Obama Aides Confront Hill Foreign Policy Concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House officials have been holding private meetings this week aimed at soothing lawmakers' concerns over the U.S. posture in Syria, the future of the American military presence in Afghanistan and defense spending.

The meetings come as a frustrated White House seeks to push back at criticism of President Barack Obama's foreign policy.

But the White House outreach appeared to be having little effect on some lawmakers' concerns.

Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee described Tuesday night's White House meeting with chief of staff Denis McDonough and national security adviser Susan Rice as "one of the most bizarre I've attended."

Another senator who attended the meeting said Obama's advisers refused to provide lawmakers with answers on key issues.