The Short List - March 8, 2011

• In Libya there is a report that Qaddafi has made an offer to a rebel alliance to step down, if granted immunity and safe passage out of the country.  Violence continues has pro-Qaddafi forces strike out from Tripoli, meanwhile the U.S. and the rest of the world wonders what it can and should do.
• Forces aligned with the Somali transitional government regained control of a couple border towns  along the Somalia-Ethiopia border.
• Saudi Arabia continues its practice of silencing dissent almost before it materializes.
• Boeing has completed a sale of 43 aircraft to two Chinese companies.
• "The Gang of Six" tries to up its profile and gain support beyond the beltway to tackle entitlement reform in Congress.
• An open question around Washington is, "who will/can replace SecDef Gates?"  The Washington Post asks this question and provides zero answers, but a good round up of Gates's record.
• The Economist takes you inside Abidjan, as Cote d'Ivoire continues to teeter on the verge of civil war.