Top Items:
Steve Clemons / The Washington Note:
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, Majikthise, Dick Polman's American Debate, Counterterrorism Blog, toohotfortnr, Macsmind, FP Passport, slacktivist, No More Mister Nice Blog, DownWithTyranny!, Ace of Spades HQ, Taylor Marsh, Whiskey Fire, MyDD, Talking Points Memo, Iowa Voice, Tennessee Guerilla Women, American Thinker, Hullabaloo, Prairie Weather, Bring it On! and Reason Magazine
RELATED:
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.
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 …
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 …
Washington Post:
Report: U.S. Troops Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq
Report: U.S. Troops Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq
Discussion:
Daily Kos, BBC, Right Wing Nut House, The Political Pit Bull, jules crittenden, The Reaction, The Jawa Report, Riehl World View, The Belmont Club, The Impolitic, Right Voices, The Democratic Daily, TPMCafe blogs, skippy the bush kangaroo, Unclaimed Territory, Taylor Marsh, Shakespeare's Sister, Attytood, Daily Pundit, Polimom Says, New York Times, State of the Day and Israel Matzav
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
Jonah Goldberg / Los Angeles Times:
At least Bush wants to win
At least Bush wants to win
Discussion:
Political Animal, PoliBlog (TM), TAPPED, The Carpetbagger Report, Liberal Values and Liberty Street
SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:
Condi Gets Grilled on Escalation
Condi Gets Grilled on Escalation
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Carpetbagger Report, Los Angeles Times and skippy the bush kangaroo
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.
RELATED:
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
U.S. troops raid Iranian consulate in Iraq, traumatize left-wing bloggers
U.S. troops raid Iranian consulate in Iraq, traumatize left-wing bloggers
Discussion:
Associated Press, Ynetnews, TigerHawk, Lean Left, It Shines For All, Unfogged, Tammy Bruce and Ed Driscoll.com
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:
Think Progress, ABCNEWS, BobGeiger.com, Democratic Underground, Argghhh!, The Carpetbagger Report and Donklephant
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Lawmakers Demand Answers on New Iraq Plan — Top Bush administration officials, pushing the president's case for sending more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, faced tough grilling on Capitol Hill today as both Republican and Democratic lawmakers demanded specific answers on how the new plan will lead to victory in Iraq.
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.
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.
RELATED:
Hotline On Call:
Breaking: Dean Chooses Denver — The labor pains were hard, but the DNC finally has its 2008 convention city locked down: Denver. — A Democrat who was briefed said that chairman Howard Dean made the final decision yesterday, weeks later than planned. DNC comm. dir. Karen Finney declined to confirm the choice.
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
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.
Tom Shales / Washington Post:
A Few Choice Words, Including 'Mistakes' — Looking tense, rigid and, appropriately enough, unyielding, George W. Bush gave what CBS anchor Katie Couric called "arguably his most important speech ever" from the library of the White House last night, calling for more troops to be sent to Iraq …
Madlen Read / Associated Press:
Oil Prices Fall Below $52 a Barrel — NEW YORK (AP) — Oil plunged below $52 a barrel Thursday to its lowest price since May extending a sharp decline that has been led by dampened heating oil demand, but which could save consumers money on a more widely used fuel: gasoline.
Philip Shenon / New York Times:
Former Official Is Said to Be a Focus of Lobbyist Inquiry — The former No. 2 official in the Interior Department has been notified by federal prosecutors that he will most likely be indicted for lying about his relationship with the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, people with knowledge of the investigation said Wednesday.
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:
TPMmuckraker, Instapundit.com, Patrick Ruffini, Redstate, Ace of Spades HQ and Blue Crab Boulevard