Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Inspector general’s report criticizes Afghanistan projects
The study calls into question a fundamental premise of the U.S. strategy to counter the Taliban insurgency — that expensive new roads and power plants can be funded and constructed quickly enough to help turn the tide of war.
(By Rajiv Chandrasekaran)

Romney in Israel: ‘Any and all measures’ should be used on Iran
Speaking in Jerusalem, Romney said the U.S. would support Israel’s efforts to defend itself from Iran, but he stopped short of supporting a unilateral military strike.
(By Philip Rucker and Joel Greenberg)

Chris Cillizza: No change of pace in the presidential race
As the Obama and Romney campaigns make the turn into the home stretch, not much is expected to change.
(By Chris Cillizza)

Health insurance mandate faces huge resistance in Oklahoma
Oklahomans don’t like the government telling them what to do, and the state’s political leaders haven’t been supportive of the new law — even turning down $54 million from the federal government to plan for it.
(By Sandhya Somashekhar)

Empty seats have organizers scrambling
Facing furor from shut-out ticket seekers, London organizers offer empty seats to military and students.
(By Karla Adam)

NATION
Inspector general’s report criticizes Afghanistan projects
The study calls into question a fundamental premise of the U.S. strategy to counter the Taliban insurgency — that expensive new roads and power plants can be funded and constructed quickly enough to help turn the tide of war.
( by Rajiv Chandrasekaran , The Washington Post)

Cheney calls Palin selection in 2008 ‘a mistake’
Former vice president Dick Cheney said selecting Sarah Palin as the 2008 GOP vice-presidential candidate was “a mistake.”
( by Ellen Nakashima , The Washington Post)

Enbridge rushes to repair Wisconsin oil line after spill
The leak on a major pipeline spilled more than 1,000 barrels of oil in a Wisconsin field and prompted fresh criticism almost two years to the day after a line ruptured in Michigan.
( by Brendan O’Brien , The Washington Post)

More National: Breaking National News & Headlines - Washington Post

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LOCAL
Unusually dry in region so far this year
Despite the weekend rumbles of thunder, flashes of lightning and sudden downpours, it remains unusually dry in the Washington region.
( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)

Va. rocket launch tests deceleration device
A rocket was launched last week from Virginia in a test of a new mechanism for landing on other planets.
( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)

When getaway car is a bike
Bicycles are gaining increasing favor for commuting and running errands — and, apparently committing crimes.
( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)

Report finds for-profit colleges serve shareholders over students
A two-year investigation found that half of students who enrolled from 2008-09 left without a degree, and that for-profit colleges are better at recruitment than retention.
( by Daniel de Vise , The Washington Post)

A park and a bridge, combined
The old 11th Street Bridge could provide not just a physical but a cultural connection for a divided city, proponents of park plan say.
( by Susan Svrluga , The Washington Post)

More Post Local: Washington, DC Area News, Traffic, Weather, Sports & More - The Washington Post

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POLITICS
At fundraiser in Israel, Romney describes spiritual impact of visit
Candidate and his wife describe to 40 high-level donors the “holy connection” forged in 36-hour stay.
( by Philip Rucker , The Washington Post)

Star-spangled historic trail set for launch
The new Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, which traces the British invasion of Washington, is set for dedication Monday.
( by Steve Vogel , The Washington Post)

Romney in Israel: ‘Any and all measures’ should be used on Iran
Speaking in Jerusalem, Romney said the U.S. would support Israel’s efforts to defend itself from Iran, but he stopped short of supporting a unilateral military strike.
( by Philip Rucker and Joel Greenberg , The Washington Post)

Health insurance mandate faces huge resistance in Oklahoma
Oklahomans don’t like the government telling them what to do, and the state’s political leaders haven’t been supportive of the new law — even turning down $54 million from the federal government to plan for it.
( by Sandhya Somashekhar , The Washington Post)

No change of pace in the presidential race
As the Obama and Romney campaigns make the turn into the home stretch, not much is expected to change.
(, The Washington Post)

More Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More - The Washington Post

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STYLE
Carolyn Hax: Take the lust goggles off
A woman finds intellectual spark with a co-worker. Is it the kind of thing that ends marriages? Often, yes. Sometimes, no. Avoid surrending to the laws of unintended consequences and leaving casualties and damage. Give objective attention to your marriage and take off the lust goggles off.
(, The Washington Post)

Holst evening at Wolf Trap misfires
With the video accompaniments, without context, it was often unclear what we were looking at. Some of the images might just as well have been a close-up of an amoeba, a lichen or a hair-ball
( by Robert Battey , The Washington Post)

Debuts do well
Many debuts last Saturday evening with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap: a British violinist in the Bruch “Scottish Fantasy,” and four American vocal soloists in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. All did well.
( by Robert Battey , The Washington Post)

Building on the success of Fringe Festival
Capital Fringe Festival’s success in showcasing talent should be nurtured by D.C. theaters.
( by Peter Marks , The Washington Post)

Monday’s TV highlights
A television salesman gets to open for Jason Mraz in concert, and HBO’s show on former supermodels talks to Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley and many others.
(, The Washington Post)

More Style: Culture, Arts, Ideas & More - The Washington Post

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BUSINESS
Create A Cure raises $5,000
Eighty young professionals mingled recently in the small, dimly lit basement of Napoleon Bistro & Lounge in Adams Morgan, surrounded by dozens of pieces of artwork along the wall.
( Story by Vanessa Small , The Washington Post)

Why large federal software programs fail
After spending more than half a trillion on federal IT programs in the past decade, why do they keep failing? The federal government has not made it a high priority to ensure that program managers who oversee major IT projects are actually computer scientists with experience in developing software.
(, The Washington Post)

Growth of professional services firms hinges on the visibility of expertise
Executives in professional services firms are the engines of growth. These professionals, who are often responsible for selling and delivering business, are looking for how best to build their reputations in ways that create new relationships and drive more revenue, and many are using their Web sites as captive publishing platforms to crank out a steady stream of “thoughtware.”
( by Pauline Weger , The Washington Post)

Washington area business events: Week of July 30

(, The Washington Post)

‘Dark Knight’ tragedy could hurt all cinema firms
Now that the sanctity of theaters has been violated, investors will be watching whether those challenges grow more acute.
( by Tim Beyers , The Washington Post)

More Business News, Financial News, Business Headlines & Analysis - The Washington Post

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SPORTS
TV and radio listings: July 30

(, The Washington Post)

Chen’s record-setting day lifts Orioles
Baltimore lefty sets major league record for most strikeouts by Taiwanese-born pitcher in 6-1 victory over Oakland.
( by Eduardo A. Encina , The Washington Post)

Empty seats have organizers scrambling
Facing furor from shut-out ticket seekers, London organizers offer empty seats to military and students.
( by Karla Adam , The Washington Post)

Stephens, Chakvetadze win first round doubles match
Sloane Stephens, the fifth-ranked U.S. women’s tennis player, fell one spot short of making the Olympic team and as a result is in the field at the Citi Open this week
( by Matt Breen , The Washington Post)

France rallies past U.S. in relay
Lochte unable to hold lead for Americans during last leg of 4x100 freestyle. U.S. settles for silver.
( by Amy Shipley , The Washington Post)

More Sports: Sports News, Scores, Analysis, Schedules & More - The Washington Post

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WORLD
Inspector general’s report criticizes Afghanistan projects
The study calls into question a fundamental premise of the U.S. strategy to counter the Taliban insurgency — that expensive new roads and power plants can be funded and constructed quickly enough to help turn the tide of war.
( by Rajiv Chandrasekaran , The Washington Post)

Lebanon’s concerns over Syrian conflict
Lebanese worry that Syrian army might escalate attacks against the country for sheltering opposition rebels.
( by Babak Dehghanpisheh , The Washington Post)

Cheney calls Palin selection in 2008 ‘a mistake’
Former vice president Dick Cheney said selecting Sarah Palin as the 2008 GOP vice-presidential candidate was “a mistake.”
( by Ellen Nakashima , The Washington Post)

Panetta says U.S., Israel unified in support of Iran sanctions
Defense Secretary Panetta portrayed the United States and Israel as unified in their support for increasingly tough international sanctions on Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
( by Greg Jaffe , The Washington Post)

Hong Kong protest assails Communist Party ‘brainwashing’
Tens of thousands of protesters parade through Hong Kong, calling for the scrapping of plans for “national education” courses in local schools.
( by Andrew Higgins , The Washington Post)

More World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post

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EDITORIAL
A blocking election
The rationale is the frightening specter of an enemy win.
(, The Washington Post)

Behind the economic pessimism
There is a loss of faith in economic ideas.
(, The Washington Post)

Bust-gate
Waiting for an apology over furious blog post.
(, The Washington Post)

The go-for-broke election
The right’s bet on mainstreaming their ideas.
(, The Washington Post)

Russia’s heavy hand
Free the punk rock band that insulted the church and the president.
(, The Washington Post)

More Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post