UPDATE - 5:00pm - Both heads of state, Prime Minister Netenyahu and President Abbas, agreed today to meet for another round of talks in mid-September, according to U.S. President Barack Obama’s special Mideast peace envoy, George Mitchell. The meeting will take place in the Middle East, though an exact location has not yet been specified.

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WASHINGTON - After two years of silence, direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders begin today.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet at the State Department, presided over by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to begin discussions of compromise and long-lasting peace.

A major factor in these negotiations is the expanded settlement of Israel in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.� There is currently a moratorium on the settlement expansion that played a major role in building the trust for advancing Thursday’s peace talks. The moratorium, however, is scheduled to expire September 26 and if it is not extended, peace talks between Israel and Palestine will take a heavy blow.

President Barack Obama met with the two leaders yesterday, along with the leaders from Jordan and Egypt, to emphasize that this is an opportunity that must be seized. Despite lingering skepticism, Obama said he believes both countries are looking to achieve a peaceful resolution.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas are two leaders who I believe want peace [and] both sides have indicated that these negotiations can be completed within one year,” Obama said in an address following meetings with both Netanyahu and Abbas. “Now is the time for leaders of courage and vision to deliver the peace that their people deserve.”

Add Ovide Lamontagne to the list of candidates running for office this November who have taken a pledge to fight to repeal the healthcare reform law signed by President Barack Obama earlier this year.

“What was known is that [the law] would take over nearly one sixth of our economy and puts it in the hands of the command and control planners of the federal government,” said Lamontagne, who is running for the seat occupied by the outgoing Judd Gregg (R). “What was not known was just how incredibly complex and overwhelmingly bureaucratic Obamacare would be.”

Lamontagne, who will face U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) in this fall’s election, joins conservative Republicans Sharron Angle (Nev.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), Mike Lee (Utah), Dino Rossi (Wash.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) as candidates who have vowed on record to reverse some, if not all parts of the law.

For some, their desire to repeal the law is rooted in its mandate on individuals to purchase health insurance by 2014 or risk facing punishment. According to Lamontagne, it’s the creation of added government to help carry out the law’s provisions.

“The legislation creates almost 160 new programs and bureaucracies…This is “progressive’ engineering at its worst.”

Additionally, Lamontagne says he is wary of newly appointed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Donald Berwick.

“Mr. Berwick, known for his views promoting rationed medicine, will now act as a health care Czar, overseeing a massive shift of a significant part of our economy to the federal government.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), desparate to renew its legacy five years after it was heavily scrutinized for its slow response to Hurricane Katrina, is delivering a no-nonsense message regarding Hurricane Earl.

“The message today is this is a day of action,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate during a conference call on Thursday. “Conditions are going to deteriorate rapidly. Many people people will start out with clear skies, but we expect conditions along the East Coast will deteriorate. People should not be lulled into a false sense this will be steered away from them. Time will be running out for people who have not gotten ready.”

Currently, Earl is moving up the Atlantic Coast as a Category 3 hurricane, with winds near 115 mph. It had been scored as a Category 4 earlier in the week, with the potential to become a 5.

By this morning, the center of the storm was hundreds of miles off the coast of South Carolina. Most forecasts predicted the storm would keep a relative distance from the eastern shore as it moved north, but Fugate warned residents and holiday weekend travelers to be prepared for anything.

“I encourage everyone along the eastern seaboard to visit Ready.gov and take steps now to keep their family safe and secure,” he said. “The most important thing for people to do right now is to listen to and follow the instruction of their local officials, especially for evacuation orders.”

Already, the Governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland have declared states of emergency, qualifying them for whatever federal assistance they may need to protect against the storm.

Hurricane Earl is expected to approach the Outer Banks of North Carolina tonight, and the Delmarva penninsula by tomorrow. A hurricane warning was issued earlier today for parts of the southern New England coast, where the storm could hit Friday night.

Talk Radio News Service asks folks on Capitol Hill to weigh in on the odds that this latest round of peace talks between Israel and Palestine will be successful.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes opening remarks before hosting a day full of peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes opening remarks before hosting a day full of peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Listen

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes opening remarks before hosting a day full of peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Listen

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas make remarks at a meeting held at the State Department on Thursday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes opening remarks before hosting a day full of peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Listen

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Thursday before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Today’s hearing focused on the effect the failure of large banks had on the 2008 economic collapse.

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies on Thursday before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Today’s hearing focused on the effect the failure of large banks had on the 2008 economic collapse.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu makes remarks at the State Deparment on Thursday morning. Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent the day in peace talks.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu makes remarks at the State Deparment on Thursday morning. Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent the day in peace talks.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu makes remarks at the State Deparment on Thursday morning. Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent the day in peace talks.

Listen

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu makes remarks at the State Deparment on Thursday morning. Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent the day in peace talks.

Listen

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu makes remarks at the State Deparment on Thursday morning. Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent the day in peace talks.

Listen

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu makes remarks at the State Deparment on Thursday morning. Netenyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent the day in peace talks.

Listen

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs talks about President Obama’s reaction to yesterday’s meetings with the Middle Eastern leaders. �
He said that the President was encouraged by the serious attitude that each of the leaders brought about a long-term lasting peace. Gibbs describes the meetings as an important opportunity. However, he also reminds that there is still deep divisions and years of mistrust to overcome. (:53)

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White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that the President is preparing for the possible impact by signing a pre-landfall emergence declaration for North Carolina to ensure they have what they need ahead of the storm.
The White House will continue to closely monitor the storm as it continues to moves closer to the East Coast. (:54) 

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Benny Martinez, Washington Correspondent for the Talk Radio News Service, talks with Dr. Daniel Pipes, Director of the Middle East Forum, about the newly initiated peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Will they be successful? What stands in the way of compromise? Is the settlement expansion moratorium a deal breaker for long-term peace?

Listen to find out…

Ambassador Soliman Awaad, spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency, told reporters at a briefing Wednesday that he, along with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, believe that newly launched peace talks between Israel and Palestine will only be successful if Israel ends their settlement expansion.

President Mubarak said in a New York Times Op-Ed that the success of these negotiations is contingent upon whether or not the current moratorium on Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is extended.�

“For its part, Israel should make no mistake; settlements and peace are incompatible,” Mubarak said. “A complete halt to Israel’s settlement expansion… is critical if the negotiations are to succeed.”

Awaad reiterated to the press that the moratorium’s extension plays a very pivotal role in bridging the gap between Israel and Palestine.

“This twenty-sixth day is of crucial importance,” Awaad said. “If [the moratorium] is not extended, all bets are off.”

The spokesman said Egypt wants the moratorium extended and would sympathize with Palestine in breaking negotiations if Israel does not comply. If the 10-month expansion moratorium, scheduled to expire on Septermber 26, is not extended, Awaad said negotiations will likely cease and a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine will end once again.

“The expansion of Israeli settlements have led to a collapse of trust on both sides,” Mubarak said. “For the talks to succeed, we must rebuild trust.”

UPDATE - 5:30pm: Manger just now told reporters that James Lee has died. Lee was 43-years-old. Manger confirmed that officers fired on Lee after he pointed a gun at one of his hostages…

UPDATE - 5:00pm: Manger told reporters that the hostage situation ended when police shot Lee inside the building at approximately 4:48pm. According to Manger, after Lee fell to the ground, some officers said they saw smoke and may have heard a popping sound. Lee is now in the custody of police, though Manger could not confirm Lee’s physicial condition or whether or not he is in fact, still alive. After hours of negotiations, during which Lee displayed a “wide range of emotions,” officers finally opened fire on him when he reportedly aimed a gun at one of his three hostages. Those hostages have been safely evaucated from the building, and are not believed to have suffered any injuries. Manger said police are now looking for other possible suspicious devices inside the building…

SECOND UPDATE: Montgomery County (Md.) police chief Thomas Manger told reporters that the suspect, James Lee, entered the main entrance of the Discovery building in Silver Spring around 1:00pm, wearing what appeared to be two pipe bombs and a cannister on his frontside and waving a handgun. Lee told everyone on the main floor to stay still. He remains on the first floor, and has been engaged in negotiations with local law enforcement officials since roughly 2:15pm. It has been confirmed that Lee currently has a “small number” of hostages with him inside the building. Police officials believe most of the employees inside the building have been evacuated, although it is uncertain whether a few remain trapped on higher floors. Lee’s motive has yet to be confirmed, although a strange online manifesto that includes the signature “Lee” at the bottom is garnering increasing attention…

UPDATE: A local law enforcement source in Silver Spring has identified the name of the suspect as James Lee. Reports that the suspect is the author of a strange online manifesto aimed at the Discovery Channel have yet to be confirmed…

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SILVER SPRING, Md - A spokesman for the Montgomery County (Md.) fire department says county law enforcement officials are “in contact” with a man eyewitnesses say opened fire and took several hostages inside a Silver Spring building earlier this afternoon.

In telephone interviews with multiple outlets, Scott Graham said the suspect is an adult Asian male, and is armed. According to Graham, the suspect is also in posessesion of a potentially dangerous “package.” More than one eyewitness in Silver Spring told reporters earlier that the package appeared to resemble a complex bomb. Graham could not confirm the accuracy of those reports.

The handling of the situation is being coordinated by local and federal law enforcement officials, with a handful of FBI agents present.

No injuries have yet been reported inside the building, which houses the offices of the Discovery Channel and its sibling networks. There is also a daycare center inside the building. On any given day, up to 1,900 employees work inside the building. It is being reported that most of the people inside the building, security officers not included, have been evacuated. Graham was unable to confirm earlier reports of gunfire.

A recent report released by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, revealed that the number of unauthorized immigrants entering the country has sharply decreased since 2005.�

Jeffrey Passel, Senior Demographer and co-author of the report, said that although the current population of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. is “substantially larger” than it was in 2000, but is 8% lower than it was during its peak in 2007. Since 2007, Passel said there are nearly 1 million less new unauthorized immigrants entering the country.�

“We found the most marked drop was among immigrants from Latin America, other than Mexico,” Passel said. “Mexico remains, by far, the largest source of unauthorized immigrants.”

According to the report, Mexicans represent about 60% of the nearly 12 million unauthorized immigrants currently living in the country.�

Passel acknowledged that the general trend for the inflow of new unauthorized immigrants has sharply decreased over the past 2 years, he admitted that the report does not provide insight as to why.�

Passel said that a southern border that has greatly increased its security, along with a struggling economy may have played a role in the decreasing trend.

“We’ve seen in the past that flows have varied with the state of the U.S. economy,” he said. “We know that it’s harder and more dangerous for undocumented immigrants to sneak into the country.”�

An attack earlier this week by members of the Palestinian group Hamas that left four Jewish settlers in the West Bank dead was an act of “senseless slaughter,” said President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

Following a meeting between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu, the pair made brief remarks outside the Oval Office on the attack.

“I want everybody to be very clear,” said Obama. “The Untied States is going to be unwavering in support of Israel’s security and we are going to push back against these kinds of terrorist activities. And so the message should go out to Hamas and everybody else who is taking credit for these heinous crimes that this is not going to stop us from not only ensuring a secure Israel but also securing a longer lasting peace with the people throughout the region.”

The President added that the man he would be meeting with after Netenyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also condemned the attacks. Obama, however, said the ugly incident shows that Abbas has his work cut out for him.

“I have the utmost confidence in him and his belief in a two state solution in which the people of Israel and Palestinians are living side-by-side in peace and security. He has got a lot of work to do. There are going to be those who will do everything they can to undermine these talks.”

Ex-Lehman Brothers Chief Excutive Richard Fuld told members of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission on Wednesday that the Federal Reserve (Fed) helped create the domino effect that put the 2008 Wall Street collapse in motion.

In a hearing on Capitol Hill, Fuld denied speculation that bad judgment on his part led Lehman to fail. Instead, Fuld said in prepared remarks that “Lehman was forced into bankruptcy not because it neglected to act responsibly or seek solutions to the crisis, but because of a decision, based on flawed information, not to provide Lehman with the support given to each of its competitors and other non-financial firms in the ensuing days.”

Fuld pointed to rumors in 2008 that Lehman did not possess the necessary capital to back its investments as one of the reasons it went bankrupt. Additionally, Fuld lamented the fact that the federal government chose not to deem his former company as being ‘too big to fail.’

“Had Lehman been granted that same access as its competitors…Lehman would have had time for at least an orderly wind down or for an acquisition which would have alleviated the crisis that ensued,” said Fuld.

Today’s hearing is one of a series that have been held by the commission as it prepares to release a report on the 2008 financial collapse to the President and Congress by mid-December. The commission will hear from both Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke as well as Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chair Sheila Bair tomorrow.

President Barack Obama announced the conclusion of combat operations in Iraq Tuesday evening and spoke of the need to “rebuild our nation here at home.” Speaking from the Oval Office for the second time since assuming office, Obama touched upon the considerable strain the seven year long conflict put on the U.S, noting that America’s relations abroad and political unity at home were often tested by the controversial war.



President Barack Obama announced the conclusion of combat operations in Iraq Tuesday evening and spoke of the need to “rebuild our nation here at home.”

Speaking from the Oval Office for the second time since assuming office, Obama touched upon the considerable strain the seven year long conflict put on the U.S, noting that America’s relations abroad and political unity at home were often tested by the controversial war.

However, Obama said, the end of the combat mission marks a time to “turn the page” and the President called for a renewed focus on improving the American economy.

“We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs,” Obama said. “This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.”

With the U.S. focus in Iraq transitioning from combat to diplomacy, a residual force of 50,000 will be left until the end of next year to assist and train Iraqi Security Forces. Obama touted this sharp decline as the fulfillment of the pledge he made when running for office to bring the war to a responsible end.

The President also took Tuesday’s address as an opportunity to applaud the troops and to reflect on sacrifice of the more than 4,400 Americans who died in Iraq.

“Those Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries,” Obama stated. “Along with nearly 1.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq, they fought in a faraway place for people they never knew. They stared into the darkest of human creations –war –and helped the Iraqi people seek the light of peace.”

Acknowledging the contention brewing over the ongoing combat in Afghanistan, Obama reaffirmed the importance of maintaining an American presence in the country, but promised that the U.S. will fulfill its plan to begin phased troop reductions next summer.

“Make no mistake: this transition will begin, because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s,” Obama said.

The President ended his remarks on an optimistic note. Once again congratulating Americans who served in Iraq, Obama described them as “the steel in our ship of state.”

“Though our nation may be traveling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true,” Obama said. “Beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.”

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Lawrence Korb told reporters Tuesday that President Obama needs to push the Iraqi people to take responsibility for the future of their government and country.

In a prelude to the president’s Tuesday night Oval Office address, Korb said he believes the American mission in Iraq is complete and the president must push for a more self-sufficient Iraqi government.

“It’s up to the Iraqis now, we’ve done what we can,” Korb said. “They’ve got to get their act together, they’ve got to have a government… and that’s really the key.”

The panel agreed that the president’s remarks regarding the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn will not focus on whether the current or previous administrations should take credit for Iraq success, but recognizing and giving credit to the people of Iraq.

“This is not going to be a mission accomplished moment,” said Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “I think in our debate, we tend to credit too much what we’ve done and not enough of what the Iraqis did.”

The president is scheduled to address the nation tonight at 8:00 p.m. from the Oval Office.


A collection of American Muslims announced a new grassroots online project Monday aimed at countering any anti-Islamic sentiment that has developed around the controversial proposal to build a mosque near the site of the World Trade Center.

A rally held by controversial television personality Glenn Beck drew heated criticism.

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A rally held by conservative television personality Glenn Beck at the base of the Lincoln Memorial Saturday drew tens of thousands to the National Mall.�

Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, the Deputy Commander of the Office of the Defense Representative in Pakistan, told reporters Wednesday that Pakistan will decide the length of the relief effort.

Vessels of Opportunity and contractors hired by BP after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill work to remove hard, soft, and snare boom along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Friday that direct peace talks will resume between Israel and the Palestinian authority early next month.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton encourages Americans to donate to the Pakistan relief effort.