Top Items:
CBC News:
Ottawa reaches $10M settlement with Arar — Ottawa has reached a $10-million settlement with Maher Arar over Canada's role in a U.S. decision to deport him to Syria, where he was jailed and tortured. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is scheduled to make the settlement announcement on Friday afternoon …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters
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Associated Press:
Canada compensates man U.S. deported to Syria … OTTAWA, Canada (AP) — Canada's prime minister apologized to Maher Arar on Friday and announced the government would compensate him C$10.5 million (US$8.9 million) for its role in his deportation from the U.S. to Syria, where he was tortured while held in prison for nearly a year.
Justin Rood / TPMmuckraker:
Canadian PM to Apologize to Arar — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will give a formal apology to Maher Arar, the Canadian software engineer whom the United States detained and extradited to Syria, where he was brutally tortured. — The announcement, which appears to be a public rebuke …
Rick MacWilliam / canada.com:
Arar rift with U.S. grows — Wilkins tells Day: 'respect' our decisions — David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, suggested officials in Ottawa should butt out of his country's decision to block ... Chris Wattie And Jason Markusoff, National Post
Discussion:
TPMmuckraker
Associated Press:
Bush: 'I'm the decision-maker' in Iraq troops — President challenges lawmakers to give 'surge' plan a chance to work — President Bush, right, meets with Defense chief Robert Gates, left, and Army Lt. General David Petraeus at the White House. — NBC VIDEO — Jan. 26: President Bush speaks to reporters on Friday.
Discussion:
Reuters, Firedoglake, Sister Toldjah, The Moderate Voice, The Caucus, The Political Pit Bull, The Democratic Daily and Liberal Values
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Associated Press:
House Speaker Pelosi visits Iraq — BAGHDAD, Iraq - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) and Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), both vocal war critics, were in the Iraqi capital Friday at the head of a delegation of House members on a fact-finding mission …
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, TexasFred's, Scared Monkeys, Gateway Pundit, Don Surber, Riehl World View and Waking the Giant
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Michael Isikoff / Newsweek:
Will Rove Testify? — The president's political guru—and counselor Dan Bartlett—have been subpoenaed by Scooter Libby's lawyers. What it means for the most-watched trial in Washington—and who's next on the witness stand. — Rove watching President Bush fly off to Camp David last Saturday
Discussion:
Wonkette
Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Back in the Saddle — You know things are going well on your blog when everyone is so busy they don't even have room for you to post. Our site administrator RBG finally gave me the thumbs up to start blogging again today since things are thankfully a bit slower (emptywheel's fingers must …
Discussion:
spazeboy
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Video: Gates says the anti-surge resolution "emboldens the enemy" — If you haven't signed the pledge yet, now's your chance. — Update: Mitch McConnell: "This is it." — Update: CNN's got a copy of the early draft of McCain's resolution. Bet-hedging with an eye to 2008 or grudging compromise …
Discussion:
Think Progress, The Political Pit Bull, CNN Political Ticker, Bill Hobbs, Don Surber and Blue Crab Boulevard
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Alexander Mooney / CNN Political Ticker:
McConnell "skeptical" Iraqi government will step up
McConnell "skeptical" Iraqi government will step up
Discussion:
The Politico
Associated Press:
4 troops abducted, killed in Iraq attack — BAGHDAD, Iraq - In perhaps the boldest and most sophisticated attack in four years of warfare, gunmen speaking English, wearing U.S. military uniforms and carrying American weapons abducted four U.S. soldiers last week at the provincial headquarters …
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Thomas Ferraro / Reuters:
Bush accepts Republican House resolution on Iraq — CAMBRIDGE, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bush met privately with House Republicans on Friday and agreed to an alternative resolution to set "benchmarks" for progress in his plan to send more troops to Iraq, party officials said.
Discussion:
The American Street
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Kenneth P. Vogel / The Politico:
Amid Question of Flip-flopping, McCain to Back Reform Bill — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will sponsor a bill to strengthen campaign finance laws in this session of Congress despite vehement opposition to campaign finance reform from conservative Republican activists whose support he needs …
Discussion:
Election Law
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Shailagh Murray / Washington Post:
Hagel Ponders White House Run As War Criticism Raises His Profile — His Republican colleagues regard him warily. The White House barely speaks to him. He is reviled by his party's conservative base. — Looks as though Sen. Chuck Hagel is on a roll. — Both parties have their Iraq war contrarians.
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John Hawkins / Right Wing News:
Right-Of-Center Bloggers Select The Most & Least Desired 2008 …
Right-Of-Center Bloggers Select The Most & Least Desired 2008 …
Discussion:
The Caucus, DownWithTyranny!, Liberal Values, Riehl World View, Brainster's Blog and Wizbang
Guardian:
China censorship damaged us, Google founders admit — Jane Martinson in Davos — Google's decision to censor its search engine in China was bad for the company, its founders admitted yesterday. — Google, launched in 1998 by two Stanford University dropouts, Sergey Brin and Larry Page …
Discussion:
A Blog For All
Julia Preston / New York Times:
Immigration Raid Draws Protest From Labor Officials — An immigration raid at a huge North Carolina pork-packing plant provoked protests yesterday from union officials, who said the company, Smithfield Foods, had collaborated with the authorities searching for illegal immigrants to discourage its workers from organizing.