Checkpoint Washington - December 12, 2010

GOP holds off on amendments as Senate debates START treaty

The Senate launched into debate on the new U.S.-Russia arms treaty on Thursday, with Republicans warning they needed extensive time to consider the pact in the waning days of the lame-duck Congress.

By Mary Beth Sheridan | December 16, 2010; 4:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Senate decides to take up START treaty

After months of hearings and intense negotiations, the Senate leadership announced Tuesday that it will proceed with a top priority of President Obama's -- ratification of the new U.S.-Russian nuclear-arms treaty -- despite objections from a key Republican.

By Mary Beth Sheridan | December 14, 2010; 6:21 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)

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Marine general: Repeal of 'don't ask' would endanger lives

The Marine Corps' top general suggested Tuesday that allowing gays to serve openly in the military could result in more casualties because their presence on the battlefield would pose "a distraction."

By Craig Whitlock | December 14, 2010; 3:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)

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Holbrooke's last words on the Afghan war

As friends and colleagues from four decades of diplomatic life reflected on the intensity of Richard C. Holbrooke's dedication, many were not surprised to learn that concerns about the Afghanistan war were apparently among his final thoughts. Following Holbrooke's death,...

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Karen DeYoung | December 14, 2010; 2:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)

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Taliban blames Holbrooke death on war 'failures'

For the Taliban, the death of U.S. envoy Richard C. Holbrooke late Monday was really a metaphor for U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

By Ernesto Londono | December 14, 2010; 10:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)

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S. African minister says relations warm, despite WikiLeaks

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited South Africa a year ago in an effort to repair frayed relations. On Monday, the fruit of that trip was evident as a delegation of senior South African officials began a "strategic dialogue"...

By Mary Beth Sheridan | December 13, 2010; 4:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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