Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Afghanistan: “Defense officials have told NBC News that the Army staff sergeant who allegedly shot and killed 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children, admitted his actions to fellow soldiers just before he was taken into custody. ‘I did it,’ he is said to have told them.”
* President Obama has vowed a full investigation: “He said he was ‘heartbroken by the loss of innocent life,’ calling it outrageous and unacceptable. ‘It’s not who we are as a country, and it does not represent our military,’ he added.”
* Obama also vowed today “to defend U.S. workers from unfair competition and bluntly warned China to play by the rules of global trade.”
* The unemployment rate fell in 45 U.S. states in January, and the latest numbers on consumer spending and retail sales were also encouraging.
* What’s more, the number of new U.S. job openings is exceeding expectations, while Gallup found Americans’ economic confidence reaching a four-year high.
* The Nasdaq composite index closed today at its highest level in more than 11 years.
* Murdoch media scandal: “Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, the British newspaper division of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of obstruction of justice.”
* Headlines that speak volumes: “Americans hate regulations in the abstract, but love them in the particular.” * With a growing number of House Republicans under investigation, the DCCC is re-launching HouseOfScandal.com this week. * And MoveOn.org released a powerful new ad today, which will air on national cable, targeting Republicans over the “GOP War on Women.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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