NPR 2009-07-22

President Obama remains 1 on the offensive today in terms of defending his health care overhaul 2 plan, saying that critics of the package are working what he called "a familiar Washington Script" that favors politics over policy.  President accused opponents of his plan of seeking to slow changes in health care and hopes the plan fails. And he accused the critics of favoring insurance companies over consumers. Mr. Obama says he wants legislation that expands health care coverage 3 and helps to bring down costs. Speaking at the White House, the President said progress has been made in moving his health care initiative forward.

 The Senate voted today to stop production of the F-22 jet made by Lockheed Martin, cutting $1.75 billion from the defense 4 budget. NPR's Kathy Lohr has more.

 President Obama said continuing the F-22 program would have been an inexcusable waste of money at a time when the country is fighting two wars and facing a serious deficit 5. Those who want to cut the spending say the fighter jet which has not been used in Iraq or Afghanistan is too expensive and out of date. Instead the Pentagon wants to increase production of the F-35 fighter. Lockheed Martin builds both planes. Some in Congress are concerned about the loss of tens of thousands of jobs associated with the F-22. Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson says the plane is vital to 21st century American military superiority. But the President has vowed 6 to veto any bill that keeps the F-22 program intact. The defense spending bill in the House still includes funding for the F-22 and that difference will have to be resolved. Kathy Lohr, NPR News, Atlanta.

 Despite the recession, both Southwest Airlines and United Airlines posted small profits for the second quarter. Continental 7 Airlines, however, posted a significant loss. From Dallas, NPR's Wade 8 Goodwyn reports.

 The second quarter profit of $28 million for United and $54 million for Southwest is more of a blip on the radar 9 screen than it's an indication of any sort of turnaround in air travel. But it does speak to the nimbleness of management and workers at two of the nation's most important carriers. Southwest has filled its seats with discount ticket passengers and reversed the string of losses in three quarters. Revenue is down nearly 9% from last year. That was much better than Continental Airlines which saw a dip of more than 22% and a quarterly loss of $169 million. Matching supply with falling demand continues to be the industry's biggest challenge. Wade Goodwyn, NPR News. Dallas.

 Apple waited until after the stock market closed today to announce that profits were up 15% for the company's most recent quarter even with the relatively 10 weak economy. The maker 11 of computers and the popular iPhones says its earnings  rose to $1.23 billion or $1.35 a share.

 On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 67 points, ending the session at 8,915. The NASDAQ gained six points today.

 This is NPR.

Officials in Afghanistan say Taliban militants 13 were involved in a series of attacks on government buildings and a US base in two eastern cities. Officials say eight insurgents 14 and six Afghan security personnel were killed in the fighting. One attack targeted the governor's compound in the city of Gardez just as a meeting between tribal 15 elders and government leaders was wrapping up. Three militants also tried to attack a US base near the city of Jalalabad. Taliban militants have launched a number of attacks over the past year, often involving multiple suicide bombers 16 followed by gunmen.

Lebanon has arrested 10 militants it says who were plotting attacks on its army and UN peacekeepers in the south of the country. Dale Gavlak has more.

The Lebanese army said it uncovered a militant 12 Islamist network belonging to the Fatah al-Isalm group which fought a 15-week battle with the army two years ago. The group has ties to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. It said the militants came from other Arab countries and its ring leader is a Syrian national. The army said the network was also plotting assaults from Lebanon on targets abroad, but gave no specifics. It said the group intended to monitor UN troops and the army to carry out terrorist attacks on them. UN peacekeepers have been stationed in southern Lebanon since the summer war with Israel three years ago. They have been the target of several attacks since that time. For NPR News, I'm Dale Gavlak in Amman.

A former mutual 17 fund executive is taking the reins 18 at mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac. The company announced today Charles Haldeman Jr. who recently stepped down as chairman of Putnam Investments to serve as Freddie Mac's new CEO. He will replace John Koskinen. The new companies combined own or guarantee almost half of the US mortgage market.

I'm Jack 19 Speer, NPR News in Washington.