UP-FRONT WAR NEWS NUGGET!!
Iraq Troop Withdrawal: Obama Administration Supports Reducing U.S. Forces To 3,000 By End Of 2011 from the Huffington Post
"The Obama administration is willing to drop American troop levels in Iraq to as low as 3,000 by the end of this year, The Huffington Post has confirmed. The new figure, first reported Tuesday by Fox News, represents a significant drop in the number of American military personnel expected to remain in the country after the American mission in Iraq expires on Dec. 31."
WOW! Ok -- what happened? SOMETHING clearly happened here. My guess: Obama has concluded that his military brass and Iraqi authorities have been playing him for a sap and both no longer have any credibility in his eyes.
Libya's New Leaders, Town Reach Deal for Peaceful Handover from the San Francisco Chronicle
"Representatives of Libya's National Transitional Council agreed with elders from Bani Walid for the peaceful handover of the town to their control."
If true, this is an important hurdle for the NTC because this town is the "gateway" to Qaddafi's hometown of Sirte and there are lots of concern about rebel forces having to slog and slaughter their way through these final redoubts. That they were able to negotiate their way through this area is a promising signal that they might be able to avoid widespread civilian casualties.
Reports Say Loyalists Are Fleeing From Libya to Niger from the New York Times
"As rebel negotiators pressed loyalists in the desert town of Bani Walid to surrender peacefully, a convoy of Libyan Army vehicles was reported on Tuesday to have crossed the country’s southern border into Niger in what could represent a shift in the balance of power after six months of conflict."
Europeans Talk of Sharp Change in Fiscal Affairs from the New York Times
"As leaders in Europe try to contain a deepening financial crisis, they are also increasingly talking about making fundamental changes to the way their 17-nation economic union works."
No, America is Not Going the Way of Japan (Paul Sheard) from the Financial Times [of the UK]
"Inflation and deflation are, at the end of the day, policy choices. US policymakers, by and large, have learnt the lessons from the policy mistakes of Japan and have applied them, so far reasonably successfully."
Is James Murdoch Toast? (Brian Cathcart) from the Daily Beast
"The younger Murdoch is in deep trouble after two ex-employees suggested to Parliament he knowingly paid money to cover up evidence of illegal activity at News of the World."
The Whole Truth and Nothing But (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times
"We used the cold war to reach the moon and spawn new industries. We used 9/11 to create better body scanners and more T.S.A. agents. It will be remembered as one of the greatest lost opportunities of any presidency — ever."
Reagan's Party No More (Eleanor Clift) from the Daily Beast
"Could the Gipper cut it in today’s Tea Party? Reagan staffers, including his chief of staff James Baker, tell Eleanor Clift how his record on tax hikes and abortion would play in the 2012 race."
GOP Defector Spills the Beans (Michael Tomasky) from the Daily Beast
"Mike Lofgren loyally served the GOP on Capitol Hill for 28 years. But no longer. Michael Tomasky on what the defection of a Republican staffer tells us about the state of the party."
Romney’s Jumbo Jobs Plan (Jennifer Rubin) from the Washington Post
"In a debate setting or even in an interview it may be hard for Romney to convey the image of competency he demonstrated in an extended speech. His hope is convey that his administration will be a pro-free market, conservative ideas factory."
Yeah -- his "jumbo jobs plan" that will begin creating jobs in ... five years -- if you even buy the economic thinking behind it! In case you missed Romney's speech, Rubin provides a good summary of the talking points. Bottom line: same old same old. How Romney (or anyone) can sell these ideas as different from Bush 43's economic plan is beyond me. Moreover, by my reading there is not one thing Romney has proposed that will impact the jobless crisis that exists now.
Romney's Perry Problem (John Dickerson) from Slate
"Mitt has a 59-point plan to fix the economy, and a zero-point plan to fight off his aggressive rival."
Romney is the Hillary Clinton of the 2012 cycle. The party establishment is very much behind Romeny, can't imagine that the insurgent (Perry) has a chance, that their candidate is the only one who can win in the general election, and yet they have NO PLAN for defeating the insurgent.
Rick Perry’s Swing-Voter Problem (Jill Lawrence) from the Daily Beast
"The Texas governor’s views on evolution, homosexuality, and Social Security could be a general-election albatross. Jill Lawrence on why he could drive away swing-state suburban voters and seniors."
Prediction: These and many other "albatross" statements will make little or no difference as Perry moves towards the GOP nomination. At this moment in time, the GOP primary electorate simply doesn't care about this stuff.
EDUCATION NUGGET!!
Time to Revive Home Ec (Helen Zoe Veit) from the New York Times
"... home economics is more than a 1950s teacher in cat’s-eye glasses showing her female students how to make a white sauce. Reviving the program, and its original premises — that producing good, nutritious food is profoundly important, that it takes study and practice, and that it can and should be taught through the public school system — could help us in the fight against obesity and chronic disease today."
HIGHER ED NUGGET!!
The World's Best Universities: QS List from the Huffington Post
"The top two universities in the world are both in Cambridge -- but on different sides of the pond. University of Cambridge in England occupies the No. 1 spot in QS's list of the world's best universities. Following it is Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. American universities dominate the list, with University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania and MIT, among others, earning top grades."
CROCODILE NUGGET!!
Giant Crocodile Caught in Philippines Becomes Internet Celebrity (VIDEO) from the Atlantic
"Edwin Cox Elorde, the mayor of a southern Philippine town, tells the Associated Press dozens of villagers ensnared the saltwater croc, which will be taken to a planned ecotourism park in the area."
What an enormous creature!! It's like something out of Jurassic Park!
No comments:
Post a Comment