Obama Promises To Overhaul Spending Programs The president-elect promised Wednesday to overhaul government spending, naming a former Treasury Department official to oversee the changes. Obama Names Chief Performance Officer President-elect Obama is likely to field questions ranging from the debacle over filling his vacant Senate seat to plans for passage of a budget-busting economic stimulus plan during a news conference on Wednesday. Israel Declares Short 'Recess' In Gaza Fighting Israel on Wednesday put military operations on hold for three hours to allow humanitarian workers, food and medical aid to reach Gaza's beleaguered residents. Civilian Casualties Factor Into War Decisions The fighting in Gaza has killed more than 600 Palestinians — many of them civilians. Col. Jim Hellis is chairman of the U.S. Army War College's department of national security and strategy. He talks with Ari Shapiro about how the U.S. military factors in civilian casualties when assessing war strategy. Hellis says it's a balance among legal, ethical and political concerns. U.S. Wants Sustainable Cease-Fire In Gaza Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held off calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, preferring what she calls a more durable solution to make sure Hamas can't continue to fire rockets into Israel. But others say waiting too long to get a truce won't help. Israel Debates Moving Deeper Into Gaza City Israel is under growing pressure to end its military operations in Gaza, following the terrible bloodshed that occurred in the territory over the past 24 hours. However, Israeli leaders are discussing whether to expand military operations in Gaza. That would be a significant escalation of the assault and would inevitably bring even greater casualties among the civilian population. CNN's Dr. Gupta May Be Next Surgeon General President-elect Barack Obama is looking for a surgeon general. And CNN says its chief medical correspondent is under consideration for the job. Should the offer come, CNN says Dr. Sanjay Gupta has indicated he's likely to take it. The 39-year-old Gupta is a practicing neurosurgeon.