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(CNN) -- SNIPPET: "The charge centers around a one-way ticket that authorities allege Abdel Hameed Shehadeh purchased from Queens, New York, to Islamabad, Pakistan. Shehadeh originally told investigators that the purpose of his trip was to visit an Islamic university and attend a friend's engagement party. But he later admitted to FBI agents in Hawaii that he bought the ticket in order to join a fighting group such as the Taliban, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in New York Monday."

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is greeting foreign diplomats at a White House reception, hailing a "new era of engagement in the world." Said the president: "We're doing together what none of us can achieve by ourselves." Scores of ambassadors and other foreign officials were invited to the East Room on Tuesday for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at an annual diplomatic corps reception.

When Matt Cawley popped the big question to girlfriend Stacey Scanlon, it's fair to say it could've gone better. "Just another chapter in the book," said Cawley. "I was like 'Here we go!'" "I feel like it's a story that'll be passed along in our families forever," added Scanlon. They're talking about the loss of a $9,000 diamond engagement ring -- a family heirloom. Cawley's plan was to surprise Scanlon with the ring during a romantic walk along Lighthouse Jetty in South Yarmouth on Monday morning. He tied it to a big sand dollar with some string, slipped it onto...

The most amazing real-life soap opera of our times has taken a new twist: Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are engaged. Make that two twists: They apparently shared the news with US Weekly before her mom. There they are on the magazine's cover, holding their 18-month-old son Tripp and explaining how they got back together after the most famous teenage breakup ever. Engaged during her mother's vice-presidential campaign, they parted shortly after their son's birth, and the split quickly turned tabloid-ugly. But they said they bonded again while trying to work out a custody plan three months ago. "I really...

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) on Sunday said that the U.S. military’s rules of engagement have hurt troop morale in Afghanistan and said that he hoped the new top commander there, Gen. David Petraeus, will clarify them as soon as possible. The previous commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, placed restrictions on U.S. air strikes and artillery in Afghanistan, limiting the circumstances that allow troops under fire to call for fire support. Those rules of engagement have cut down on civilian casualties, but have been strongly criticized by American troops who say those rules have made the fight more dangerous.

SNIPPET - quote: Obama's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism speaks out against "Islamophobia" If Hannah Rosenthal really wants to end "Islamophobia," here is an easy way. She can call upon Muslims to: 1. Focus their indignation on Muslims committing violent acts in the name of Islam, not on non-Muslims reporting on those acts. 2. Renounce definitively not just "terrorism," but any intention to replace the U.S. Constitution (or the constitutions of any non-Muslim state) with Sharia even by peaceful means. In line with this, clarify what is meant by their condemnations of the killing of innocent people by...

If she takes up swimming again, she won't be able to wear her engagement ring in the pool - she'd surely sink. Prince Albert of Monaco has proposed to South African former swimmer Charlene Wittstock - giving her a ring that more than makes up for his reputation as an eternal playboy. The royal palace said in a statement that the engagement was announced today between the 52-year-old prince and 32-year-old Wittstock.

The following text SNIPPET is a quote: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-1084A1.pdf PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12thSt., S.W. Washington, D.C.20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 10-1084 Released: June 16, 2010 MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF REQUESTS FOR QUOTATION FOR MEDIA OWNERSHIP STUDIES AND SEEKS SUGGESTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL STUDIES IN MEDIA OWNERSHIP PROCEEDING MB Docket No. 09-182 Suggestions for Additional Studies Deadline:July 7, 2010 Requests for Quotation for Media Ownership Studies. As part of the Commission’s 2010 Quadrennial Media Ownership proceeding,1the Commission is commissioning nine economic studies to evaluate the current marketplace and the state of...

"STOCKHOLM -- Princess Madeleine of Sweden has broken off her engagement with attorney Jonas Bergstrom, the Royal Court announced Saturday. "The reasons for the break up were not disclosed, but Norwegian magazine Se og Hoer published an interview this week with a woman named Tora Uppstroem Berg who claimed she had spent a night with the princess' fiance at a popular Swedish skiing resort last year."

Join General Paul Vallely(ret'd) and Bill Roggio of the Long War Journal for vital conversation on the Long War and Rules of Engagement. Chill those brewsky's break out the cigars, and put on your slippers for some great computer side chat. The Long War Journal consistently provides original and accurate reporting and analysis of the Long War (also known as the Global War on Terror). LWJ accomplishes this through embedded reporters, news aggregation, podcasts, and other media. Bill Roggio is retired Army and has embedded with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Long War Journal has become the go-to site...

Iranian despot Ahmadinejad said it back in May but it is obvious that he still believes it. At a joint press conference with the Syrian President, Ahmadinejad boasted that “those who one day called Iran and Syria part of the axis of evil now want to develop relations with Iran and Syria. Circumstances are changing rapidly in our favor,we are on the road to victory." At the very least he is on the road to making President Obama look foolish again. Obama made a proposal to start talks between Iran and the west. The proposal covered many issues but Iranian...

Is Obama's 'let's talk' diplomacy failing? The US has scored no big wins under his policy of talking with the enemy. Doubts that it can are rising. By Howard LaFranchi | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Washington President Obama may be willing to talk to America's adversaries abroad, but six months into his tenure hardly anyone is returning his call – a situation that is prompting restiveness in Congress and a round of "we told you so's" by diplomatic hawks. In one sign of impatience with Mr. Obama's approach, the US Senate in late July unanimously urged the...

"The situation today is that the Americans are begging Iran for dialogue - in very disrespectful language, like uncultured cowboys. Because of their arrogant nature, they have not yet learned that asking for dialogue with someone you need requires a certain politeness - and that desperate battle cries, shouting, and screaming are not considered a sign of strength. We return, therefore, to the starting point - that is, to the American reevaluation of its dialogue strategy following the Iranian elections. With its refusal to cease or even slow down nuclear development, Iran has basically answered President Obama's offer of dialogue...

Growing up we all believe what we want to. For years my son believed that there were monsters under his bed at night, my daughter believed that a unicorn would show up for her to ride away. Both of them believed in the tooth fairy (OK to be honest there was one of those, it was their father in a closet, but that's a story for another day.). Part of the growing process is that we realize that these childish myths are not real by any means. Surprisingly, there is one childish myth that many otherwise intelligent adults cling on...

Every administration has its version of fixers, kitchen Cabinets, fellow travelers, and advisers who may never have to endure Senate confirmation hearings or show up on the government's payroll, yet can wield wide influence on an administration. The highest title that can be bestowed on such a person would be that of an eminence grise (French for "grey influence") who is a powerful advisor operating behind the scenes or through like-minded acolytes whom he has helped to place in positions of power. That man for the Obama administration in the realm of foreign policy toward Iran and the rest of...

Is Barack Obama "losing Walter Cronkite"? Following a Walter Cronkite editorial report during the Tet Offensive that the Vietnam War was unwinnable, President Lyndon Johnson is reported to have said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost middle America." Today one of President Obama's "propaganda arms, the Washington Post, wrote an editorial about President's "outreach to Iran." It warned that the President's promise to talk while Iran is libeling Israel, and imprisoning Americans is nothing short of appeasement. Wow the Washington Post disagreeing with Obama. Is this President Obama's "losing Uncle Walter" moment? Or has it begun to snow in hell?

On March 30th DEBKA reported DEBKAfile’s Washington sources report that the Obama administration is on the threshold of a major rapprochement with Tehran, a reversal of US policy dramatic enough to block out international sanctions. Iran will be allowed to keep its nuclear program, including military elements and enriched uranium stocks, up to the point of actually assembling a weapon. [..] The US president is willing to ditch Israel as a friend. This will be brought home to Jerusalem when he makes his big speech on April 7 appealing for a grand US-Muslim global reconciliation. The US president is preparing...

President Obama has begun his promised engagement with the Syrian regime. The American objective is to pry Syria away from Iran, which is unlikely to happen. For Syria it is an opportunity to alleviate the international pressure on Damascus. The "engagement" with Syria comes at a particularly sensitive time, just a few months before the Lebanese elections, where the present government faces stiff competition from Syrian puppet Hezballah.Of course the contact will serve to weaken Washington steps to shore up the opponents of the terrorist group. With recent history as a guide, there is little reason to be optimistic that...

Iran is the Number two oil producer in the world, its economy is totally dependent on what used to be called "Texas tea." 85% of its revenues come from crude oil. The operative word is crude. What Iran doesn't have is the infrastructure to refine that crude into usable gasoline and other petroleum products. Kind of like being on a raft in the middle of the ocean without a canteen; "water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink." Last week, the President has reached out to Iran, and they replied with a spit in his face. Here is an...

President Obama has already begun his promised engagement with the Syrian regime. The American objective is to pry Syria away from Iran, which is unlikely to happen. For Syria it is an opportunity to alleviate the international pressure on Damascus. The "engagement" with Syria comes at a particularly sensitive time, just a few months before the Lebanese elections, where the present government faces stiff competition from Syrian puppet Hizbullah. The timing may serve to weaken Washington steps to shore up the opponents of the terrorist group. As part of the negotiations Syria may convince Washington to take on an enhanced...