Monthly Archives: July 2011

KABUL, Afghanistan – A Western official says the powerful half-brother of President Hamid Karzai was gunned down by an associate over a personal issue, and was not assassinated by the Taliban. The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the death of … Continue reading →

KABUL, Afghanistan – The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has been ordered to submit a plan by mid-October for the initial withdrawal of American troops, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday. That plan may hinge in … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON – Not too long ago there was lofty talk of doing something big. Of a reasonable path. Of a grand bargain. That was a few weeks and a few thousand tortured metaphors ago. The debate over raising the federal … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON – Dear voter: Want to know why Democrats and Republicans in Congress find it so hard to work together to solve tough problems like the debt ceiling, health care and Social Security? Look in the mirror. Americans gripe about … Continue reading →

SALT LAKE CITY – A diplomat to the core, Jon Huntsman is well known here as a likable guy who prefers compromise to combativeness. Niceness is such a strong part of his persona that the Republican pledged to run a … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON – A top White House official says “we don’t have a deal” between President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress to avoid a crippling default. But senior White House adviser David Plouffe (pluhf) tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that … Continue reading →