The early morning sun rises behind the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.
- “Kenyan security forces swept into an upscale shopping mall late Sunday to try to end a two-day standoff with heavily armed Islamist militants after a gruesome attack that reflected the surprising resiliency of one of Africa’s most brutal insurgent groups.” [WashPost]
- “Angela Merkel is basking in a historic third-term victory in the German elections, having led her conservatives to their best result in more than 20 years.” [Guardian]
- “She will be on the spot on Monday, her diplomatic debut, as Mr. Obama arrives in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. A woman known for her closeness to the president and the soaring prose of her Pulitzer Prize-winning book on genocide, ‘A Problem From Hell,’ Ms. Power is the lead American negotiator in the difficult, gritty business of arguing with the Russians, Syria’s patrons, who have already rejected the notion of using force if Mr. Assad does not comply.” [NYT]
- A Unifying Theme for Obama’s Foreign Policy [TIME]
- “Qassem Suleimani is the Iranian operative who has been reshaping the Middle East. Now he’s directing Assad’s war in Syria.” [New Yorker]
- “Syrian President Bashar Assad says his government will allow international experts access to its chemical weapons sites but that rebels might block them from reaching some of the locations.” [AP]
- “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, stepping up his effort to blunt a diplomatic offensive by Iran, plans to warn the United Nations next week that a nuclear deal with the Iranian government could be a trap similar to one set by North Korea eight years ago, according to an Israeli official involved in drafting the speech.” [NYT]
- “Federal officials often say that health insurance will cost consumers less than expected under President Obama’s health care law. But they rarely mention one big reason: many insurers are significantly limiting the choices of doctors and hospitals available to consumers.” [NYT]
- Barack Obama’s Health Care Conversion [Politico]
- “President Barack Obama called for changes to gun laws Sunday during a memorial service honoring the 12 people killed by a gunman last week at the Washington Navy Yard.” [WSJ]
- Ted Cruz: The Distinguished Wacko Bird from Texas [GQ]
- Hillary in Midair [New York]
- Scandal at Clinton Inc. [New Republic]