memeorandum: We're In Trouble (Michael/Discourse.net)

10:35 PM ET, January 11, 2007

Top Items:

Did the President Declare "Secret War" Against Syria and Iran? — Washington intelligence, military and foreign policy circles are abuzz today with speculation that the President, yesterday or in recent days, sent a secret Executive Order to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director …

Discussion: The Reaction, Macsmind, Dick Polman's American Debate, toohotfortnr, FP Passport, Counterterrorism Blog, Taylor Marsh, Talking Points Memo, MyDD, DownWithTyranny!, Whiskey Fire, Iowa Voice, Ace of Spades HQ, American Thinker, Bring it On!, Instapundit.com and Hullabaloo

Michael / Discourse.net:

We're In Trouble — We're in big trouble. — Have a look at The Washington Note, whose latest begins like this: … If this is true, we're in very big trouble. Or, if the rumor was sparked by an order 'only' authorizing clandestine operations (or, worse, bombardment) as a form of provocation, this is serious stuff.

Discussion: Suburban Guerrilla and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

CNN:

Iranian officials detained in Iraq, U.S. official says … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — U.S. forces detained six Iranian officials for questioning in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, seat of the Kurdish regional government, an American official said Thursday. — But the official disputes accounts …

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard, Majikthise and Discourse.net

Washington Post:

Report: U.S. Troops Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq — U.S. troops raided an Iranian consulate in northern Iraq late Wednesday night and detained several people, Iran's main news agency reported today, prompting protests from Tehran just hours after President Bush pledged to crack down on the Islamic Republic's role in Iraqi violence.

Bloomberg:

U.S. Forces Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq, Detain 5 (Update2) — Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) — U.S. forces in Iraq raided Iran's consulate in the northern city of Arbil and detained five staff members, a state-run Iranian news service said. — The U.S. soldiers disarmed guards and broke open …

Discussion: The Huffington Post and Talking Points Memo

MSNBC:

Senate opposition to Bush plan grows — Republican Hagel calls it 'blunder'; Democrats expect to pass resolution — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defends U.S. policy in Iraq at a Senate hearing on Thursday. — NBC VIDEO — Jan. 11: Congressional reaction to President Bush's Iraq plan …

Discussion: Macsmind, Brilliant at Breakfast and The Democratic Daily

Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:

The Mess at State — Members of the Senate intelligence committee, Republicans and Democrats alike, were alarmed last week that John Negroponte was leaving as director of national intelligence after less than two years to become deputy secretary of state. By way of explanation …

Discussion: Think Progress, The Moderate Voice, Grasping Reality … and Wonkette

Jonah Goldberg / Los Angeles Times:
At least Bush wants to win

Discussion: Political Animal, TAPPED, PoliBlog (TM), The Carpetbagger Report, Liberal Values and Liberty Street

Reuters:
Rice loves Fox tv, sees CBS anchor as "decent guy"

Discussion: Gawker and NewsBusters.org

SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:
Condi Gets Grilled on Escalation

Discussion: Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, The Carpetbagger Report and skippy the bush kangaroo

The Raw Story:

Top GOP senator 'will filibuster any Democratic attempt to decrease funding for Bush's new Iraq plan — A top GOP senator said that he "will filibuster" any Democratic attempt to decrease funding for President Bush's new Iraq plan, the Associated Press reports.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh and MyDD

Deacon / Power Line:
SENATOR MCCONNELL ON THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN

Discussion: Right Wing News, Redstate and DownWithTyranny!

Tom Curry / MSNBC:
Georgia Democrat likes what he hears

Discussion: Wake up America, New York Times and Blue Crab Boulevard

USA Today:
Democrats reject Bush's 'way forward'

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times, QandO and The Poor Man Institute

Dr. Rusty Shackleford / The Jawa Report:

Report: Nuclear Explosion in Iran (UPDATE: 3 explosions) — A major explosion is being reported in the Iranian desert. It said to be a nuclear explosion. In the general area of one of Iran's nuclear testing sitees. — The alternative theory is that a UFO crashed.

Discussion: Associated Press, Ace of Spades HQ, Wake up America, Euphoric Reality and Suitably Flip

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

U.S. troops raid Iranian consulate in Iraq, traumatize left-wing bloggers — I'm pretty sure emotional injuries are actionable under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Appearing for the plaintiffs: elite snowtrooper and Bronze Star winner Capt. Rick Greenwald Ellensburg, who, per Greg Tinti …

Discussion: Associated Press, Ynetnews, TigerHawk, Lean Left, It Shines For All, Unfogged, Tammy Bruce and Ed Driscoll.com

Kenneth R. Bazinet / Mercury News:
Arab allies support U.S. effort in Iraq

Discussion: Associated Press, DownWithTyranny!, Booman Tribune and Brilliant at Breakfast

Nancy Benac / Associated Press:

Poll: Americans oppose Iraq troop surge — WASHINGTON - Seventy percent of Americans oppose sending more troops to Iraq, according to a new poll that provides a devastatingly blunt response to President Bush's plan to bolster military forces there. — All sides in the Iraq debate …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Think Progress, BobGeiger.com, Democratic Underground, Argghhh!, The Carpetbagger Report and Donklephant

Associated Press:

Poll: 70 percent oppose more troops in Iraq — Only 35 percent of respondents believe going to war was the right call — WASHINGTON - Americans overwhelmingly oppose sending more U.S. forces to Iraq, according to a new AP-Ipsos poll that serves as a strong repudiation of President Bush's plan to send another 21,500 troops.

Discussion: Obsidian Wings, NewsHog, Political Animal, DownWithTyranny! and Liberty Street

Washington Post: Lawmakers Demand Answers on New Iraq Plan

Andrew Roth / Club for Growth:

High Political Drama in the Senate — The Senate is boiling with excitement right now. For background, the Senate is proposing very weak earmark reform rules. In contrast, Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats implemented some very strong earmark rules in the lower chamber last week.

Discussion: Instapundit.com, Redstate, Ace of Spades HQ and Blue Crab Boulevard

Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:
Who's The Arm-Twister Now? — Showing he can be every bit …

Discussion: Redstate

Little Green Footballs:

Mass Resignation at Carter Center — Quite a blow to America's worst former president today, as 14 members of the advisory board of the Carter Center resign en masse: Carter Center Board Members Resign Over Palestine Book. (Hat tip: Rednek.) … UPDATE at 1/11/07 9:18:47 am:

Discussion: NewsBusters.org, Riehl World View, Washington Wire, The Jawa Report and It Shines For All

Confederate Yankee:

J-DAMN — And so a major Associated Press claim in "Jamilgate" takes an apparently fatal hit. — According to Bill Costlow of CPATT (Civilian Police Assistance Training Team) in Baghdad, and as forwarded by Lt. Michael Dean of Multinational Corps-Iraq/Joint Operations Command Public Affairs …

Discussion: Ace of Spades HQ, Don Surber, Classical Values, Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, A Blog For All, The Jawa Report and protein wisdom

Nico / Think Progress:

Kingston: Americans Should 'Marry and Work Longer Hours' To Escape Poverty — Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) made headlines last month after complaining about Congress' new schedule that requires members to work five days a week: … Yet, last night, Kingston offered this advice to Americans living in poverty: work longer hours.

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!, Angry Bear, The Carpetbagger Report and Sirotablog

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

Video: Bombshell charge — "There are Klingons in the White House" — Not just any Klingons, either. Faux Klingons. The worst kind. — Bush. Must. Answer. — Thanks to Martin for the tip. And to Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) for taking the war hella seriously.

Discussion: Ace of Spades HQ