Pres. Obama's Senior Adviser David Axelrod discussed the new approach this evening on CNN's "The Situation Room".

"We feel that the sooner that we get in there we can stop the momentum of the Taliban, train up Afghan troops and begin to transfer authority or responsibility for the security there, and that's - that's our goal," said Axelrod.

A Pentagon official admits the six month timeline to get the new troops on the ground is "very aggressive". Though, the official is confident the military can get the job done.

What do you think of Pres. Obama's decision? Share your thoughts below.

Adding 30,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan could be a political liability for Pres. Obama. Already some members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, are voicing their concerns over the Afghan war strategy.

"At a time of great economic crisis here in the United States, I would respectfully suggest that rather than nation-building in Afghanistan we should do a little more nation-building here at home," said Rep. Jim McGovern, (D) Massachusetts, at a news conference on Capitol Hill.

"I am here today because of my concern that we are about to wear out and break the military," said Rep. Walter Jones, (R) North Carolina, at the same event.

Since the war in Afghanistan began following the September 11th terrorist attacks more than 900 Americans have been killed in the region.

We'll have all the angles on Pres. Obama's speech tonight on 360°. We hope you can join us for our special coverage. See you then!

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

It turns out the White House party crashers got to meet Pres. Obama last Tuesday night at the state dinner. Michaele and Tareq Salahi got to shake hands with the President while in the receiving line.

We'll show you the White House photo of the meet-and-greet tonight on 360°.

Meanwhile, there's a confession from the Secret Service.

The Director of the agency, Mark Sullivan, released this statement tonight:

"The Secret Service is deeply concerned and embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding the State Dinner on Tuesday, November 24.

The preliminary findings of our internal investigation have determined established protocols were not followed at an initial checkpoint, verifying that two individuals were on the guest list.

Although these individuals went through magnetometers and other levels of screening, they should have been prohibited from entering the event entirely. That failing is ours.

The Secret Service safely processed more than 1.2 million visitors last year to the White House complex. In the last several years, the agency has successfully protected more than 10,000 sites for the President, Vice President and other Secret Service protectees, screening more than 7 million people through magnetometers at campaign related events, with more than 1 million during the Inauguration alone.

Even with these successes, we need to be right 100% of the time. While we have protocols in place to address these situations, we must ensure that they are followed each and every time.

As our investigation continues, appropriate measures have been taken to ensure this is not repeated.

The men and women of the U.S. Secret Service are committed to providing the highest level of security for those we are charged to protect, and we will do whatever is necessary to accomplish this mission."

We'll have the fallout and new details on the case.

We're also following developments in Tiger Woods' SUV accident.

Police said just moments ago at a news conference that the pro golfer hit a fire hydrant and a tree when leaving his Florida home early this morning and was "in and out of consciousness" and had cuts to his lips when officers arrived on the scene .

Police also said Woods' wife used a golf club to knock out the rear window and remove him from the vehicle.

Gary Tuchman is on the scene and will have more for us tonight on 360°.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10pm E.T. on CNN. See you then!

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Security is supposed to be top-notch at The White House.  But somehow a couple that wasn't invited to last night's state dinner got inside the party tent, and within feet of the President. The intruders even brag about it on their Facebook page.

The couple took a lot of photos. There's a snapshot with Vice President Joe Biden, another with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and many others.  We'll show you the party photos tonight on 360°. We'll also have details on the intruders who are reportedly aspiring reality TV stars.

Tonight the Secret Service released this statement:

"The Secret Service has tasked our Office of Professional Responsibility with conducting a comprehensive review of the incident which occurred at the White House State Dinner last night.

Initial findings identified a Secret Service checkpoint which did not follow proper procedures to ensure that the 2 individuals named in a Washington Post story were on the invited guest list.

It is important to note that these individuals went through magnetometers and other levels of security, as did all guests attending the dinner."

Join us for this story and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

It's a big night at the White House. More than 300 guests are at a state dinner in honor of the prime minister of India and his wife. Sure, some guests are Hollywood A-listers, but most are politicians. Yet, all of them got the ultimate Washington invite.

Tonight we'll have the raw politics linked to the state visit.

The two leaders spoke at a news conference earlier today.

"I believe that the relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century," Pres. Obama said this afternoon.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh touched on that when discussing the war on terror.

"The forces of terrorism in our region pose a grave threat to the entire civilized world and have to be defeated. President Obama and I have decided to strengthen our cooperation in the area of counterterrorism," Singh said.

Here's a little geography lesson on why this visit has connections to the war on terror: India has a tense relationship with its nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. Of course Pakistan also shares its border with Afghanistan. And remember, just a year ago there were the deadly terror attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai. According to Indian police, those attacks were planned and carried out by terrorists with ties to Pakistan.

We'll dive into the tense situation tonight on 360° and look at the new developments on the war strategy for Afghanistan.

According to reports, Pres. Obama is planning on sending another 34,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. An official announcement is expected next week. The new strategy comes after nine White House meetings.

What do you think of the new strategy? Sound off below.

Join us for this story and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Imagine for 23 years, being trapped in a paralyzed body with no way to talk with your family and friends, who think you are in coma and then a persistent vegetative state. However, you can hear everything. You hear the doctors and nurses at your bedside. You also hear your family when they visit. You can feel their touch, but you can't talk. You can't let them know you love them. You can't even weep over your father's death when you're told the awful news.

That was the reality and nightmare for Rom Houben, now 46.

He was forced into a world of silence after a car accident in 1983.

Tonight, 360° M.D. Sanjay Gupta, who's a neurosurgeon, has the facts on this startling case. It seems to be more common that many people think.

Also tonight, we're Keeping them Honest on Capitol Hill.  Could the recommendations from a government health panel that most women wait until the age of 50 to get mammograms  find their way into law?

Just last week you may recall Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke about the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a 16-member panel assembled by the agency, which made the recommendation.

"They do not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government," Sebelius said.

"Keep doing what you have been doing for years - talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you," she added.

But will the panel actually get to set federal policy, after all? We'll show you what we uncovered tonight on 360°.

We've have a remarkable panel of women who will be on the program tonight to weigh in on the debate over health care. You'll hear from Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, who's slamming the mammogram guidelines. She's a breast cancer survivor and wonders if she'd be alive today if she followed those recommendations. Feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem, who's also a cancer survivor,  and  Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the National Institutes of Health, will  also be on 360°.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Get ready for the possibility of more confusion over mammograms.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting the federally-funded task force that loosened breast-cancer screening guidelines is clarifying its position.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta will join us live with the details.

Plus, could the accused Fort Hood gunman Maj. Nidal Hasan have been stopped. Tonight, we'll introduce you to a woman who says she contributed to a report that could have alerted military officials. We're Keeping them Honest.

And, don't miss our special investigation: Killings at the Canal: The Army Tapes. Three Army sergeants have been convicted of killing four Iraqi detainees. Tonight you'll hear from the soldier who turned them in. Is he a snitch or a hero? We'll let you decide.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a new health care reform bill that would extend coverage to 30 million Americans who are currently uninsured and would cost $849 billion over the next decade.

The price tag comes from a cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which estimates the proposal will also cut the federal deficit by $127 billion over the next 10 years and at least $600 billion in the following decade.

"We all acknowledge that this legislation is a tremendous step forward. Why? Because it saves lives, saves money and protects Medicare, it makes Medicare stronger," Reid said this evening on Capitol Hill.

Reid must now work to get 60 votes in the Senate to avoid a GOP filibuster and start debate on the bill.

That means if all 40 Republicans stay unified in opposition to the measure, the Reid must get support from all 58 Senate Democrats, as well as independents Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

It's expected to be a heated debate.

"Higher premiums, tax increases and Medicare cuts to pay for more government. The American people know that is not reform," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.

Reid's bill includes a government-run insurance plan, or public option. Though, states can opt out if they want.

We'll have a breakdown of what's in the proposal tonight on 360°.

And, don't miss part two of Abbie Boudreau's special report "Killings at the Canal: The Army Tapes." Tonight we have the starling confession of Sgt. Michael Leahy, one of three U.S. Army sergeants who killed four Iraqi detainees at a Baghdad canal in 2007. His confession is part of 23 and a half hours of Army interrogation videotapes obtained exclusively by CNN.

We'll also have live coverage of Pres. Obama's press conference in South Korea. It's the last part of his 11-day tour of Asia.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10pm E.T. See you then

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's new mammography recommendations have raised controversy.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

There's confusion and outrage over the new recommendations from a government task force regarding mammograms.

The United States Preventive Service Task Force announced Monday that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and instead should wait until they are 50 to get one every two years. They also suggest that self-breast exams do no good and women should not be taught how to do them.

This is a major reversal and it's being challenged by the American Cancer Society and others.

"We're going to encourage women to continue to have mammography every year and we hope they will continue to have it into their 70s," said Dr. Peter Pressman, a surgeon and co-author of "Breast Cancer: The Complete Guide", who works with the American Cancer Society.

What do you think of the controversy? Share your thoughts below.

Tonight on 360°, we'll talk with a member of the government task force and ask her why they came up with the new recommendation.

We are also following new developments in the Fort Hood massacre investigation. According to media reports, just two days before the shooting spree suspected gunman Major Nidal Hasan went to a firing range and fired 200 rounds of ammo at ten targets. There are also reports that Hasan made repeated requests to have soldiers he counseled investigated for war crimes charges.

And tonight we begin our four-part series "Killings at the Canal: The Army Tapes." This AC360 investigation reveals what happened after three decorated army sergeants executed four Iraqi detainees at a Baghdad canal. The three sergeants were convicted of premeditated murder. CNN obtained 23 and half hours of army interrogation videotapes that detail the crime, including tapes cnn requested but the army would not release.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10pm E.T. See you then!

William Jefferson, shown with his wife, Andrea, represented the New Orleans area in Congress for 18 years.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Convicted former Congressman William Jefferson, a New Orleans Democrat, is facing 13 years in prison for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. But what is more outrageous to some people is the fact that Jefferson will still get his congressional pension paid with your tax dollars.

What do you think about that? Sound off below.

The pension goes to Jefferson, even though Congress passed a law two years ago that was supposed to prohibit congressional convicts from cashing in. That's because his crimes were committed before the law was passed in 2007.

Jefferson isn't the only former lawmaker turned convict who gets to keep his pension. See who else is getting rich in prison tonight on 360°.

Plus, Sarah Palin's interview with Oprah Winfrey aired today. They covered politics, Levi Johnston and more. We've got the raw politics.

And, the American Cancer Society is speaking out against the new advice from a government panel that recommends women shouldn't get mammograms until the age of 50, instead of 40. We'll dig deeper on the controversy. And, Dr. Sanjay Gupta will answer your questions. Text them to AC360 or 22360. Standard message rates apply.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!