Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Monday, August 31, 2009 Make us your homepage
Top Breaking News
This Morning's Cut
Leading The News
Cheney Suggests He Backed Iran Strike . . . Describes himself as isolated among advisers to Bush, who ultimately decided against direct military action. Wall Street Journal
Two Firefighters Killed in L.A. Blazes . . . Relentless 42,500-acre blaze threatens 12,500 homes. Los Angeles Times
Rise of New Era After Japan Election . . . The Democratic Party of Japan smashed 54 years of nearly uninterrupted rule by Liberal Democrats. Wall Street Journal
Politics
Kennedy Loyalists Take Up Health Care Torch . . . Friends and family press the message throughout the weekend, from the funeral to the Sunday talk shows. McClatchy Newspapers
Obama Faces Rising Discontent on the Left . . . From gay rights to health care, the number of issues on which liberals have strong concerns is mounting. Washington Times
Why Is America Angry? . . . Yelling at town hall meetings are just some of the signs of a country that's been building toward a boiling point for several years. McClatchy Newspapers
Palin to Make First Trip to East Asia . . . Once questioned about her lack of foreign policy experience, will visit Hong Kong in September.
Associated Press
National Security
U.S. Needs Fresh Afghan Strategy . . . A report by the top US general in Afghanistan says the US must revise its military strategy as the current one is not working. BBC
Lack of Translators Harms War on Terror . . . Cadre of personnel capable in languages such as Pashto, Dari and Urdu "remains essentially nonexistent." Washington Times
Suicide Bomber Kills 15 Police in Swat Valley . . . First major attack since the army announced it had taken the area back from the Taliban.
McClatchy Newspapers
Ridge Backpedals on Pressure to Raise Alert . . . Former Homeland Security secretary says he did not mean to suggest top Bush officials were playing politics. USA Today
Money
Economists Split on Inflation . . . Division on whether the Fed's massive infusion of credit into the economy will lead to inflation in the next couple of years. Wall Street Journal
U.S. Sees Profits on Bank Rescue . . . The profits, about $4 billion, have come from eight of the biggest banks that have repaid their bailout obligations to the government. New York Times
Feds May Need to Stay in Mortgage Business . . . Withdrawal may reverse housing correction. Most new loans supported in some way be government. Washington Times
International
Former Israeli PM Olmert Charged With Corruption . . . Charges include accepting bribes, fraud, breach of trust, falsifying documents and income tax evasion. Haaretz
Colombian President Uribe Has Swine Flu . . . Did he infect other leaders at a Latin American summit? The Guardian
Merkel's Conservatives Routed in State Elections . . . Social Democrats hope German leader is weakened in run up to Sept. 29 national election. Der Spiegel
Violence Breaks Out in Burma . . . Militia leader claims to have killed 30 government troops and to be holding dozens more hostage.
The Guardian
Qaddafi Prepares for his 40-Year Spectacular . . . The former pariah is determined that the celebrations will be the most lavish in Libyan history. But will anyone turn up? Times (UK)
Also Today. . .
Aspirin Does More Harm Than Good in the Healthy . . . Does not significantly reduce chance of heart attack, but doubles risk of hospitalization for internal bleeding. Daily Telegraph
The Mediterranean Diet in a Pill . . . Promising early results for pill designed to give health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.
The Guardian
Category 4 Hurricane Nears Mexico's Coast . . . Residents stock up on food as strengthening Hurricane Jimena pushes toward Mexico's resort-studded Baja peninsula. Los Angeles Times
Jenna Bush Hager To Be 'Today' Show Reporter . . . Will contribute stories about once a month on issues like education.
Associate Press
Inside Jaycee's Prison . . . Photos of the sordid area where Phillip Garrido kept Jaycee Dugard and their two daughters. Times (UK)
Today's Video
Cheney Talks Iran, CIA, Bush and Obama . . . Fox News
