International
- Qaddafi's regime has reportedly opened direct negotiations with Libyan rebels.
- In a move straight out of a Tom Clancy plot, the China-Vietnam dispute over the Spratly Islands is heating up.
- Yet more violence in the non-international armed conflict festering in northern Mexico.
Domestic
- Anthony Weiner resigned from Congress in the wake of a three week ordeal over his sending semi-nude and suggestive photographs and messages to various women. Weiner's resignation presents the worst of both worlds: a distracting and drawn-out scandal the only result of which is his resignation. There is no excuse for Weiner's behavior but it is useful to remember that other members of Congress have engaged in objectively worse and illegal activity and retained their seats--notably, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).
- An ex-CIA official has accused the Bush administration of ordering intelligence agencies to gather information on Middle East expert and Bush administration critic, Prof. Juan Cole. This of course would not be the first example of the Bush administration politicizing intelligence or using intelligence to punish political enemies.
- Just days after a cloture motion on a provision to end the notorious Ethanol subsidy failed, the United States Senate has approved an amendment to kill the $0.45/gal subsidy by a vote of 73-27. The Obama administration has threatened to veto the measure.
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