This Week in History, Sep 16 - Sep 22

Sep 16, 1932
Gandhi begins fast in protest of caste separation. From his cell at Yerovda Jail near Bombay, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest of the British government's decision to separate India's electoral system by caste.

Sep 17, 1862
Battle of Antietam. Beginning early on the morning of this day in 1862, Confederate and Union troops in the Civil War clash near Maryland's Antietam Creek in the bloodiest one-day battle in American history.

Sep 18, 1793

NEW US NUKES. Nuclear Arsenal Overhaul.
Officials say U.S. nuclear arsenal is set to undergo the costliest modernization in its history at a time of fiscal crisis.

HEALTH CARE COSTS. Providers Charging Higher Rates.
Doctors as well as other medical providers have billed Medicare for increasingly complicated and costly treatments over the past decade, adding $11 billion to reimbursements and signaling a possible rise in billing abuse, according to an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity.

GUATEMALA ERUPTION. Volcano Forces Evacuations

PROTESTS SPREAD. All Across Muslim World
Demonstrators protest from Australia to Yemen over controversial film. Islamist are fanning the flames of popular anger over perceived insults to their religion.

GOP LEADERS. Questioning Romney Tactics.
Mitt Romney’s remarks over the deadly attack on the US embassy in Libya have amplified concerns by members of his party that the candidate is losing a winnable election with a series of poor miscalculations and political errors.

CHINESE NAVY THREATEN. Japanese Waters.

The United Nations human rights chief is urging religious and political leaders to do their utmost to restore calm in the wake of an anti-Islam film that has sparked protests in countries across the world.

“The film is malicious and deliberately provocative and portrays a disgracefully distorted image of Muslims. I fully understand why people wish to protest strongly against it, and it is their right to do so peacefully,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said in a news release.

US Embassies and missions have been placed on high alert as the protests continue to spread across the Muslim world, while crazed demonstrators storm US embassies and leaders reserve strongest language for this crude and controversial film.

Why aren't these new Arab leaders not moving faster to defuse increasing tensions tensions?

Meanwhile. some Islamist governments appear to be fanning the flames of popular anger over the perceived insults to their religion.

Should these leaders show more responsibility? What do you think?

FED'S BOLD PLAN. Boosting Our Economy
Investors sent stock prices rocketing. But economists are skeptical the plan to purchase more bonds will help.

MIDDLE EAST UPROAR CONTINUES. Suspicious Anti-Muslim Film.
Police, protesters clash near the U.S. Embassies. Meanwhile in Israel, police increase their presence in Jerusalem's old city.

AFGHAN WAR FADING. Has The Nation Forgotten?
Families of U.S. soldiers who were killed in action feel despair that many fellow citizens have failed to appreciate their total sacrifice.

BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY TROUBLES. Another Royal Embarrassment?

The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, Lakhdar Brahimi, today arrived in Damascus, where he will hold talks with the Government, representatives of the opposition and members of civil society.

In a statement upon arrival in the capital city’s international airport, Mr. Brahimi said no one disagrees with the need to stop the bloodshed and restore harmony among the people in Syria.

“We came to Syria for consultation with the brotherly Syrians… There is a crisis and I think it is deteriorating,” he said.