David Jackson, USA TODAY  USA TODAY - President Obama deals with
a pair of knotty problems Monday: Tensions in the Middle East,
and the possibility of a government shutdown in the United
States.  In the late morning, Obama discusses the Iranian
nuclear program during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The Netanyahu visit comes three
days after Obama spoke by phone with Iranian President Hasan
Rouhani, the first direct contact between American and Iranian
leaders in more than three decades.  Obama and Rouhani ordered
their staffs to explore new talks on an agreement over Iran's
nuclear program -- though Netanyahu and other Israeli officials
warn that Iran is still seeking the means to make nuclear
weapons.  Other Obama-Netanyahu topics: Talks about chemical
weapons removal in Syria, and the long-standing dispute between
Israelis and Palestinians.  "The president looks forward to
discussing with Prime Minister Netanyahu the progress on final
status negotiations with the Pale