What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the Arab League plan for Syria. Meanwhile, DNI Clapper says Al-Qaeda is infiltrating the Syrian uprising. Whether it is or it is merely endorsing the uprising and launching its own attacks, the radicalization of the Syrian rebels is a real possibility--and it should be of some concern to us, whatever David Rieff says. 
• Boko Haram overran a Nigerian prison, freeing 118 inmates.
• Bad news for Tariq al-Hashemi, likely bad news for Iraq.

Domestic

• The so-called Underwear Bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The much decried "law enforcement" approach to Abdulmutallab, including his being Mirandized, not only resulted in a conviction and life sentence, but in lots of actionable intelligence, yet again vindicating the law enforcement approach to counter terrorism, as if further vindication were necessary. In other news, the military commissions are struggling with attorney-client privilege. 
• The Economist betrays unusual (and gross) ignorance of the workings of the U.S. administrative state in one of this week's leaders, "Over-regulated America." This Editor wonders if the Economist has forgotten OIRA? If it has forgotten Executive Order 12866? If it is unaware that the last three paragraphs contradict the third?  
• Sadly, there will be no March 1, 2012 CNN Republican Primary Debate. This Editor is jonesing for another fix of Republican Primary craziness and laments this decision.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Iran debuted its homemade nuclear fuel today. It also announced its willingness to return to the negotiating table. 
• U.S. Special Agent Jamie Zapata, traveling in an armored suburban in the Mexican war zone, was killed as a result, in part, of the automatic door unlock when parked feature. This just defeats understanding. 
• Despite all the negative reporting on Libya, 75% of Libyans think they are better off today than they were one year ago. Better yet, 43% of Libyans thank the United States for that outcome (but 86% rightly thank France).
• Israel drew a closer link between the would-be Iranian bomber in Thailand and the bomb and attempt in India and Georgia, claiming that the bombs are all similar.
• The Arab League pushes forward on the "Uniting for Peace" path. France, meanwhile, works for humanitarian corridors. This Editor believes the humanitarian corridors route would be merely a first step toward armed intervention, as they would almost certainly be attacked or harassed, necessitating armed protection and so on. 

Domestic

• We have a payroll tax cut deal! It's a ten-month extension, giving the Republicans the gift of not having their unpopular, anti-middle class positions highlighted near Election Day. 
• SANTORMENTUM: Megadeath backs Rick. Also, another day, another national poll with Santorum in the lead. Another Michigan poll, too. And what's this? An Ohio poll, too?! The Rust Belt has SANTORMENTUM.
• But maybe not for long--Willard McScrooge Romney is grossly outspending the rest of the field (and crushing Santorum) in all but one media market in Michigan and on cable. And that's just Michigan, Romney is dropping $5 million over the next two weeks across Arizona, Ohio, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia. This Editor imagines this will look something like the Romney negative blitz in Iowa that sank Gingrich in December.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Indian investigators do not believe that Iran was behind yesterday's bombing. That doesn't really explain the attempted bombing in Georgia or the attempted bombing in Thailand. 
• Chinese Vice President Xi met with President Obama today amid revelations that China denied the U.S. Ambassador-at-large for religious freedom an entry visa in recent days.
• Speaking of China, another Buddhist monk set himself on fire to protest Chinese rule in Tibet. The young monk was extinguished by Chinese police, and (according to NPR) then beaten and arrested by those same police.
• Nic Robertson, lifting the . . . ahem . . . veil on the Taliban's political strategy.
• Pakistan is allowing some NATO supplies to transit Pakistan again.
• And Abu Qatada was freed.

Domestic

• Maine starting to look even more like it was stolen from Dr. Ron Paul. What's worse than Romney losing Maine outright? Romney looking like he cheated his way to Pyrrhic victory in Maine. 
• More SANTORMENTUM.
• Liberals subsidize conservatives. Despite that, we still have to put up with their questioning our patriotism. 
• David Weigel makes the pitch for Super PACs at Slate, largely echoing Colin's point of view in our recent back and forth--including the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy! Weigel refers tongue-in-cheekly to his position as Pollyanish. This Editor, not so tongue-in-cheekly, agrees. 

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Likely Iranian bombings of Israeli targets are likely responses to Israel's likely responsibility for the covert sabotage and assassination campaign in Iran.
• The UN says Syria has indiscriminately attacked civilians. Video of such an attack here.
• Spain gets downgraded by Fitch and the S&P. Greece embraced austerity.

Domestic

• SANTORMENTUM: one poll has Santorum ahead of Romney nationally; more importantly, another poll has Santorum winning all but one of Michigan's counties. Michigan Governor Snyder says he will endorse a GOP candidate in the next week. Oh please oh please oh please be Pretty Ricky.
• Tony Bennett says legalize it, echoing Peter Tosh. 
• A much needed call for the GOP to quit the asinine teleprompter jokes.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Imran Khan says a Pakistan under his party's leadership will shoot down U.S. drones -- this Editor wonders if this means Khan's Pakistan will also close all of the airstrips from whence drones are launched. 
• A good explanation of how to understand al-Shabab (and its merger with al-Qaeda Central).
• Syria says the two bombs that struck Aleppo today were suicide car bombs.

Domestic

• Obama administration muffed the Catholic Contraception Controversy.
• CPAC -- take your pick.
• Rick Santorum: 3 days, $3 million. Dollar, dollar bill.
• Rep. Spencer Bachus is in the sights of the Congressional Ethics Offices. 

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Al Shabaab has "officially joined al-Qaeda." Whatever that means -- they pledged fealty to OBL several years ago; this Editor is dubious of the practical implications of this move. 
• A drone strike in Pakistan killed an al-Qaeda ally early today. It was the second strike in two days.
• U.S. intelligence analysts lament the death of Inspire and the insight in provided.

Domestic

• The United States will ease restrictions on women in combat. This is more a shrugging acceptance of reality on the part of the Pentagon than it is revolutionary.
• Severely weakened by the House GOP, the STOCK Act progresses, passing the House 417 to 2.
• The long anticipated foreclosure settlement between five of the United States' leading banks and the fifty states and federal government has come to pass. The federal government and 49 states agreed to a $26 billion settlement. The "landmark" agreement is pretty underwhelming. 
• Nationwide, Gallup has Santorum tied with Gingrich at 20 but Romney still leading at 36.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Turkey: "How do you like me now?" And the Dutch quit Syria, too.
• The Boko Haram problem is getting worse.
• Israeli courts remain one of the few institutions to protect Palestinian interests. 

Domestic

• The Christian Science Monitor presents Mitt ('08) vs. Mitt ('12).
• A 3 Judge Panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. The ruling will almost certainly be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• It's E-Day (C-Day?) in Minnesota and Colorado and, sort of, in Missouri. Results here.
• South Carolina Republicans are suing the U.S. DOJ to enforce their modern poll tax voter ID law. Silly DOJ, don't you know poor people and people of color shouldn't be allowed to vote?
• Bonus: even the Republicans can't find voter fraud.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• The United States has closed its embassy in Damascus. The UK has recalled its ambassador. And the violence just gets worse. 
• South China Sea, next Cold War? 
• Hamas and Fatah have agreed to a unity government with Abbas as PM.
• Noriega has been moved to a hospital.
• Also in the annals of former dictators, Saleh was pelted with shoes after emerging from the New York City hotel where he is being treated. 

Domestic

• Good news for the President among Democrat's white whale: blue collar white Americans. 
• A former Kennedy White House intern has written a book revealing her 18-month long affair with the President.
• Why is Mitt Romney scared of taking questions from the people? He seems pretty aloof to me. He must be some sort of elitist.
• Bonus: Rick Santorum won the Pat Boone primary.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• The United States is heading out of Afghanistan early. Or is it?
• In the words of the Indian Ambassador to the UN, negotiations over a Syria resolution are going "not so well." The Economist opines that it may be due to buyer's remorse over Libya.
• Pakistan's political crisis gets worse.

Domestic

• The Donald endorsed Mittens.
• Shuler? Really? Really.
• The ACLU is suing (again) the United States over drone strikes. Greenwald lauds the suit here. Nevertheless, it is unlikely to go anywhere. 
• BREAKING: President Obama will not host a Super Bowl party.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Syrian forces retook the Damascus suburbs the government lost control of over the weekend. Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council heard debate on the Arab League's transition proposal. 
• U.S. drone strike in Yemen kills 11. And, Prof. Robert Chesney considers U.S. intervention in Yemen's non-international armed conflict with AQAP (and gives me a shout-out).
• Oh, Argentina, using the language of anti-colonialism while abjuring the self-determination of the Falkland Islanders.
• The U.S. intelligence community believe Iran to be a greater threat than AQ (and its franchises).  

Domestic

• It's E-Day in Florida. Polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern; Romney is expected to win handedly. Results here. Note: Polls close at 7:00 pm local time so for the majority of the state, polls close at 7:00 pm Eastern but the western Panhandle closes at 8:00 pm Eastern. 
• Dear Sarah, the media giveth and the media taketh away.
• The glory of quarterly FEC reports. Plus Colbert's.
• The Dover Airforce Base burial scandal gets worse.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• The Economist agrees: there's a civil war in Syria.

• An American and Danish hostage rescued by Navy Seals this week may have benefited from a crooked cop.
• France has agreed to withdraw its combat troops from Afghanistan by 2013, a year earlier than expected.
• Israeli negotiators indicated their guiding approach to a two-state solution is the inclusion of existing settlement blocks in Israel. Yes, Margaret, neo-colonialism does exist. 

Domestic

• The Huckster says he didn't approve his appearance in this Gingrich ad.
• The Department of Justice is making the severability argument in the alternative on health care reform.
• Paul's racists chickens are coming home.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• U.S. civil society boosters employed by organizations that were raided by the Egyptian authorities last month have been barred from leaving Egypt.
• There's a civil war in Syria, folks. Meanwhile, an Arab League is slowly ratcheting up pressure on Assad, taking its plan to the U.N. Security Council. Reality to soon follow. Airstrikes thereafter.
•  In the wake of the daring U.S. rescue of an American and Dane held by Somali pirates, other pirate/hostage-takers are threatening other American hostages. It's notable that, while some commentators equate Somaliland and Puntland in their levels of stability, democracy, and security, that the pirate/hostage-takers are based in Puntland and rump Somalia, whereas Somaliland partners with NATO in policing its waters and prosecuting captured pirates. 
• More Somalia: a U.S. drone strike against a former British citizen hours after he made a phone call to his wife in the U.K. This Editor is curious about the use of force justification applicable to this case.

Domestic

• The Department of Defense unveiled its 2013 budget plan today. The Pentagon plans to cut $487 billion over the next decade. In part, this is accomplished by shifting resources away from ground forces and towards robotics, like drones.
•  The STOCK Act, which received an oddly partisan (Democrat) standing ovation, is going to the floor.
• Oh, that's rough, Republicans. That's rough.
• What to watch for in tonight's 19th GOP primary debate. This Editor cannot take another one.
• Secretary Clinton: Out. 

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• The slow-motion ouster of Bashar al-Assad appears to be speeding up with France and Britain beginning a push at the UN to that end. It will be interesting to see to what degree they follow the Libya playbook.
• Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich has been demoted to private but will not serve any of his three-month sentence behind bars.
• Worryingly, the NTC has recognized the local tribal government established in Bani Walid after the NTC was pushed out.
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Domestic

• Both the latest Quinnipiac and CNN/TIME/ORC polls showed Romney leading Gingrich 36 to 34 in Florida.
• Geithner out if Obama is reelected (and out if Obama loses, too). 
• Oh! Fidel!
• Gingrich accuses the President of practicing Peronism. This accusation is facially ridiculous. 

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Qaddafi loyalists retook Bani Walid.
• Ahmed M.I. Egal makes an excellent point--and one with which DCExile has long agreed--about Somalia and reconciliation. 
• Egypt is set to lift its decades old State of Emergency, with a proviso. 
• France backed off threats of a quick withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Domestic

• Mitt Romney's wealth dominated political coverage today leaving Politico to ask whether he is too rich. And the DNC smells blood in the water.
• Jeffery Toobin bemoans Super PACs. This Editor bemoans that ubiquitous misnomer.
• Gingrich is up in every Florida poll on RCP since South Carolina.
• Tonight is the State of the Union, DCExile provides you with a guide drinking game.

What Kind of Day Has It Been

International

• Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the only Marine still facing charges arising out of the Haditha Massacre, plead guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter and dereliction of duty. He will face no more than 3 months in confinement and reduction in rank. 
• The ICC levels charges against four Kenyan leaders for the violence that followed Kenya's 2007 elections.
• Libya remains fragile and unsettled months after the fall of Tripoli and the killing of Qaddafi.
• Nigeria is becoming a horror show.

Domestic

• Sen. Rand Paul was not detained by the TSA despite his assertions otherwise. Instead, after refusing to be pat-down following his triggering of a body scanner, he was escorted outside of the security area, booked on a new flight, and re-scanned without incident. Gawker has some harsh words for Senator Paul.
• John Kiriakou, former CIA officer, has been charged criminally in relation to leaks about water boarding.
• SCOTUS says you no to warrant-less GPS tracking. 
• DCExile has added a Republican Primary delegate counter to its sidebar. Stay abreast of the delegate race with DCExile. 

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Yesterday, a video emerged of U.S. Marines (scout snipers, evidently) urinating on what appear to be Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. SecDef Panetta called President Karzai to assure him that there will be an investigation; reportedly, the Marines have already been identified. The Taliban have indicated the video will not affect their willingness to negotiate. 
• South Sudan six months on.
• Al-Shabaab militants launched a raid into Kenya. 

Domestic

• Will Mitt suffer the fate of John Kerry and lose for failure to connect with voters?
• Greenspan, when the sheen came off.
• Dollar-dollar-bill, y'all.
• The Justice Department gave the okay to the President for last week's recess appointments. This seems eminently reasonable.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• As Jason noted, another Iranian scientist was assassinated today. NPR notes that it was at least the fourth such assassination in two years (and the fifth in five years). 
• Today is the ten year anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay (nee Camp X-Ray). Vanity Fair presents an oral history. The anniversary has been marked by a fair amount of nonsense and inaccuracy--unsurprisingly, Marc Thiessen took to the Diane Rehm Show to produce much of it.
• Ranking countries by nuclear security.

Domestic

• As Jason noted, I was totally wrong about Romney's showing in New Hampshire. What a tremendous night for Republican John Kerry. 
• My hopes and dreams for a Newt Gingrich scorned destroying the GOP are unraveling.
• Elizabeth Warren had a huge haul in the fourth quarter.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Another day, another batch of Iranians rescued by the USN at sea.
• We moved closer to doomsday today. But not this close.
• Israel is preparing to receive Syrian refugees once the regime falls and the bloodletting begins.
• Ireland Scotland long a province be a nation once again. Bonus: A Nation Once Again

Domestic

• These folks that had exit polls for Iowa early that turned out to be the real exit polls have exit polls for New Hampshire, too. DCExile has no idea if they're real. The question of exit poll accuracy in general is an entirely different subject.
• Nate Silver says Romney wins with 39. I respectfully disagree--I think Romney pulls in less than 35, likely less than 33. 
• Damn it, yard signs do not vote. No, not even in New Hampshire.
• The Socialist Party of America had this to say about President Obama: 

The notion that Barack Obama is a socialist ranks among the greatest fairy tales in American society -- right up there with the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the idea that if you work hard enough your children will live a better life than you," Socialist Party spokeswoman Lynn Lomibao said in an email. "Socialists know what Obama is: another corporate funded politician placed in the White House to protect the wealth and status of the 1 percent.

Satisfied, Republicans?

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• AQI continues to work to restart Iraq's sectarian civil war. Today, bombs targeting Shiites killed 72.
• Slate interviews Mustafa Barghouti on the issue of Palestinian statehood.
• Prosecutors in Egypt are seeking the death penalty for Mubarak. 
• Friend of the blog Reza Marashi made an appearance on the Diane Rehm show.
• Qatar owns up to the failings of Arab League monitors in Syria.

Domestic

• President Obama announced his vision for a less expensive defense posture.
• Rick Santorum is drawing large crowds and media attention in New Hampshire. He has moved to up to third place in one New Hampshire poll (although he still lags some 30 points behind Romney) and his fundraising is at an all time high.
• Romney's campaign suffers blowback on the weak McCain endorsement rally that we noted yesterday.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been

International

• Syrian activists complain that government tanks are still occupying cities in violation of the Arab League agreement. Arab League observers seem less relevant by the hour.
• EU agrees to embargo Iranian crude.

Domestic

• In the wake of last night's Iowa caucuses, Bachmann (5% of caucus attendees) dropped out but Perry (10%) stayed in--despite initial indications that Perry would retreat to Texas to "reassess" and drop out.
• John McCain endorsed Mitt Romney in New Hampshire. This Editor views McCain's endorsement as meaningless in a state Romney is likely to win handedly (and in a newscycle he has no hope of winning: see linked article's title).
• Obama belatedly recess appoints Richard Cordray. Finally.