memeorandum: Local Media Reports Show Bush Quietly Implementing Escalation Policy (Nico/Think Progress)

9:30 PM ET, January 26, 2007

Top Items:

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: Firedoglake, Sister Toldjah, The Caucus, The Moderate Voice, The Political Pit Bull, The Democratic Daily and Liberal Values

Think Progress:

President Bush: 'I'm The Decision-Maker' — In remarks to reporters this morning, President Bush said he would ignore Congress' opposition to his escalation plan, saying, "I'm the decision-maker." Watch it: — UPDATE: Flashback to 4/18/06: "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."

Discussion: Reuters, The Heretik and The Impolitic

William Branigin / Washington Post:
Bush: 'I'm the Decision-Maker' on Iraq

Discussion: The Fourth Rail, Talking Points Memo, Blogs of War, Redstate, TPMCafe blogs, American Footprints and The Carpetbagger Report

White House:
President Bush Congratulates General Petraeus on Senate Confirmation …

Discussion: Washington Wire and First Draft

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

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.

Discussion: Unclaimed Territory and ImmigrationProf Blog

Justin Rood / TPMmuckraker:
Canadian PM to Apologize to Arar

Discussion: canada.com, The Carpetbagger Report and ACSBlog

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: TexasFred's, Scared Monkeys and Waking the Giant

San Francisco Chronicle:
Pelosi to meet with al-Maliki in quick visit to Iraq

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker, The Jawa Report and Sister Toldjah

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 …

Discussion: Hot Air, NO QUARTER, The Jawa Report and The Carpetbagger Report

Editor and Publisher:

AP Disputes Military Claims on Deaths of Americans in Iraq — BAGHDAD Contrary to U.S. military statements, four U.S. soldiers did not die repelling a sneak attack at the governor's office in the Shiite holy city of Karbala last week. New information obtained by The Associated Press shows …

Discussion: War and Piece and Atlas Shrugs

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: CNN Political Ticker, Bill Hobbs, Don Surber and Blue Crab Boulevard

Alexander Mooney / CNN Political Ticker: McConnell "skeptical" Iraqi government will step up

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

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.

Discussion: Balloon Juice, Redstate, DownWithTyranny!, Blogs of War, The Reaction, Taylor Marsh, The Caucus, Hotline On Call, Donklephant, Blue Crab Boulevard, Unqualified Offerings, Riehl World View, The Carpetbagger Report, Cato-at-liberty, Wonkette, Chuck Hagel for President … and The Heretik

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

Matt Browner Hamlin / rightsfield.com:
McCain Asks His Supporters To Set His Agenda

Discussion: Hullabaloo and The Carpetbagger Report

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.

Discussion: Facing South and ImmigrationProf Blog

The Blotter:

ABC News Exclusive: Murder in a Teapot — Brian Ross and Maddy Sauer Report: — British officials say police have cracked the murder-by-poison case of former spy Alexander Litvinenko, including the discovery of a "hot" teapot at London's Millennium Hotel with an off-the-charts reading for Polonium-210 …

Discussion: Firedoglake, The Strata-Sphere, On Deadline and Hot Air

Zogby:

Zogby Poll: Bush Job Approval: 32% — President's rating remains low, though his State of the Union speech received solid marks — The nation's opinion of the job President Bush is doing in office improved slightly following his nationally-televised State of the Union message to Congress …