The Short List - March 4, 2011

• Anti-Qaddafi protests sprung up in Tripoli today, but dissipated quickly as reports of cash rewards for tips leading to the detention of anti-Qaddafi protesters.  President Obama made his most direct remarks on the situation, while The New York Times forgets American involvement on the African continent during the Cold War.  At the border of Libya and Tunisia, the refugee situation worsens.


• Reports in Yemen indicate the army fired rockets at anti-government protesters, killing two.  


• The Obama administration has begun to assess the impact Islamist groups will have on the new governments that will result from the Arab Spring.  The impact of the protests in the region become clear as Prince Harry postpones a polo match set to be hosted in Dubai (detect the sarcasm).


• China will increase military spending by 12.7% this year, taking their total expenditure to $91.5 billion, according to a parliamentary spokesman.  If that number is accurate it would represent about 13% of the U.S. defense expenditure budgeted for 2010.


• Unemployment has dipped to 8.9% with the economy adding 192,000 jobs.  State and local governments, facing budget crises, cut 30,000 jobs.


• A federal survey indicates people in the 15 to 24 years old range are delaying sexual activity.