Tuesday, a decorated Veteran was arrested with guns at a Westboro rally. And, commission’s final deficit report preserves controversial spending cuts.

Commission’s final deficit report preserves controversial spending cuts; panel to vote Friday

The leaders of President Obama’s fiscal commission released a final report Wednesday that is full of political dynamite, including sharp cuts in military spending, a higher retirement age and tax reforms that could cost the average taxpayer an extra $1,700 a year.

Vet with Guns Arrested at Westboro Rally

Authorities arrested a wounded, decorated Army veteran after he followed members of a controversial Topeka church and he was found in a vehicle stocked with weapons outside Wichita City Hall on Tuesday, sources said.

South Korea Official Says North Is Likely to Attack Again

SEOUL, South Korea — As the United States and South Korea ended four days of joint naval exercises on Wednesday off the North Korean coast, the South’s intelligence chief warned that the North is likely to repeat a Nov. 23 artillery attack that left four South Koreans dead.

Pentagon study anticipates smooth integration of openly gay troops

WASHINGTON — The military’s controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” law can be repealed with little disruption to military missions and limited opposition from servicemembers, according to a report released by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

Lawyer: Assange is being persecuted in Sweden

LONDON (AP) — The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange charged Wednesday that his client is being persecuted by Swedish authorities whose accusations of sex crimes have prompted an Interpol alert for his arrest.

DADT Study to Kick Off Hill Debate Today

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon study that argues that gay troops could serve openly without hurting the military’s ability to fight is expected to re-ignite debate this month on Capitol Hill over repealing the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Guard soldiers’ suicide rate alarming; nearly double 2009 rate

National Guard soldiers who are not on active duty killed themselves this year at nearly twice the rate of 2009, marring a year when suicides among Army soldiers on active duty appear to be leveling off, new Army statistics show.

Russia’s Medvedev Warns of New Arms Race

MOSCOW — A new arms race will erupt if Russia can’t agree with the West about a joint European missile defense program, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Tuesday in his annual address.

Presents ready for troops, but need postage

Charity organizations across the country have been collecting everything from blowup reindeer and hand-knit scarves to mp3 players and guitars all year long, planning to brighten the holidays for troops deployed far from home.

Signs of Diplomacy in North Korea Crisis

SEOUL, South Korea — A supercarrier sent jets into overcast skies Tuesday in U.S.-South Korean military drills that North Korea warned could spark war, but signs of diplomacy emerged alongside the tensions over last week’s deadly North Korean attack.