Next on the agenda for Washington: fighting over debt

Congressional Republicans are the current $14.25 trillion swear to, before they will agree with me, a federal debt ceiling to increase - a move that is - are necessary President Obama and the Senate Democrats who agree to much deeper reductions of appropriations for the next year and also as in the six month budget deal agreed in less than five weeks late Friday night, the cutting turned away 38 billion dollars and a Government shutdown.

Republicans have also indicated that on abortion and more, are demanding back fundamental changes in the policy on health, the environment, the right ceiling as the price for their support for the increase in the debt.

In a letter Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said the Government which would make border no later than May 16 Congressional leaders last week. Outline it "extraordinary measures" - essentially move - money under the financial statements, the time until the July 8 could buy.

When the limit is reached, would be the Treasury Department unable, as routinely to finance to borrow debt federal existing operations and roll over. Ultimately it would be unable to pay off maturing debt, the Government put the United States - the global standard-setter for credit rating - in default.

The effects in this case as much as political, rippling from the bond market in the lives of ordinary citizens through higher interest rates, economic and financial insecurity would be the way the economy until now, more than three years after the start of the last recession is overcome.

Given the short time frame for the action and the prospect of an intractable political struggle, leaders in politics and economy move leaders already is on a crisis averted, which most likely is "a recovery end event", as Ben S. Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, witnessed recently in the Senate. He described a sequence of events, the "" overlapping with the financial markets would provoke another credit crisis such as that in the year of 2008 and caused interest rates to jump.

Mr Geithner has private meetings were with senior legislators of both parties to emphasize the economic use. Peeled in the White House Mr. Obama of Economic Advisor, Gene Sperling, way of the expenditure of fight in the almost full time for the development of the strategy of the Government for the debt-limit enable debate last week. Central, management officials say whether Mr Obama bipartisan talks on a long-term debt reduction that tackles control, military spending and growing entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid planning is initiated.

Executives of the largest financial institutions of the country in recent days ceiling met with Mr Geithner, House Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio and other legislators, argument for the importance of the increase in the debt. Jamie Dimon, who told the Chief Executive of JPMorgan Chase, them that, to the global business the default protect his bank contingency plans developed.

"If someone wants to, that I think touch of a button, which to my opinion is disastrous and unpredictable, they are crazy," said United recently in which Mr. Dimon States Chamber of Commerce.

The United States is one of the few Nations which by law limited its debts, and votes in Congress to the ceiling, the least are popular, something that happens every few years, maybe that legislators face.

Financial and Government leaders alike have some political brinkmanship used in grown increase of the CAP, confident that ultimately in the rule with the Party of the White House provides the most votes do Congress, would. (So it came that Mr Obama, request to the debt increase administration as a Democratic Senator in 2006 against a Bush voted, it passed with mostly Republican votes.)

What is different this year, people in both parties say is the large number of Congressional Republicans, including many newcomers, were a majority House which are energetic against government spending, and use the activist tea party movement to the leverage effect of the debt limit votes of the party, encouraged their stand.

"We want real structural, cultural type changes to this debt ceiling tied." "We in a unique way of savings, or something small, not interested", said representative Mick Mulvaney, first-term Republican from South Carolina. "It has to all new types of changes to us, to vote in favour."

He rejected warnings about standard as "just vorgemacht", and said Democrats should take the responsibility to pass any measures to increase the debt limit.

"It's their debts," he said. "They do make." "This is my attitude."

In fact, the debt of both parties and past President as also Mr. Obama was created.

Of the almost $14.2 trillion in debt, is money that mainly has borrowed the Government from other accounts, revenue from social security according to federal figures about five trillion dollars. Several important directives from the last ten years as a Republican, that White House and Congress controlled - tax cuts, use a Medicare prescription drug and wars in the Iraq and Afghanistan - account for more than $3.2 trillion.

The recession cost more than $800 billion in lost revenue from businesses and individuals and automatic spending for safety net programs such as unemployment benefits. Mr Obama stimulus spending and tax cuts added over 600 billion dollars by the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Although the recent stand-off, which consumed 2011 Washington on expenditure for the financial year without a Government shutdown, the chaotic process and hour have come settlement trepidation over the debt limit battle stoked. If so hard over some billion dollar compromise plan, goes the thinking as they ever collaborated on a multi-year, multi trillion dollar cut it Republicans and Democrats the debt can come within weeks or months?

"If I still Finance Minister, it would make the hell out of me", said James A. Baker III, who served almost trebled in the Office of President Ronald Reagan during a time when federal total debt of his two terms. "But it does not concern me as a good Republican, and one who wants to see finally some fiscal policy in this country."

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Egyptian demonstrators defy military, back to Tahrir square - Washington Post

CAIRO - raging anti-government demonstrators returned late Saturday to Tahrir square, some declare that they ready, martyrdom, less than one face day were to Egypt's military rulers violence used to break a protesters camp at the point where their revolution began.

Tweet GalleryGallery: Egypt and Tunisia-inspired riots spread through East North Africa,: motivated by the last shows of the political strength of neighbors in Egypt, in the Middle East and North Africa protesters take to the streets of many cities for the change to collect.

Demonstrators chanted slogans for the removal of the head of Supreme Council of the armed forces, Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, to ousted President Hosni Mubarak call with him again. Others prayed or to read from the Koran. Many appeared bearing in mind Council warning earlier in the day, that force would use troops again if necessary, to clear the square.

The bloody pre-dawn crackdown followed weeks of rising tension between the democracy movement and the military leadership which has expired since his overthrow in February the country Saturday.

At first, welcomed protesters of military intervention, see it as a protection against the security apparatus and paid government thugs. But the euphoria faded quickly and accusations mounted that the military was Mubarak shielding and his commandments to do.

The death toll from the attack on the demonstrators late Saturday remained Commons in dispute. Witnesses said that at least two people were killed, while the Ministry of Health said that a person had died.

Hundreds of troops shoot into the air and attacking protesters with electric batons, the Centre of the square, swarmed to distribute several hundred people that a curfew 2 am Friday defied for a large but peaceful protest had.

About 20 uniformed soldiers who broke ranks to demand that the military Council move faster, try Mubarak and former members of his regime on allegations of corruption were among those who had joined the nights protesters in the camp.

"they were participating show their solidarity with the people", said Hassad Mahmoud, 20, a student at the University of Cairo, which in the sit-in competition.

Around midnight, cheering protesters in the camp raised rebellious soldiers on their shoulders, shouting, "the army and the people make a hand!" One of the soldiers raised a body bag rolled-Up in the air to announce that he was ready to die.

2:30 A.m., troops and security forces blocked entrances to the square. Demonstrators formed a human chain to protect the soldiers in their camp. Chief information security officers, armored vehicles and troops swept in shortly after three o'clock in the morning, and Government troops fired their weapons into the air for about 20 minutes. Landmark mosque to accommodate refuge fled one some protesters. Others threw rocks at the troops.

Mahmoud and other witnesses, said that the troops seemed the rebellious soldiers targeted others injured at least three and imprisonment. Mahmoud said some other hidden demonstrators.

How daylight returned to Tahrir square, smoke from three burning military vehicles drove. People began to return, climbing on the charred wreck and demanding Tantawi's remove.

The Friday rally was the largest since Mubarak's Government Feb. fell 11. Tens of thousands of people filled Tahrir square in a peaceful demonstration to demand, that of corruption allegations to the responsibility be considered Mubarak.

Others accused the military rulers but also for some of the repressive behave like Mubarak, such as arrest critics of the regime and try them in military courts.

"I think, which is military Council in favour of Mubarak,", said Loftaya Mohamed, 58, a former teacher, who with her adult daughter visited the demonstrations. "they are also friendly and patient."

kunklef@WashPost.com

Mansour is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Haitham Junko Tabei contributed to this report.

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On the eve of which announces meeting in Washington, Israel more housing - New York Times

The steps, by two separate agencies, are the latest in a series of clumsy, timed housing announcements. Ways search on international player, who last year into the ground to a halt in September, when passed a partial Israeli moratorium on new building in the settlements, Israeli Palestinian peace talks resume.

Washington has given its efforts to convince Israel to commit an additional settlement freeze; the Palestinians refuse to, negotiations with Israel as long as building settlement.

On Monday, a municipal planning Committee in Jerusalem gave provisional approval for almost 1,000 new housing units in the residential district of Gilo, in the South of the city. And the Israeli Ministry of Defense said it zoning plans for more Jewish settlements in the West Bank, retroactive legalization construction, which was already under way were completed.

Aides traveling with Mr Peres, refused on Monday in Washington was, commenting on the plan.

Elie Isaacson, Advisor of Mayor NIR Barkat of Jerusalem, said there was no connection between the action of Gilo and the timing of Mr Peres visit.

"There are no secrets whatsoever," said Mr Isaacson. "The plan by a bureaucratic level is bureaucratic level to the next." "The buildings policy in Jerusalem has the same 40 years."

He added that area of the privately owned was land before 10 years for construction zones, and that it would take at least five years for the new housing final approval and for the contractor to follow way. And he said, in the Community whereas draws hundreds of requests from Palestinians for building in Jerusalem, despite Palestinian projects on a smaller scale tend to.

Mr Peres is expected to speak with Mr Obama of security cooperation between Israel and the United States; the recent upheavals in the Middle East and the potential for the democratisation in the region; and ways of restarting the peace talks. A question that may arise is whether Mr Obama go to Israel this year will be to make a major speech, and if so whether he is provided an American peace plan. Management officials say Mr Obama has said, he would like to address of Israelis to a range of issues, including the turbulence in the Middle East development. But timing remains a problem, an administration of official said Monday.

The role of President in Israel is mainly a ceremonial, but Mr Peres, is internationally regarded as an elder statesman, has a more active role than most of his predecessors. Relations between Mr Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Mr Peres were met from beginning of cool, and in a departure from the diplomatic standards, Mr Obama in 2009, Mr Netanyahu has to try to smooth the way.

The question of the settlement construction has hooked strongly Israeli American relations, because Mr Obama took office.

Gilo is in a part of the city that Israel annexed to the record it from Jordan in the 1967 war. Most Israelis consider it an integral area of Jerusalem, but to the Palestinians and much of the world, it is a settlement in the occupied territory in violation of international law. Israel's claim to sovereignty in the area of Jerusalem on the 1967 lines is not internationally recognised, and the Palestinians claim as part of their future State.

February 14, a resolution supported the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council demanding halt in called it illegal construction in Israeli settlements so. Only a veto of the United States block the resolution.

Peace now, an Israeli advocacy group that against all Israeli building beyond the 1967 lines, said that the Department of Defense development plans approved for four settlements in the West Bank. But it is not clear whether the plans relating to areas that are already above or integrated for more sites.

Tensions over building in Jerusalem reached here American support for Israel to underline in March 2010, when Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was on a visit. Administration announced 1,600 new housing units for Jews in Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem, the Obama annoying the Israeli Ministry of the Interior. Mr Netanyahu said at the time, which had attacked the movement; the Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, Chairman of the party agents right, insisted that the timing was coincidental.

After this episode, Prime of Minister's Office said it would pursue to prevent the progress of the building plans more carefully new surprises.

But in November, Israel published plans for more than 1,000 residential units in other disputed areas of Jerusalem. This announcement was days before Mr Netanyahu with Mr Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the United States, drawing criticism from Mr Obama fulfilled.

Mr Netanyahu were Office known weeks three ago, that hundreds of new units for settlements in the West Bank in areas Israel intends to keep under any deal with the Palestinians, have been approved. The news came shortly after five members of one family, including three children, were killed in the settlement of Itamar.

Helene Cooper contributed reporting from Washington.

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Florida Pastor has divided families, ex-church members say - Washington Post

GAINESVILLE, Florida - long before the Rev. Terry Jones threatened a Qur'an, say former parishioners to burn, he sat on a church which he as a personal fief, to the introduction of a strict orthodoxy, which apart a Gainesville family treated according to the other crack.

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Phil Sandlin / AP - former parishioners say the Rev. Terry Jones, in September, the here shown church members forced to cut off contact with family members, who left the Church.

Community members in the Dove world outreach center, in number 30 or so fall into are, are required, vows puts loyalty to Jones - a promise, the restrictions on their diet, their ability to hold jobs outside the Church, and their personal relationships.

Chris Nassoiy, 25, and for most of the members the last constraint by far is painful. He has seen his parents only once as they gathered the Church in 2009 links, when he his belongings from his home.

"I had to tell them that we can communicate until they apologize until they accept the Gospel, not," he said, to crack his voice. "It was a bit wrenching."

For his mother, Sally Nassoiy, began what has developed anger on Jones and other church officials to heartbreak.

"they take young people are willing to devote himself to the word of God, and they exploit," she said. "It is a cult." "That is that which I can think of to describe it the only Word."

Jones, 59, denied that the Church is a cult or that he abused his authority leader in his role as a dove.

"I am the central figure," he said. "This is certainly true." But I think the Church is according to me, there are "adding that he hopes he is 29-year-old son, Luke, on one day."

Jones said that he does not require that community relations with their families, although it still may be not difficult connections with those who are their life of the Church.

He said those who have left Dove, because "only enough was not strong beliefs."

Jones knows personally as his strict edicts and unconventional leadership can divide families. Two of his daughters have left the Church disgusted.

"I do not support it, and I don't want to have nothing to do with him," said Emma Jones on Facebook.

Her father said their decision to go from the Church "was the biggest betrayal."

For most of the young community members, the membership requires participation of Jones's three years of "Academy," the discipline and compliance with the Bible preaches. It requires work, much of it also hours unpaid to the Dove world outreach center used furniture business, which is performed by the same building as the Church.

Jones defended who say arrangement, that members of the Academy are available to food and housing to them of their work to compensate.

The young community members living in church owned housing in one of the Gainesville's roughest neighborhoods.

Willie Irving, lives in the neighborhood, used to attend services in the Centre. He held in 2009, he said, as he realized the Church "tried, believe a people's lives make."

But some of those who have been brutal from the Church describe you, as the process in this closely connected community, can be difficult be deep in the roots.

"My grandparents were members of the Dove Foundation." "You their wedding rings sold to buy the property", said Shane butcher, 28.

After Jones 2001 took over the Church, began things to change. Butcher he reminds 60 hours per week scouring thrift stores for furniture, continue to sell on eBay. His parents was exacerbated by what Jones of the Church Act, the in 2005 links.

"It was full of the Holy Spirit," said his mother, Patty butcher, "and it was a laughing stock."

But even after leave, Shane butcher remained his parents separated in the church relations with his family. "I felt like, where God wanted to be me," he said.

His family asked if they had lost him forever. "It was painful to see my son under one's control," said his mother, a former Church Secretary.

It took two years to confront the power of Jones's wife Sylvia Shane work. He said that "Everything we do you make money", her foot from the Church.

For days, his friends and roommates fact, to butcher, what he had done his parents: they cut him off.

The insular world, created by Jones to his followers in Gainesville reminiscent of its previous enterprise, the Christian community of Cologne.

During the three decades as a missionary there he recruited nearly 1,000 churchgoers, according to Pro, a Christian magazine in Germany, which interviewed several former members for an article published in September. In Cologne of the article said, Jones no longer was the Gospel as much as "create his own empire." Dissemination

Many Gainesville community members began leaving, Dove after Jones launched his much publicized crusade against Islam in the life. He held a mock report on activities of the Qur'an March 20 for "Crimes against humanity." Video footage of the Holy Book is soaked in kerosene and set on fire in a portable fireplace triggered three days of protests in Afghanistan, where at least 20 died and injured dozens.

Church services Sunday - the first since the Afghan protests - moved only 14 people.

A pigeon Academy had some churchgoers name uniform embroidered with the Church. You belted lyrics, alternately the biblical and the patriotic, with preteen boys on the drums and guitar. Out there was a member on the security detail.

When he the pulpit, compared to Jones on Martin Luther King Jr., and then click Joshua leads his followers over the River Jordan.

Burning of the Quran was necessary, he said even if it caused a dozen deaths, because it was to defend a part of the Gospel. It was not easy, and it is something that the Church should be proud, he said.

He said "If they crossed the Jordan, they their lives on the line include,".

"There is only a way me, stop", Jones said his followers, "and that is to kill me."

sieffk@WashPost.com

Staff writer Annie Gowen, and Michelle awesome stone and research editor Alice Crites contributed to this report.

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Gaddafi of Envoy meets Greek leader - Washington Post

Libyan leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi launched a diplomatic initiative towards some members of the NATO on Sunday, with the Greek Government say that met a senior official of the Libyan with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and, planned to travel on to Turkey.

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Gaddafi regime "Sought a solution,", said Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, but he has to be no information about the meeting with Foreign Minister Libyan Abdulati al Obeidi. Droutsas added that his Government would inform "all our partners and allies" of the Libyan proposals.

Obama administration officials were waiting to be informed, said that they had no comment on the plans. Obeidi, Libyan Prime Minister, emerged in the last few days as Gaddafi's diplomatic point man.

Many of them arrived in Benghazi the de-facto capital of the Libyan opposition, a Turkish ferry with hundreds of people, wounded fighters, from the Western Misurata, where the rebels were under siege by Gaddafi loyalists.

The ship, under the protection of the Turkish military of fighter jets and naval vessels travel in Benghazi more wounded in Turkey get stopped.

Droutsas said that Obeidi planned by Athens in the Turkey for meetings with government officials, and then to Malta travel according to a report by the official news agency of Athens. The meeting with Papandreou, who said Greek officials had a phone call from Tripoli on Friday was ordered.

"On our part," Droutsas said in a statement, "we stressed that we confirmed the clear message of the international community: full compliance with and implementation of UN resolutions, immediate ceasefire, end violence and hostilities, particularly against civilians in Libya." "Emissary words, it seems based on the that the regime also [] is looking for a solution."

Obeidi told reporters in Tripoli on Friday, "We seek British, the French and the Americans with the, the killing of people to stop talking." "We try to find a mutual solution."

Many Libyan officials are allegedly in contact with Western officials, although it remains unclear which seek to leave the Government among them and, represent you. Libyan Foreign Minister Musa KUSA übergelaufen last week after United Kingdom and a close advisor of Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, met with British officials reported proposal of the Libyan leader makes his sons step down.

The Obama showed little interest in such offered administration and its allies and partners in the Libya operation. President Obama described his demand of the international military coalition, under the authorization of the United Nations after Gaddafi's departure as a political goal, during goal, is to stop the violence and to protect Libyan civilians.

Although NATO command of which last week took over operation Libya, some members have said that they would participate only in the noncombat aspects of the intervention.

US officials will remain with opposition groups, who hold the eastern part of the country, air strikes and a no-fly zone under the protection of the Coalition the possibility of a military confrontation on the ground, increasingly resigned during Gaddafi's forces in the control of the West.

The United States and its partners in the operations remain nervous about armament of the disorganized rebel fighters. Although officials expressed confidence in the collection of lawyers and intellectuals, who have formed an interim Government in Benghazi, they are concerned about the identity and objectives of other participants in the fight.

Gaddafi's far bigger and better thwarts last week Western move forces rebel attempts and suppressed by cities, which had taken on the Central Mediterranean Sea.

In Misurata, the only major city in western Libya in rebel hands, still weeks of urban warfare have taken a toll for clearly. Passengers on board the Ankara, which saw the arrival in Benghazi from Misurata, ferry subscribed and exhausted.

The passengers, protected by heavily armed Turkish police offered a window into a city, which cut off from the outside world for weeks.

"There is no safe place in Misurata," said Faraj Ahmed, 31, a doctor, the wounded on their trip to Turkey was accompanied. About 70 more wounded people were to be picked up by Benghazi.

The ship came in Misurata of under guise of 10 Turkish air force F-16 fighter aircraft and two navy frigates, Reuters said, adding that thousands of desperate people, including several thousand Egyptians, tried it on board.

"There are bombs everywhere, in homes, in cars," said Ahmed. "The situation is really bad." "There is nothing to eat, no formula for the baby." Electricity was been interrupted, he said. "Even with the air strikes" coalition forces, he said "Gaddafi's people killed people every day are."

Inside the ship was sprinkled every cabin and lounge with injured people. The smell of diesel fuel mixed with the stench of sweat as harried medical personnel crashed through rows of the wounded.

Some of the violations were cruel. A young man sat on a mattress on the floor, a gaping hole where his nose had been. On a different mattress set a man, whose Beine was been amputated. Many said they were civilians and had been sitting in their cars or foot on the road when they were attacked.

deyoungk@WashPost.com

Bahrampour reports of Benghazi.

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