Print edition for November 18, 2007

Strength of diplomacy lost on war hawks: Statements and strategies built around belligerence, military power and posturing "toughness" are clear signs of this delusion at work. The Hawk Consensus is simply the notion that to be tough and to be effective in foreign policy you must also be belligerent, and prefer the military tool over all others.

Editorial: Hunger all around us: They're not the ones eagerly raising their arms to answer questions. More typically, they're using their arms as a headrest.

Tough talk on immigration works up crowd in suburb: By Michael Mishak; With the subject of illegal immigration still fresh in the air after Thursday's Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, Republican Mitt Romney said Saturday that if elected president he would stop the "sanctuary state of mind" he claims is perpetuated by measures such as giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Juggernaut's roll continues in small town, back in Vegas: J. Patrick Coolican, Las Vegas Sun; Even the local press should get to use one - but only one - Las Vegas cliche with so many national political figures in Nevada.

Editorial: Smithsonian's bad call: The Washington Post reported Friday that Cristian Samper, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, postponed the Arctic exhibit's display in 2005 because he wanted to make changes to the script. Those alterations included saying the effects of climate change are a "scientific uncertainty."

Greenspun: The world is watching: By Brian Greenspun; Las Vegans are used to being exposed by the bright lights of the media. It is the way we make our living. The more publicity, the more business is generated. Pretty simple formula.

Editorial: A morbid six-month deadline: Such is the predicament at many hospice programs throughout the country today.

Experts lack easy answers: The next president will have to grapple with daunting geopolitical challenges in the Middle East, Far East, Russia and other hot spots while trying to enhance America's tarnished international reputation, foreign policy experts from past Republican and Democratic administrations told a Las Vegas audience last week. At a forum at UNLV Friday hosted by the Brookings Institution, a respected Washington think tank, in partnership with ABC News, panelists discussed some of the major national security and foreign policy issues that will confront the next president. The Sun cosponsored the event. Sun editor Brian Greenspun is a Brookings trustee.

WEEK IN REVIEW: WASHINGTON, D.C.: By Lisa Mascaro; WASHINGTON - The question is one that does not go away easily: How did President Bush's nominee for attorney general, an otherwise respected jurist who refused to say whether waterboarding was torture, end up winning the Senate's approval over the objections of its majority leader?

Letter: Move over, Midwest: How's this for solid?: Terry Cox; If it's true that this region is rapidly replacing the Midwest as the nation's heartland, then the good people of Nevada can breathe a giant sigh of relief. One, we can take great pride in our "diverse" economy. Nevada isn't now, and never has been, dominated by one industry. No, sir, diversity is our middle name.

With debate, Nevada gets its 15 minutes: By Jeff German, Steve Kanigher; You knew there would be a few cheap shots and cliched one-liners about the gambling, the gangsters and the other things that long have made Las Vegas such an easy target, wrapped around endless variations on the city's famous "What happens here ... " marketing slogan - and there were.

Debate a boon, bust for UNLV - depends whom you ask: By Charlotte Hsu; UNLV, home to one of the country's top-ranked hotel management colleges, had readied for months to meet a major hospitality challenge of its own: hosting the Democratic debate broadcast on CNN on Thursday.

Letter: Smokers' faults include more than littering: Too many smokers never use the ashtrays in their cars and toss their lighted cigarette butts out the window nearly all the time.

FLASHPOINT for Nov 18, 2007: In the wake of Harry Reid's 100,000-voter prediction for the caucus, which has caused his name to be taken in vain by Democrats across Nevada, I began to wonder just how far off he might be. I have raised this issue before and I raise it again in context of Reid's remarks: The caucus will take place on the Saturday of Martin Luther King weekend. The caucus will take at least an hour to complete at each venue, so casino workers will need at least a couple of hours off. Will Strip employers during a huge three-day weekend let their ...

Jeff Simpson sees hope in a broad-based business tax pushed by the head of MGM Mirage: By Jeff Simpson; Lanni's speech to the NDA blasted gaming tax initiatives and government by initiative, but his most interesting remarks concerned his call for a business tax that would bring fiscal stability to the state while providing the resources to improve critical needs, especially education.

Jon Ralston wonders what might have been for Obama had he been a little quicker and more assertive in Thursday's debate: "I thought they should have them when I was a state senator. I still believe it is a public safety issue and so do many law enforcement agencies. That may not be popular. That may not be politically correct. It may even cost me votes. But I would rather talk about more important issues such as defining amnesty and paths to citizenship. And, Wolf, when you get to Hillary, don't let her say yes or no; have her explain how she went from supporting Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to being against it in just two weeks."

Baylor Fires Morriss After Losing Season: AP; Morriss was unable to produce a winning record in his five seasons, going 18-40 overall and 7-33 in conference games. He had a year left on his contract.

Experts lack easy answers: At a forum at UNLV Friday hosted by the Brookings Institution, a respected Washington think tank, in partnership with ABC News, panelists discussed some of the major national security and foreign policy issues that will confront the next president. The Sun cosponsored the event. Sun editor Brian Greenspun is a Brookings trustee.

Flawed sex offender tracking leads to wrong door: By Abigail Goldman; It's worse during the holidays. Christmas, New Year's, Halloween. That's when they really start knocking. Calling him out in the middle of the night. Showing up at his stoop in angry packs.

US Military Deaths in Iraq at 3,867: AP; The AP count is four higher than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Friday at 10 a.m. EST.

Letter: City should support a first-class zoo: The exhibits are small and are in need of upgrading, to say the least. The zoo clearly needs monetary support from the city or sponsorship from the Vegas hotels. Take some pride in your zoo.

Nevada caucus might be one-hit wonder: Lisa Mascaro, Sun Washington Bureau; His statement: "I hope we can put more integrity in the process by spacing out the contests instead of cramming them all together."

The world is watching: By Brian Greenspun; We had our 15 minutes of fame and a whole lot more. Las Vegans are used to being exposed by the bright lights of the media. It is the way we make our living. The more publicity, the more business is generated. Pretty simple formula.

A Look at Past Cyclones in Bangladesh: AP; - May 20, 1998: A cyclone pounds the southeastern coast with 100-mph winds, killing at least 14 and injuring at least 200. More than 10,000 tin-roofed homes are flattened in the Chittagong region.