Money, career woes plagued Afghan killings suspect - The Washington Times

		Sunday, March 18, 2012 Today's Top Stories
Money, career woes plagued Afghan killings suspect Bypassed for a promotion and struggling to pay for his house, Robert Bales was eyeing a way out of his job at a Washington state military base months before he allegedly gunned down 16 civilians in an Afghan war zone, records and interviews showed as a deeper picture emerged Saturday of the Army sergeant's financial troubles and brushes with the law. Romney, Santorum head to Ill., next battleground Looking toward the critical primary in Illinois, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney wrapped up a shortened campaign trip to Puerto Rico on Saturday as he prepared for more tough contests against chief rival Rick Santorum. Obama: End tax breaks for oil companies President Obama said Saturday he can't do much to lower gas prices, and renewed his call for Congress to end tax breaks for oil companies. Opera companies find American musicals much to their liking There's opera, and there are musicals, but whatever happened to "never the twain shall meet"? These days they do meet — in the Washington National Opera's forthcoming season and elsewhere — and world-class opera singers are happy to appear in them. U.S. man captured by militia in Iraq released to U.N. Wearing a U.S. Army uniform and flanked by Iraqi lawmakers, an American citizen announced Saturday that he was being released from more than nine months of imprisonment by a Shiite militia that for years targeted U.S. troops. Twin suicide blasts kill dozens in Syrian capital Two suicide bombers detonated cars packed with explosives in near-simultaneous attacks on heavily guarded intelligence and security buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus Saturday, killing at least 27 people. Obama marks St. Patrick's Day with pint in a pub His jacket was only moss green but his pint was true Guinness. President Barack Obama tilted back a glass of the dark Irish brew Saturday, observing St. Patrick's Day at a boisterous Irish pub with his ancestral cousin from Moneygall, Ireland, at his side. CBO: Obama budget deepens debt by $3.5 trillion President Obama's budget would pile up an additional $3.5 trillion in debt over the next 10 years and shows the government's trust funds running out of money in 2020, Congress's official non-partisan scorekeeper said Friday. Pope of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church dies Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, died Saturday. He was 88. WikiLeaks' Assange plans bid for Australian Senate WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to run for a seat in the Australian Senate in elections due next year despite being under virtual house arrest in England and facing sex crime allegations in Sweden, the group said Saturday. John Demjanjuk, convicted death camp guard, dies John Demjanjuk, a retired U.S. autoworker who was convicted of being a guard at the Nazis' Sobibor death camp despite steadfastly maintaining over three decades of legal battles that he had been mistaken for someone else, died Saturday, his son told the Associated Press. He was 91. Comedian Gallagher still in medically induced coma Doctors have decided to wait before bringing the comedian Gallagher out of the medically induced coma he was put in after his heart attack last week in Texas. Delegate-rich Illinois the focus of GOP next week After two Deep South losses, Mitt Romney is intensifying his campaign efforts in the economically challenged Midwest — a friendly region for him — in hopes of regaining his front-runner's momentum when Illinois holds its Republican presidential primary Tuesday. Apple firestorm leads artist to change his show Mike Daisey, the off-Broadway performer who admitted that he made up parts of his one-man show about Apple products being made in Chinese sweatshops, has cut questionable sections from the monologue and added a prologue explaining the controversy. Raising money, Obama calls on GOP to raise its game President Obama kicked off a full day of fundraising Friday in Chicago by urging Republican presidential candidates to behave more like Abraham Lincoln by promoting the common good. Clooney arrested in protest at Sudanese Embassy George Clooney and his father were arrested Friday during a protest outside the Sudanese Embassy, and the actor said he has asked President Barack Obama to engage China on stopping a humanitarian crisis in northern Africa. Commentary KNIGHT: Betrayal by any other name What would you call it if some Americans went overseas to the United Nations Human Rights Council and gave aid and comfort to some of the most repressive regimes on the planet? EDITORIAL: Destroy all churches If the pope called for the destruction of all the mosques in Europe, the uproar would be cataclysmic. Pundits would lambaste the church, the White House would rush out a statement of deep concern, and rioters in the Middle East would kill each other in their grief. But when the most influential leader in the Muslim world issues a fatwa to destroy Christian churches, the silence is deafening. EDITORIAL: D.C.'s made-up gun laws D.C. officials will do just about anything to keep law-abiding citizens from lawfully possessing a gun in the city. The Washington Times' Emily Miller has found in the "Emily Gets Her Gun" series that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has been spreading false information about firearms ownership. As a result, residents and nonresidents who have done nothing wrong risk false arrest and gun confiscation. As of Friday, the MPD's Firearms Registration Office had not removed the incorrect information from its website. RICHARDS & BRADLEY: Goldman Sachs, greed and self-interest On Wednesday, Greg Smith, an executive director at Goldman Sachs, announced his resignation in the pages of the New York Times. His reasoning: The company's employees and culture have morphed into a gross entity that sidelines the interests of the client in favor of making a quick buck. By his account, Goldman Sachs' culture has become "toxic and destructive." Mr. Smith no longer wants to be associated with the Wall Street giant. "People who care only about making money," he argues, "will not sustain this firm - or the trust of its clients - for very much longer." KING & DEMINT: End Obamacare, don't mend it Every election, voters are told that this election is the most important of our lifetimes. In most elections, it's not really true. In 2012, though, it probably is true, for one reason: Obamacare. Other Recent Articles Kurt Busch hoping to snap streak of bad luck Buckeye fans may want to go directly to item No. 2 Spaniards protest creation of Vegas-style casinos Jeter sensed Pettitte had desire to pitch again Chavez makes energetic homecoming after surgery Seeking the limelight, with the help of star power Apple firestorm leads artist to change his show NASA postpones launch of X-ray telescope 49ers, WR Mario Manningham agree on 2-year deal Bolton's Muamba critical after collapsing in game Clippers welcome Billups back to Staples Center Norah Jones plays entire new album at SXSW Woods to play next week in 2 events Crosby returns for big matchup against Rangers Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows		Most Read Stories EDITORIAL: Destroy all churches KUHNER: Oust Obama Pool-mageddon avoided for now Harvard professor argues for 'abolishing' white race KNIGHT: Betrayal by any other name Obama: End tax breaks for oil companies WikiLeaks' Assange plans bid for Australian Senate KEENE: Ron Paul in the driver's seat D.C. man sentenced for threatening witness EDITORIAL: The left's war on rednecks Latest from WT Communities Independent Social Contributors List of Ten Top Ten Irish actors: It's a matter of character Slainte! Top Ten St. Patrick's Day Irish Toasts Looking for Luke Playing with Fire: Journalism in Turkey Burning the Koran, changing the Bible: The politics of religion Feed the Mind, Nourish the Soul Top Ten Irish Surnames Live Chat: Super Bowl XLVI with Communities writers and readers starting at 6:00pm EST Hail Mary Food of Grace Twist the St. Paddy's tradition with Guinness Cupcakes St. Patrick's Day recipe: Guinness braised beef ragout and braised cabbage For Advertising Opportunities Click Here