NPR 2010-09-01

In what is only his second prime-time Oval Office address to the nation, President Obama at this hour is expected to declare Operation Iraqi Freedom to be over with the end of US combat mission. Mr. Obama excerpts 1 some of his speech released by the White House says it's now time "to turn the page" and give the Iraqi people full responsibility for their own security. The president's also expected to say the US has paid what he calls "a huge price" for the war. Speaking prior to tonight's presidential address, House Minority Leader John Boehner said it's clear the surge has worked.

"We mark progress. And I want to thank President Obama for setting aside his past political rhetoric 2 and recognizing the importance of the surge and the diplomatic agreement signed by President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki."

Tonight's presidential address will also touch on the economy. In excerpts, the president says his central responsibility is to restore the nation's fragile economy and put millions of people back to work.

Ahead of the speech by President Obama on US military's role in Iraq, Vice 3 President Biden is meeting with Iraqi officials in Baghdad. He's pressing them to come to an agreement on how to form a government. NPR's Kelly McEvers reports nearly six months have passed since parliamentary elections in Iraq and Americans say time is running out.

The results of the election back in March were so close that Iraqi's political parties have yet to agree on who should run the country. A Biden aide told reporters that the US is determined 4 to build a long-term partnership 5 with Iraq. But to build a partnership, he said, you need a partner. The US hopes the Shiite party of current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the secular 6 Sunni-backed party of former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi will reach a power-sharing agreement. The two groups got the most votes in the election. Iraqis say the Americans don't have much of a card to play in the negotiation 7 game, now that they are reducing the number of troops in Iraq. But the Americans insist they still wield 8 diplomatic power over Iraq's status under UN sanctions and Iraq's relationships with its neighbors. Kelly McEvers, NPR News, Baghdad.

US companies that want to sell their goods overseas could get a boost from a rules change announced by the Obama administration. More from NPR's Scott Horsley.

The rules are designed to keep the most sensitive military gear out of the hands of potential adversaries 9. But would-be exporters said the rules are confusing and overly broad. As a result, some turned their back on potential customers overseas. The administration hopes to change that by streamlining the rules. Roy Paulson, who's on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers, welcomes the move. He says many companies that are pursuing exports are thriving.

"I can tell you these two companies I visited in the last two weeks, they have signs out, now hiring. And you don't see that every day."

Even as it relaxes some export restrictions 10, the administration says it will provide greater protection for the most sensitive military items. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

A little movement on Wall Street on the last trading day of the month. The Dow closed up four points today.

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House investigators 11 are now calling for a probe into whether three lawmakers allowed political contributions to improperly 12 influence their voting on the giant financial overhaul 13 bill, the independent House Office of Congressional Ethics 14 today recommending the House Ethics Committee look at possible rules violations 15 on the part of Republicans John Campbell of California and Tom Price of Georgia as well as Democrat 16 Joseph Crowley of New York. The committee recommended no further investigation 17 of five other lawmakers in the same probe.

Women who carry genetic 18 mutations that put them at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer can dramatically reduce that risk by having surgery to remove their breasts, their ovaries or both. As NPR's Patti Neighmond reports, the findings present more evidence surgery is often the most reliable prevention.

Researchers tracked nearly 2,500 women across the country who had the BRCA mutation 19 and chose to have surgery to try to prevent breast and ovarian cancer. They found double mastectomies reduced breast cancer risk by as much as 95 percent and removing ovaries reduced ovarian cancer risk by as much as 80 percent. Huge decrease, say researchers, who add that cancer caused by these mutations can be particularly aggressive and invasive. But at the same time, researchers say these choices are difficult, especially for young women who hope to reduce ovarian cancer risk but also want to have children. Removing ovaries causes the body to go into menopause. Patti Neighmond, NPR News.

Repeating this hour's top story: In what is only his second prime-time Oval Office address to the nation, President Obama is saying it is now time "to turn the page", give the Iraqi people full responsibility for their own security. He also compares his troop buildup in Afghanistan to the surge in Iraq and paid tribute to President Bush.