Obama Aide: Military Advisers to Meet on First Day  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — On his first full day as president, Barack Obama will meet with high-ranking military officers to discuss the Iraq war, a conflict he has vowed to end after six years of fighting, a top adviser to Obama said Saturday.

Obama Inaugural Strains Lincoln Comparisons While Inviting Them  —  Jan. 17 (Bloomberg) — Barack Obama's inauguration is dedicated to the proposition that all presidencies are not created equal.  —  In ways big and small, Obama is trying to summon Abraham Lincoln's spirit to the proceedings.

Israel Declares Cease-Fire; Hamas Says It Will Fight On  —  A girl gathered belongings amid patches of blood on Saturday at a United Nations school in Beit Lahiya in Gaza.  Israeli fire at the school killed two young brothers.  More Photos >  —  JERUSALEM — Israel declared late Saturday …

Obama's $100,000-Plus Donors Were Able to Give to Several Entities  —  Obama's $100,000-Plus Backers Were Able to Contribute to Several Entities  —  Nearly 100 wealthy families and power couples contributed at least $100,000 each to help Barack Obama over the past two years …

Bailout Is a Windfall to Banks, if Not to Borrowers  —  At the Palm Beach Ritz-Carlton last November, John C. Hope III, the chairman of Whitney National Bank in New Orleans, stood before a ballroom full of Wall Street analysts and explained how his bank intended to use its $300 million in federal bailout money.

President Obama ‘has four years to save Earth’  —  Barack Obama has only four years to save the world.  That is the stark assessment of Nasa scientist and leading climate expert Jim Hansen who last week warned only urgent action by the new president could halt the devastating climate change that now threatens Earth.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of six detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Four detainees were transferred to Iraq, one to Algeria and one to Afghanistan.  These detainees were determined to be eligible for departure following a comprehensive series of review processes.

Brown ready to risk billions on debt insurance  —  Gordon Brown is preparing an unprecedented multi-billion pound plan to insure British banks against future losses from so-called toxic assets, creating a safety net under the financial system which could unblock lending to homeowners and businesses.

The official Flag of the Obama States of America  —  Defacing the flag in honor of the inauguration of Barack Obama?  —  Well, don't you dare question their patriotism.  —  That would be...unpatriotic.  (Hat tip: Inside Charm City)  —  Photo source: Baltimore Sun

Poll Finds Faith in Obama, Mixed With Patience  —  President-elect Barack Obama is riding a powerful wave of optimism into the White House, with Americans confident he can turn the economy around but prepared to give him years to deal with the crush of problems he faces starting Tuesday …

Bush's 2001 inaugural pledge: I will ‘call for responsibility and try to live it as well.’  —  Almost eight years ago, President Bush took the oath of office and solemnly swore to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”  (Listen here.)

Bill Faith, R.I.P.  —  I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of blogger Bill Faith.  He died of a heart attack and had been in ill health.  —  Bill ran the blog Small Town Veteran and founded/contributed to Old War Dogs.  I linked to his work many times over the years.

Admit It: The Surge Worked  —  It's no longer a close call: President Bush was right about the surge.  According to Michael O'Hanlon and Jason Campbell of the Brookings Institution, the number of Iraqi war dead was 500 in November of 2008, compared with 3,475 in November of 2006.