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Obama shows electoral strength on economy

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Strategists in both major U.S. political parties say the country's economic turmoil is changing the electoral map in favor of Democrat Barack Obama.

In the two weeks since Wall Street's credit and liquidity crisis began dominating voters' concerns, Obama, the Democratic U.S. presidential nominee and U.S. senator from Illinois, has pulled ahead in many of the most important battleground states.

This is providing him with several possible ways to gain the necessary 270 electoral votes for a victory in November over Republican opponent Sen. John McCain of Arizona, The Washington Post reported.

Obama strategist David Axelrod told the Post: "I think we've got many more variables, many more scenarios and possibilities than they do, and that's always been our goal -- to wake up on Nov. 4 with a series of scenarios that lead to 270 electoral votes."

Obama's campaign is working on serious efforts in at least nine states that supported President Bush in 2004, The New York Times reported. He has a solid lead in states accounting for 189 electoral votes and is set up well in states representing 71 more for a total of 260, the newspaper estimated.

Afghan 'decisive victory' called unlikely

LONDON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Britain's top Afghanistan military commander says the war against the Taliban cannot be won and the British public should be prepared for a deal.

Brig. Mark Carleton-Smith, commander of Britain's 16th Air Assault Brigade, just completed his second tour of Afghanistan. He predicted no "decisive military victory" and told The Sunday Times of London the British must "lower our expectations" about Afghanistan.

"We're not going to win this war," Carleton-Smith said. "It's about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that's not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army.

"We may well leave with there still being a low but steady ebb of rural insurgency … I don't think we should expect that when we go there won't be roaming bands of armed men in this part of the world. That would be unrealistic and probably incredible."

Carleton-Smith's opinion echoes those of a growing number of people arguing that the conflict in Afghanistan probably can only be resolved through a political settlement that would include the Taliban, The Sunday Times said.

Russia pulls back from Georgia checkpoint

GORI, Georgia, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Russian troops have pulled back from a key checkpoint in Georgian territory near the breakaway province of South Ossetia, European Union officials say.

The checkpoint near the town of Gori is considered a gateway to South Ossetia, EU monitors told the BBC Sunday. It is the first such checkpoint taken down since Russia pledged to remove troops from buffer zones surrounding the breakaway Georgian republic.

Some 200 EU observers from 22 nations are stationed on the ground overseeing Russia's compliance with an Oct. 10 deadline for the troops' removal. They reported the first signs of progress Sunday morning, the broadcaster said.

The Russian pullback from buffer zones within Georgian territory was agreed in the cease-fire deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Russia, however, plans to keep nearly 8,000 troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which it recognizes as independent states, the BBC said.

Pirate leader says ready to repel assaults

HOBYO, Somalia, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The commander of Somali pirates holding a Ukrainian ship hostage in the Indian Ocean says he is prepared for any kind of assault.

Sugule Ali, commander of the so-called Voluntary Marines for Somalia, told The Sunday Times of London via satellite phone that he and his band of hijackers are prepared to fight. They are demanding a $30 million ransom for the return of the MV Faina, its crew and cargo of tanks, rocket-propelled grenades and other arms.

"We are prepared for any assault by commandos," Ali told the newspaper. "We have 60 people ready to defend the boat. We can protect ourselves. I'm not going to tell you what weapons we have, but let's just say we have enough."

Ali said he and his pirates were not affiliated with any political movements in Somalia.

Six U.S. warships were within 10 miles of the Faina, anchored about 5 miles off the Somali coast near the town of Hobyo, 400 miles north of Mogadishu.

The U.S. Navy has warned the hijackers it will attack if they unload the tanks or other weapons, The Sunday Times said.