Imani, an inquisitive new lion cub at the Saint Louis Zoo. From ZooBorns.
In Tripoli, Blaring Horns and Shouts of Joy (Omar Abulqasim Alkikli) from the New York Times
A first-hand account of how a former political prisoner learned of Gaddafi's death.
"Hyyan and I were initially skeptical, worried that the rumor would prove to be unfounded, as had happened with earlier news about the capture of some of Colonel Qaddafi’s adult children. I went into the coffee shop to watch the television. Al Jazeera was attributing the news to one of its sources, but it was still unconfirmed. Then I heard a man shout into his cellphone, “The dog’s dead!"
The Colonel is Caught from the Economist [of London]
"The demise of Muammar Qaddafi will give new life to the Arab revolution."
Eyewitness Recounts Gadhafi’s Death from Salon
"Rebel fighter claims to have witnessed the Libyan dictator's final moments."
The Daily Beast has more details on how Gaddafi met his end. The New York Times' version is here.
Which Middle East Dictator Is Going Down Next? (Bruce Reidel) from the Daily Beast
"Gaddafi’s death sends a clear message to every dictator in the Middle East: Run! Tyrants in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen are all on the chopping block, says former CIA officer Bruce Riedel."
The Obama Doctrine and the Death of Qaddafi (David Rothkopf) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"The political benefits that accrue to the president at home will be modest. Domestic issues command the attention of American voters. What's more, the president's Republican opponents don't want to talk foreign-policy very much. And with good reason. The president's record is for the most part too good to take issue with."
Rothkopf has a very big-picture view of Obama and how he compares with Bush and some predecessors.
Can't Argue With American Policy Now, Qaddafi's Dead and the Results Speak for Themselves (Juan Williams) from FOX News
"The news from the Middle East is vindication of the Obama administration's policy in Libya. A man who was an enemy of the American people, someone who killed Americans aboard Pan Am 103, someone who was taking out Americans and acting against our interests in the Middle East for decades has finally been eliminated from the scene."
White House To GOP Critics On Libya: We Were Right from Talking Points Memo
"The White House is brushing aside criticism -- from the GOP presidential field and others -- that Obama doesn't deserve credit for the death of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi."
Should Obama Get Credit? (Clift and Stone) from the Daily Beast
"After rolling up a string of successes at capturing and killing the worst of the worst, President Obama polls 10 to 15 points higher on national security than on almost any other issue. ... Obama has made some big bets on national security, and they’ve paid off handsomely."
For Obama, Some Vindication of Approach to War (Mark Landler) from the New York Times
"...with Colonel Qaddafi joining the lengthening list of tyrants and terrorists dispatched during the Obama presidency, even critics conceded a success for Mr. Obama’s approach to war — one that relies on collective, rather than unilateral, action; on surgical strikes rather than massive troop deployments."
Obama Chose the Right Course on Libya (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post
"This was an instance when Mr. Cool had it pretty much right. Obama saw that a no-fly zone wouldn’t be enough and lobbied for tougher United Nations language authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect the Libyan people. ... Obama deliberately kept the United States in the background even when critics began howling for a show of American “leadership.” And most important, he was patient through the summer, rejecting the counsel of those who argued that he must escalate U.S. military intervention to break the stalemate or, alternatively, bail out."
Dumb Power: Republicans Introduce the “What wouldn’t Jesus do?” Foreign Policy (David Rothkopf) from Foreign Policy Magazine
A two-fer from Mr. Rothfopf today!
"I can't quite decide whether it was more embarrassing or frightening. The panderdates were crawling all over one another to declare their fierce opposition to foreign aid and their love for defense spending."
How Occupy Wall Street Offers a Promising New Model for the Left (Michael Kazin) from the New Republic
"...until the global economy is restructured in the interests of the battered majority, the very rich and extremely irresponsible will continue to have their way with us. This deeply moral and democratic message represents a leap beyond what most left-leaning activists, both in the U.S. and in Europe, have been saying since the 1960s."
Tea Party Group Finds Tepid Support Among Conservatives For Medicare And Social Security Overhaul (Jon Ward) from the Huffington Post
"... among conservative think-tankers and intellectuals it is an article of faith that the massively expensive programs should be radically overhauled to reduce the nation’s long-term debt burden. But an in-depth survey of the conservative grassroots by a top Tea Party group has yielded some sobering results for those who wish -- like Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) -- to make dramatic changes to the two entitlement programs."
For Politics in South, Race Divide Is Defining from the New York Times
"In 2008 exit polls, he pointed out, 96 percent of self-identified Republicans in Mississippi were white. Nearly 75 percent of self-identified Democrats were black. ...Indeed, it is hard to imagine that Democratic support among whites could get any lower when, according to 2008 exit polls, only 6 percent of white males in Mississippi described themselves as Democrats."
California Becomes First State to Adopt Cap-and-Trade Program from the Los Angeles Times
"The California Air Resources Board, in a unanimous vote, adopts landmark regulations of greenhouse gas emissions to curb climate change and meet targets for reducing pollution."
Party of Pollution (Paul Krugman) from the New York Times
"So what is the G.O.P. jobs plan? The answer, in large part, is to allow more pollution. ... Both Rick Perry and Mitt Romney have, ... put weakened environmental protection at the core of their economic proposals, as have Senate Republicans."
Democrats Seek To Frame Mitt Romney As John Kerry In 2004 from the Huffington Post
"A beleaguered president seeks re-election. His challenger, a candidate with Massachusetts roots and a presidential demeanor straight out of central casting, has to fight through a primary contest fending off charges of flip-flopping. In the end, the challenger's strength also proves his vulnerability. Election 2012 is looking a lot like the presidential race of 2004."
OBAMA PHOTO NUGGET!!
Obamas Shop for Pumpkins on the Campaign Trail from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"The couple stopped off to buy pumpkins from a roadside farmers market along the way and loaded them onto Mr Obama's taxpayer-funded tour bus to take back to Washington."
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