The Short List - April 27, 2011

• A major shake-up is expected at the top rungs of President Obama's national security team this week.  Of note, CIA Director, Leon Panetta, is in the lead position to take over from SecDef Gates.  Ambassador Crocker will likely come back to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, reuniting Amb. Crocker with Gen. Petraeus, who could find himself soon appointed CIA Director.


• Syria's violent crackdown continues with lots of condemnation, but little action from the rest of the world. Britain's foreign secretary believes there is still time(NYT) for the Syrian government to change, but also believes Qaddafi's time is limited.


• An Afghan pilot opened fire on NATO forces inside a base in Kabul today killing nine.


• Federal Reserve Chairman will make history today as he becomes the first Fed Chairman to take on-the-record questions from the media.


• The Indian government is facing some backlash(NYT) from recently released internet rules that would compel sites people find offensive to be taken down.


• Republican senators have sent President Obama a letter, urging him not to sign an executive order that would require government contractors to disclose their contributions to political organizations.


• Donald Trump, a potential Republican candidate for president, has given 54% of his campaign contributions to Democrats.  In a not entirely unrelated story, CNN traveled to Hawaii to confirm...again...that President Obama was born in the U.S.