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Mullen: Corruption in Afghanistan must end

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The government of re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai must push to reduce corruption and establish its legitimacy, the head of the U.S. military said.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday he was concerned about the government under Karzai, who was given a second term after an election rife with fraud.

Mullen said Karzai, declared the winner this week after his opponent dropped out of a runoff election, "has got to take significant steps to eliminate corruption," the Defense Department said in a release.

The chairman said "it will be evident pretty quickly" whether Karzai is serious about improving his government's legitimacy.

"We are extremely concerned about the level of corruption and the legitimacy of this government. It's far too much endemic," Mullen said at the National Press Club. "That means that you have to rid yourself of those who are corrupt; you have to actually arrest and prosecute them. You have to show those visible signs."

Mullen's comments about the Afghan government come as President Barack Obama and his advisers debate the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, which includes a request from the top U.S. commander there for additional troops.

Military success hinges on governmental success, Mullen said Wednesday.

"If we don't get a level of legitimacy and governance, then all the troops in the world aren't going to make any difference," he said.

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Senate OKs homebuyer tax credit extension

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate Wednesday approved a bill to extend and expand a tax credit for homebuyers and extend unemployment benefits.

On a 98-0 vote, the Senate passed a measure to extend until April 30, 2010, an $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers that is scheduled to expire Nov. 30. The legislation would also provide a tax credit of $6,500 for some existing homeowners who want to move up and increase the limit on income levels for people to qualify for the tax break, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The House, which approved a similar version of the bill Tuesday, is expected to take up the Senate bill quickly and send the measure to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it, the newspaper said.

Enactment of the measure will likely add momentum to a recovering U.S. real estate market, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said.

"Every economist will tell you we have to steady the housing market before the economy will turn around," Dodd said. "We can't afford to let this tax credit expire now."

The bill approved by the Senate Wednesday also extends jobless benefits by at least 14 weeks in all states and by 20 weeks in states where joblessness resulting from the economic downturn is most severe.

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House GOP healthcare support? Slim to none

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- House Democrats can expect practically no Republican support on legislation to reform the U.S. healthcare system, the deputy minority whip said Wednesday.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told The Hill that the number of Republicans supporting the sweeping legislation will be "very, very close to zero."

"I don't know of a Republican out there advocating it," McCarthy said.

Centrist Republican Reps. Mark Kirk of Illinois, Mike Castle of Delaware and Joseph Cao of Louisiana all said they would vote against the bill unless significant changes are made.

Kirk and Castle are both running for the Senate while Cao is being targeted by Democrats in the 2010 midterm election.

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AG Cuomo sues Intel on antitrust claims

NEW YORK, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- New York's attorney general Wednesday filed a federal antitrust suit against Intel Corp., charging it violated state and federal anti-monopoly laws.

In the past several years, Intel extracted exclusive agreements from computer makers in which they agreed to use Intel's microprocessors in exchange for payments totaling billions of dollars, Andrew Cuomo said in a release. The lawsuit also alleged Intel threatened to -- and did -- punish computer makers perceived to be working too closely with Intel's competitors.

Intel is the world's largest maker of computer microprocessors. Intel's microprocessors -- the "brains" of personal computers -- typically are sold not directly to the public, but to computer makers as components. Intel's actions involved three of the largest U.S. computer manufacturers: Dell, Hewlett-Packard and IBM, the lawsuit said.

"Rather than compete fairly, Intel used bribery and coercion to maintain a stranglehold on the market," Cuomo said. "Intel's actions not only unfairly restricted potential competitors, but also hurt average consumers who were robbed of better products and lower prices."

The suit, filed in federal court in New York, seeks to bar further anti-competitive acts by Intel, restore lost competition, recover monetary damages and collect penalties.