International
- NPR discusses the growing use of drones outside of the tribal areas of Pakistan, and how their usage may, to paraphrase Mao, create more water for the fish to swim in. In Pakistan itself, people blame U.S. policies and the Pakistani government's half-hearted acquiescence to those policies for the exponential growth in suicide bomb attacks since 2001. I say half-hearted because today there are allegations that in 2007, after a formal meeting with Pakistanis, U.S. troops were attacked by the same Pakistanis they had been meeting with.
- In Syria, the government has sent tanks into Rastan in it's continuing efforts to put down protesters and activists. The government claimed they have a bevy of democratic reforms they want to enact, but that foreign inspired religious fanatics and other groups have delayed the implementation of the reforms.
- The Greek prime minister is making direct overtures to Germany and German business leaders as he seeks a fresh injection of cash to help sustain his debt ridden country.
Domestic
- The Senate has reached a compromise on the budget that will likely keep the federal government open until November 18th. Likely because even though Speaker Boehner supports it, his caucus may not. The compromise does not meet the FEMA funding levels Democrats wanted, but also doesn't reach the level of spending cuts Republicans wanted. And so the can appears to be kicked further down the road.
- The Justice Department will not appeal a lower court ruling on the individual mandate of the healthcare law and instead the matter will likely head to the Supreme Court within the next year.
- The Washington Monument remains closed indefinitelyhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washington-monuments-elevator-damaged-in-earthquake/2011/09/26/gIQA55wazK_story.html after last month's earthquake, as the damage may be more extensive then previously thought. However the structure is sound according to the park service.
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