The former Exxon Mobil oil giant boss has more influence than most presidents and knows how to cut a deal. He would be an able secretary of state, says Amir Handjani

President Barack Obama sternly proclaimed ratification of the US-Russia nuclear arms treaty “a national security imperative” today.

AS his US presidency unravelled, Richard Nixon was too “loaded” to take an urgent call during the Arab-Israeli war from British Prime Minister Edward Heath, according to transcripts of Dr Henry Kissinger’s phone calls.

Five days into the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, with the superpowers on the brink of confrontation, President Richard Nixon was too drunk to discuss the crisis with the British prime minister, according to newly released transcripts of tape recordings.

IF US President George W. Bush ordered military action against Iraq, he would explain clearly to Americans his decision to try to remove Saddam Hussein from power, a White House aide said yesterday.