CNN 2009-07-26（在线收听）

Afghan troops facing off with Taliban fighters in the city of Khost, this is south of Kabul, a US military base is in that area as well.
Suicide bombers attacked government buildings including an Afghan military hospital.

"At least one confirmed suicide bomber attacking near an Afghan military hospital in that eastern town of Khost, and there are fears that there are other suicide bombers out on the loose right now, and we are getting reports from the sources that Afghan troops are out in force in the street trying to crack down, trying to maintain security in those streets. Those accounts don t quite match with the what the Associated Press has been reporting, T. J. , quoting the defense ministry spokesman, General Azamin who has described up to three suicide bombers launching a series of attacks on government buildings in that town backed up by , uh, other fighters still using rocket-propelled grenades and , uh, assault rifles as well in that attack. And that fits a pattern we've seen in the past evolving in Afghanistan, increasingly sophisticated attacks where there are waves of fighters, initially with suicide bombers, who break open the defenses, and they are followed soon after by fighters on the ground with small arms, showing that this insurgency has definitely involved, evolved from its early days when it was much less competent at trying to mount attacks on some of these pretty well fortified government buildings. "

We re also talking this morning about the battle for health care reform. President Obama s calls for overhaul have drawn really kind of a mixed reaction from the business world. But this morning, the President says small businesses have a lot to gain.
Yeah, we heard from him of his weekly video and web address as always. The President says a White House study shows insurance costs are disproportionally high for small businesses.

"Because they lack the bargaining power that large businesses have and face higher administrative costs per person, small businesses pay up to 18% more for the very same health insurance plans. Costs that eat into their profits and get passed on to their employees.

As a result, small businesses are much less likely to offer health insurance. Those they do tend to have less generous plans. In a recent survey, 1/3 of small businesses reported cutting benefits. Many have dropped coverage altogether. And many have shed jobs, or shut their doors entirely.

This is unsustainable, it s unacceptable, and it s going to change when I sign health insurance reform into law.