A four-year college degree, seen for generations as a ticket to a better life, is no longer enough to guarantee a steadily rising paycheck.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Democrat Barack Obama warned Wednesday about the danger of "fighting the last war" as he pledged to focus on emerging nuclear, biological and cyber threats if elected president. "The danger ... is that we are constantly fighting the last war, responding to the threats that have come to fruition, instead of staying one step ahead of the threats of the 21st century."

Pakistan's top diplomat said Saturday there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his nation's new government has ruled out such military operations, covert or otherwise, to catch militants.

"Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counterproductive," he said Saturday. "People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in." ..........    Despite Pakistan's previous statements that it does not allow U.S. forces on its territory, villagers in the border region that is a haven for al-Qaida and Taliban fighters have reported seeing U.S. drones fire missiles at suspected militant targets on several occasions in recent years.

Qureshi said he tried to reassure Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at their meeting Friday that his government was doing everything it can to combat militants in lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan regularly exchange criticism about not doing more to fight extremists operating along their long, remote, mountainous border that is seen by the U.S. as crucial to stopping terrorism.

Qureshi acknowledged "there are some infiltrations" still occurring, but there are no covert U.S. military operations trying to catch al-Qaida figures and its chief, Taliban members or any other suspected militants.

"There are none," he said. "It will create such an anti-U.S. feeling in Pakistan that I would say would mar the atmosphere of cooperation that exists between us."

Qureshi described Pakistan's counterterrorism as a "grassroots" approach.

"Our strategy is that the military option alone is not enough," he said. "This war has to be fought besides the armies, with the help of the people, by winning hearts and minds."

Does he believe bin Laden is in Pakistan?

    Now, just a day after, if not within hours of this story being posted, this attack took place:  

Jul 13 02:12 PM US/Eastern By JASON STRAZIUSO Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A multi-pronged militant assault on a small, remote U.S. base killed nine American soldiers and wounded 15 Sunday in the deadliest attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan in three years, officials said. The attack on the U.S. outpost came the same day a suicide bomber targeting a police patrol killed 24 people, while U.S. coalition and Afghan soldiers killed 40 militants elsewhere in the south. The militant assault on the American troops began around 4:30 a.m. in a dangerous region close to the Pakistan border and lasted throughout the day. Militants fired machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars from homes and a mosque in the village of Wanat in the mountainous northeastern province of Kunar, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a statement. Nine U.S. troops were killed in the attack, a Western official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the troops' nationalities. NATO confirmed nine of its soldiers had been killed and 15 wounded. Four Afghan soldiers also were wounded, NATO said.

RANDY Michelle Palmer breached a strict ban on unmarried sex during a boozy beach romp in Dubai.

The single British businesswoman was last night facing up to six years’ jail after she was caught canoodling in public with a holiday hunk.

Authorities – under growing pressure to curb the excesses of westerners who flock to the Muslim emirate – say she will also be deported from the country where she has lived and worked for three years.

Glitzy ... Dubai is a playground

Publishing firm manager Michelle was arrested after a cop saw her having sex on Jumeirah Beach. It is believed she was put in a cell.

She had earlier got drunk during a champagne brunch which turned into an all-day binge.

Michelle, 30, linked up at the bash with the British holidaymaker, known only as Vince, and joined him for a walk along the shore.

A police officer later spotted the pair having sex on the sand and let them off with a caution.

But the same cop arrested them both when he returned soon after – and found them at it AGAIN.

Sources said Michelle, who works in Dubai for magazines firm ITP Publishing, launched an angry four-letter tirade after her second romp was halted.

She is alleged to have called the cop a f****** Muslim **** and tried to hit him with her high-heeled shoe before being restrained.

Sex outside marriage is considered an offence in Dubai – one of the seven states which make up the United Arab Emirates.

Michelle was later charged with that, plus indecent behaviour in public, being drunk in public, and assaulting a police officer.

Authorities have warned her she faces between three months and six years in jail in the Arab state.

Her lover faces a similar sentence. And last night unconfirmed reports from Dubai suggested the desperate pair had MARRIED in a bid to reduce their jail terms.

They were understood to have hastily organised a civil ceremony soon after their release on bail.

Both Michelle and the man have already made one court appearance and are due to reappear on a date to be fixed following the alleged incidents last Friday.

Mortified Michelle was full of remorse yesterday and begged authorities to show mercy.

She sobbed: “Because this is known everywhere they’re going to make an example of us and we’re going to get a higher sentence.

“We are in so much trouble and my family and everybody are affected. Until someone is in this situation they could never know what it’s like. It’s bad – it’s so, so bad.

“They are being pushed into a corner to make an example of us.

“I’m panicking – my mum is on anti-depressants. I can’t say anything else. I’ve got to go.”

High-flyer Michelle is associate publisher for ITP, which produces more than 60 magazines serving the Middle East’s consumer, technology and business markets.

She was a regular at swish local parties.

Friday Brunches have become a favourite with Brits there – offering “all you can eat and drink” deals for a set price.

A friend said last night: “Michelle’s a nice girl who’s made a very big mistake. God only knows how she must have felt when she sobered up.

“She went out with a group of friends and workmates to a champagne brunch party.

“The booze was flowing all day and she must have got carried away by the time she met Vince – a pal of one of her workmates.

“They went for a walk on the beach. They were pretty plastered and a cop found them having sex.”

The friend added: “The jails out here have a terrible reputation and Michelle’s praying they go easy on her. But they seem under pressure to make her an example.

“Having sex in public here is taken very seriously. But it’s twice as serious if you’re not married.” Westerners have flocked to Dubai, the Middle East’s glitziest playground, for fun and sun.

But officials have recently come under pressure to crack down on their visitors’ wilder antics. Beaches have become particularly sensitive areas, with moves to segregate families and single men.

From CNN to the New York Times, the media hyped Barack Obama's Portland, Oregon rally on Sunday, some comparing him to a rock star.