World/Nation Briefs July 13, 2011
<p>Former first lady Nancy Reagan, left, is escorted by former President George W. Bush following the funeral for former first lady Betty Ford at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Palm Desert, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool)</p>
<p>In this photo made available by Rome Bioparco Fundation, a lemur eats from a refrigerated watermelon to refresh itself in Rome's zoo, Tuesday, July, 12, 2011. Zoo staff offered animals frozen and refrigerated fruit to refresh them as temperatures reached 40 Celsius (104 Farenheit) in many Italian cities. (AP Photo/Rome Bioparco Fundation, HO) EDITORIAL USE ONLY</p>
McConnell: Give Obama powers to raise debt limit
WASHINGTON - With compromise talks at a vituperative standstill, Senate Republicans unexpectedly offered Tuesday to hand President Barack Obama new powers to avert a first-ever government default threatened for Aug. 2.
Under a proposal outlined by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Obama could request increases of up to $2.5 trillion in the government's borrowing authority in three separate installments over the next year, as long as he simultaneously proposed spending cuts of greater size.
The debt limit increases would take effect unless blocked by Congress under special rules that would require speedy action - and even then Obama could exercise his authority to veto such legislation. Significantly, the president's spending cuts would be debated under normal procedures, with no guarantee they ever come to a final vote.
In essence, McConnell's proposal would greatly enhance Obama's authority to avoid a default, while also virtually absolving Republicans of responsibility if one occurred.
Afghanistan president's half brother killed
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The powerful half brother of President Hamid Karzai was gunned down in his heavily fortified home by a close associate Tuesday, setting off a power struggle in southern Afghanistan and raising doubts about stability in a critical area for the U.S.-led war effort.
The assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai, a wheeler-dealer and the key to his half brother's power in the south, leaves the president without an influential ally to handle the tricky job of balancing the interests of the region's tribal and political leaders, drug runners, insurgents and militias.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials immediately cast doubt that they were involved. If they were, it could undercut the president's own effort to talk peace with insurgents as foreign forces begin their exit.
Medal of Honor recipient grabbed live grenade
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama awarded the nation's highest military honor Tuesday to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry after describing how the soldier took enemy fire in Afghanistan but still grabbed a live grenade to save his comrades. "This is the stuff of which heroes are made," the president declared.
It was just the second time that a living, active-duty service member from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has received a Medal of Honor. Petry, who lost his hand in the incident and wears a prosthesis, looked on from a stage in the East Room with his wife and children in the audience as the president described his heroics that day.
It unfolded on May 26, 2008, in the remote east of Afghanistan, as Petry - then a staff sergeant - and other Rangers choppered toward an insurgent compound, the president said. As soon as they landed they came under automatic weapon fire, and Petry was hit in his legs. He fell, but as grenades came flying toward him and his comrades he picked one up and tried to hurl it back before it exploded. Petry's right hand was blown off but two of his fellow soldiers were saved.
- The Associated Press