Today's Top News from The Washington Times

		Sunday, September 18, 2011 Must Read Stories Today
Police say 9 people killed in Nevada air crash The death toll in the terrifying crash of a World War II-era plane during a Reno air race has risen to at least nine people, including the pilot and eight spectators, authorities said Saturday. For Obama at U.N., another troubled Mideast moment Dreaming big, President Barack Obama once envisioned this would be the moment when world leaders would gather to herald a new state of Palestine. What waits for him instead at the United Nations this coming week is closer to a diplomatic nightmare that may isolate the United States, anger Congress, deepen the Mideast divide and cloud the rest of his agenda. House Republicans find common ground with Obama's jobs package House Republican leaders on Friday said President Obama's latest jobs plan includes several "areas of common agreement" — from employer tax breaks to reforming the unemployment insurance system — from which the two sides could work together to develop a plan to help kick-start the slumping economy. Hollywood's Mississippi remains a brutal backwater If, as Michael Medved contends, Hollywood hates America, then it really, really hates Mississippi. A long line of films have cemented the state's image in American culture as a brutal, benighted backwater teeming with violent bigots. Eleanor Mondale, daughter of Walter Mondale, dies Eleanor Mondale, the vivacious daughter of former Vice President Walter Mondale who carved out her own reputation as an entertainment reporter, radio show host and gossip magnet, has died at her home in Minnesota. She was 51. Kara Kennedy, daughter of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, dies Kara Kennedy, the oldest child of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, died at a Washington-area health club, her brother said Saturday. She was 51. Rebels press Gadhafi loyalists on 3 fronts Libyan rebels on Friday were engaged in fierce battles with forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi in three of the ousted dictator's remaining strongholds. Tigers win Central, 1st division title since '87 Away from the madness of a cigar party for a moment, Jim Leyland nearly cried. For everybody who figured there was no way he would manage the Tigers beyond this season, for all those who couldn't envision a comeback after Detroit fell behind by eight games in early May, Leyland sat in his office puffing on his own celebratory stogie, a black "2011 MLB Playoffs" hat on his head. Detroit is AL Central champion. Debt crisis a historic challenge to European unity The latest backdrop for European financial crisis talks was Wroclaw, Poland — or Breslau, as the picturesque city on the Oder River is still known in Germany. As Europe's finance chiefs bounce from meeting to meeting trying to hash out a strategy to contain their debt troubles, the city's history may serve as a reminder of what is at stake: a hard-won European unity that followed centuries of ravaging wars and has slowly enveloped the former Communist states in the continent's east. Iran: Court to commute sentences for 2 Americans Iran's foreign minister says the courts are willing "in near future" to commute the prison sentences for two jailed Americans convicted for spying. Libyan fighters claw for gains in Gadhafi hometown Revolutionary fighters struggled to expand the offensive into Moammar Gadhafi's hometown Saturday with street-by-street battles and commanders seeking to break open a new front against loyalist forces fiercely defending the most symbolic stronghold remaining from the shattered regime. Republicans seize on waning campus Obamamania The young people in the ad look dissatisfied and pouty. Barack Obama's voice and the words "winning the future," from one of his old campaign speeches, echo in the background. "You're LOSING my future," says one young man. Barricade situation ends at Ariz. Air Force base A barricade situation is over at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, but authorities aren't immediately releasing any details. Bowie State student faces murder charge in roommate's stabbing A 19-year-old Bowie State University student faces murder charges in the fatal stabbing of her college roommate, Maryland State Police say. Indictment names 6 in fraud scheme involving Army recruiters Six current and former members of the U.S. military have been charged in a 41-count indictment handed up in federal court in Texas on charges of defrauding various U.S. military components and their contractors of $127,000 by fraudulently obtaining recruiting bonuses, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, who heads the Justice Department's Criminal Division, said Thursday. Suspected head of drug-smuggling ring arrested in Arizona probe The suspected leader of a drug-smuggling organization accused of moving thousands of pounds of Mexican marijuana into the Phoenix metropolitan area was arrested Thursday following a major multi-agency enforcement operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Commentary KNIGHT: Obama tears up the Constitution The Constitution of the United States, whose adoption we celebrate every Sept. 17, clearly lists the powers of each branch of the national government. Let's take a look at what Barack Obama, like any president, is empowered to do and see if it squares with his actions. In Article II, Section 1, he is sworn to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Section 2 names the president as commander in chief of the armed forces, grants him the power to make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate and to appoint ambassadors, federal judges, Cabinet officials and other federal officers. Section 3 says the president "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." DONNELLY: Congress resists rush for an LGBT military On Tuesday, the Pentagon plans to begin enforcing repeal of the 1993 law stating that homosexuals are not eligible for military service, usually called "don't ask, don't tell." Senior House Armed Services Committee leaders are saying "Not so fast." In a Sept. 12 letter to Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, California Republican, and personnel subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican, called for a delay in implementation until the Pentagon provides written regulations that the repeal legislation requires. PowerPoint slides do not qualify. GHEI: Greece's inevitable fall Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner hopped over the Atlantic to meet with his European counterparts Friday. Things are so desperate in the eurozone that the idea of a leveraged bailout fund, similar to the one used in the United States when it was hit by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, is on the table to address Europe's ongoing financial crisis. EDITORIAL: Lead from the front in Libya The overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi's regime in Libya is being called a model for cooperative regime change. Unless the United States and its allies work to shape the successor government in Tripoli, it may turn into a model for post-conflict failure. EDITORIAL: Gore's bore-a-thon According to Al Gore's website, "millions" tuned in to watch the 24-hour global warming filibuster that concluded Thursday. Few were moved to anything but laughter. 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