Mark Memmott

Good morning.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, as we reported earlier, today blamed "saboteurs" for the violence in his country — even though human rights groups and protesters say it is government forces who have been responsible for most of the deaths in recent weeks.

In southern Arizona, the so-called Monument wildfire has now forced "10,000 people from 4,300 homes" to flee the area, according to The Associated Press.

Winds whipped the flames on Sunday. Firefighters may get a break today: Winds are projected to reach "just 10 mph," the AP says.

Blaming "saboteurs" for the protests against his regime, Syrian President Bashar Assad today delivered an address to his nation that analysts are saying signals his government will continue to hold a hard line even as he also speaks about the legitimate demands for reform that protesters are making.

Al-Jazeera says Assad gave "mixed messages":

A not-at-all serious question:

We ask because, as All Thing Considered host Robert Siegel said Thursday:

"When the most politically powerful foursome in America tees off on Saturday, they will not play the most notable round of golf in the Washington, D.C., area. Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, which is just beyond the District Line, is home to this year's U.S. Open, and on Saturday, it'll be time for round three.

There was a 0.8 percent rise in its "leading economic index" in May from April, the private Conference Board just reported.

The indicator, which is supposed to tell us how the economy will be doing over the next six or nine months, is among many recent signals that things will probably be "choppy" through the summer and fall, Conference Board economist Ken Goldstein says in a statement issued with the report.

There was a 0.4 percent drop in the index from March to April.