Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days
June 19th, 2011
07:45 PM ET

Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has warned that the House might consider defunding U.S. military operations in Libya this week. Here is a look at this and other stories that CNN plans to follow this week:

Boehner threatens funding of Libya mission

Arguing that President Barack Obama has failed to get required congressional authorization for U.S. participation in the NATO military mission in Libya, Boehner, R-Ohio, has said that the House might seek to defund U.S. operations there when it considers a defense appropriation measure this week.

Boehner says the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which limits the ability of the president to unilaterally engage U.S. forces in combat, required Obama needed to get congressional approval of the Libya operations by today, 90 days after the campaign started. The White House has responded that Obama didn't need authorization because U.S. forces play only a supporting role in Libya and don't engage in what the resolution defined as hostilities.

If Boehner tries to withhold the money, he won't have the support of two high-profile GOP senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Both said on Sunday talk shows that the move would undermine NATO allies.

Southwest wildfires consuming acres at rapid pace

Dozens of wildfires are burning in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and weather conditions are making containment difficult.

On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning - which means gusty winds, high heat and low humidity may combine to let fire spread easily - in those three states and four others. Wind speeds are expected to decrease Monday in New Mexico, but critical fire weather conditions still will be likely in parts of the state, the weather service said.

U.S. wildfires have burned almost as many acres in the first half of 2011 (3.1 million acres) as were recorded by the National Interagency Fire Center for the first 11 months of 2010 (3.2 million acres). One Arizona fire has burned 511,118 acres and forced hundreds of evacuations since it started May 29; it was 44% contained as of Sunday, fire officials said.

New York Senate could vote on same-sex marriage legalization

The New York Senate could vote Monday on a bill that would legalize same sex marriage in New York and bring the number of states granting same-sex marriage licenses to six.

The state Assembly passed the bill last week. As of Friday, the bill appeared to be one supporter short of passage in the Senate, with some senators expressing concern that the bill could expose religious institutions and religiously affiliated adoption agencies to lawsuits. State lawmakers are due to leave for summer recess after Monday.

Five states - Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire - and the District of Columbia currently grant same-sex marriage licenses.

Syrian president to address nation Monday

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who leads a country where popular unrest took hold more than three months ago, is expected to address his nation Monday, according to state-run media reports.

More than 1,100 people may have died since the unrest across Syria began in mid-March, after teens were arrested for writing anti-government graffiti in Daraa, according to Amnesty International. The Syrian government has consistently blamed the protest casualties on "armed gangs."

International pressure has steadily grown in recent months, with critics accusing forces loyal to Assad of targeting defenseless demonstrators and prohibiting outside help to those in need.

A wave of Syrians has fled their country for Turkey to escape violence. The Turkish government said over the weekend that more than 10,100 Syrians have crossed the border.

The United States is collecting information on possible war crimes by Syrian security forces amid the crackdown, a senior Obama administration official said last week. The administration is lobbying members of the U.N. Security Council to support a resolution on Syria that, according to another administration official, would send a strong message to Assad.

European finance ministers mull a second bailout for Greece

European Union finance ministers are meeting in Luxembourg early this week to discuss, among other things, whether to produce a second economic bailout package for debt-strapped Greece.

There are fears that efforts to restructure Greece's debt could spark an investor panic similar to that in the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, the U.S.-based global investment bank. The debt crisis also raises concerns for Europe's currency, the euro. The world economy could be shaken should Greece default on its debts.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is fighting to stay in power amid weeks of protests against plans to bring down the country's enormous budget deficit. The deficit has led to tax hikes and public-sector job losses, which has exacerbated an already record-high unemployment there.

Wimbledon begins; 'longest match' competitors meet again

The time for pre-tournament galas and slightly alarming party dresses are over: Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam tennis event played on grass, begins Monday.

Defending men's singles champ Rafael Nadal, who has won the last two Wimbledons that he has entered, will play his first-round match Monday on Centre Court against the United States' Michael Russell.  SI.com's Jon Wertheim writes that it's hard to pick against the reigning French Open champ.

The tournament marks the returns of American sisters Serena and Venus Williams, both of whom had been out with injuries for months. Serena, the defending women's singles champ at Wimbledon, is the seventh seed this year.

On Tuesday, the two men who played the longest-ever tennis match at last year's Wimbledon tournament, American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, will play against each other again in first-round match. Last year, Isner defeated Mahut in an 11-hour match that included a 70-68 fifth set before losing in the second round.

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soundoff (35 Responses)
  1. take away libya funds

    Keep up the good work House Speaker Boehner. Get us out of Libya now. Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing the right thing.

    June 20, 2011 at 2:59 am | Report abuse |
  2. david

    Dave claims to be smart and he be bustin out all dem facts...some people think dat his sources are pretty much wack! He be droppin all these names and puttin on da heat...you better heed his warnings cuz his news can't be beat!! He's a rogue journalist with a big ax to grind...Obama's posse better cover his behind! Cuz when David's on da story you know he's da man...I am telling you that he's no flash in da pan!! He may be a fairy and loves to pack dat fudge, but when it comes to these stories u know he won't budge! Gay marriage is wrong in so many ways....but David is jumpin on board with dat craze!!

    June 20, 2011 at 3:39 am | Report abuse |
  3. jury

    ?

    June 20, 2011 at 4:20 am | Report abuse |
  4. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    @ Diane:
    I'm not at all sure that the fake Ellis from Panama should be squelched.
    His preferences are not mine, and I choose not to speak the way he does.
    However, this country has freedom of speech. If I advocate the removal of Ellis's freedom, I endanger my own freedoms.
    I am a very decent person, and Ellis's speech doesn't bother me; sometimes it's worth a hearty laugh, and I need some of those every day.
    There are many things that could be banned: Confederate flags, crosses, nativity scenes, AIDS ribbons, short hair on women, capitalists, billionaires, limp wrists, the Ten Commandments, American Flags, so-called "classical" music, mosques, AKC-registered dogs, and many more.
    One day they'll vote to come after my plate of cow meat.
    I prefer to let Ersatz Ellis speak.

    June 20, 2011 at 5:47 am | Report abuse |
  5. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    I forgot sable coats and animals for medical research.

    June 20, 2011 at 5:51 am | Report abuse |
  6. joey

    I want Ellis inside me.

    June 20, 2011 at 7:59 am | Report abuse |
  7. fred

    Joey, you forgot ban "US troops" in Afghanistan and bring them home. (just as soon as there have been enough private militia hired to take their place)

    June 20, 2011 at 9:55 am | Report abuse |
  8. david

    @randy germans thought genocide of the jews was impossible in their country too. how much investigation into bilderberg have you done? my guess would be zero. they ADMIT they want a one world government. try again mr uninformed know-it-all.

    June 20, 2011 at 10:09 am | Report abuse |
  9. fred

    @david. The One World Order isn't some future government. It is here and it is now. International borders fell for profit long ago. The lines are still on the map, but only to keep the flag-wavers on one side of the line full of hatred for the flag-wavers on the other side of the line. The world's economy is controlled by one single foreign bank, The Bank for International Settlements. (yes, they really do call themselves that) This one bank directs the affairs of all the world's central banks, including those located in the US. a simple audit of the Federal Reserve would show this, but has never been allowed. The New World Order isn't something they want. It's something they have.

    June 20, 2011 at 10:38 am | Report abuse |
  10. fred

    Alex Jones knows this to be true, yet if he were to tell you that The New World Order is and has been in control, he would be making himself out to be a liar. Alex profits by scareing you into thinking that 'it's' coming to get you, but there is still time to "get the word out". All that get's out is YOU being identified as an insurgent who incites riots. Alex get's away with it because he does them a service. You won't though.

    June 20, 2011 at 10:57 am | Report abuse |
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