Pakistan's foreign minister on Friday thanked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for criticizing a U.S.-made anti-Islam film and said her words would go a long way toward calming tensions in the Muslim world.

The United States is spending $70,000 in TV ads in Pakistan featuring President Obama and Clinton distancing the U.S. government from the 14-minute trailer that sparked protests in 20 countries. At least 17 protesters were killed in Pakistan on Friday after the government called a national holiday so people could demonstrate against the film.

“Allow me to begin from where you began, Madam Secretary, and to say that we appreciate the very strong condemnation ... of this blasphemous video, which has certainly stroked the sensitivities of the Muslims in the wrong way,” Hina Rabbani Khar, who is on her first visit to the United States,  said while standing alongside Clinton at the State Department. 

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) on Friday accused President Obama of conducting a foreign policy that is helping to create a second Ottoman Empire in the Middle East.

Gohmert was speaking on the House floor, where he accused the Obama administration of pulling out of Iraq after victory had been won, and allowing Iran to better influence Iraq. He said withdrawing means less American influence there, and said the results of that decision are already being seen in some of the attacks on U.S. diplomatic outposts in the Middle East and North Africa.

Rand Paul said people of the Middle East hate America because they see U.S. foreign aid propping up their dictators.

Congressional lawmakers ended up with more questions than answers Thursday on the possible involvement of a former Guantanamo Bay detainee in the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya. 

Business groups are urging lawmakers and the White House to work together to normalize trade relations with Russia by the end of the year.

In a letter to President Obama and congressional leaders on Friday, nine business groups teamed up to call for passage of a measure that would extend permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Moscow they argue will bolster exports, jobs and the economy. 

"We strongly urge the White House and Congress to work together to ensure passage of this legislation as quickly as possible after the November elections," they wrote. 

"Further delay in its passage will hurt U.S. interests and is not an option."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to clear the Mujahedin-e-Khalq, according to media reports.

The last of the 33,000 U.S. “surge” troops left Afghanistan on Thursday ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline, marking the end of a key phase in the 11-year war.

While in New Zealand on Friday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the withdrawal of surge troops had been completed.

“This week, the ongoing effort in Afghanistan marked an important milestone: The United States military has completed drawing down the surge forces President Obama committed in December of 2009, reducing our presence by 33,000 troops on schedule,” Panetta said in a statement.

Your morning global affairs speed-read

Congress tries to wrap things up today before heading out of town. Senate leaders are still trying to work out when to vote on Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) bill to cut foreign aid to Egypt, Libya and Pakistan, and on Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) Iran resolution after a deal on the bills was scuttled Thursday evening.

Africa gets its day: Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Africa panel, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation host a day-long discussion on “Africa Rising” at the Washington Convention Center. More information is available here. 

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) tried Thursday to pass by unanimous consent a treaty that recognizes the rights of people with disabilities worldwide.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) objected to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a treaty proposed by the United Nations that would require approval from two-thirds of the Senate.