House Probes Blackwater Immunity (time.com)
The State Department may have offered some form of legal immunity to Blackwater contractors targeted in an investigation into the Sept. 16 shootings that killed 17 Iraqis in Baghdad. The discovery comes at a time when the Department is already under fire for not providing proper oversight for the security contractors protecting its diplomats in Iraq. In response, a Congressional committee is now raising troubling questions about a pattern of State Department mismanagement. In the wake of the revelations about the possible immunity offer, which were first reported Monday by the Associated Press...

Bush Rejects Combining Military, Domestic Spending (bloomberg.com)
President George W. Bush said he would reject any attempt by Congress to force him to accept legislation with increased domestic spending by combining it with funding for military operations and veterans health care.
``It's hard to imagine a more cynical political strategy than trying to hold hostage funding for our troops in combat and our wounded warriors in order to extract $11 billion in additional social spending,'' the president said after meeting with House Republicans at the White House. ``I will veto such a three-bill pileup.''

NBA's Openers May Help League Overcome Scandals (bloomberg.com)
The National Basketball Association is counting on the action of its 62nd season to overcome three months of referee gambling and sexual-harassment scandals. The season starts tonight with three games, and the current tumult is something that basketball will surmount, said Commissioner David Stern. The NBA has weathered the departure of players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and other serious setbacks, he said.
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