Let me start with the documents released this morning on the Osama bin Laden.
The Office of the the Director of National Intelligence have released more than 100 classified documents that were recovered during the raid on bin Laden’s compound in Abottabad, Pakistan. Letters, books and notes were part of the release, including a video of notebooks with bin Laden’s handwriting.
The documents revealed bin Laden’s thinking towards western intelligence, his awareness of U.S. drone strikes and his concern with increasing al Qaeda’s size in an attempt to mount a “spectacular” follow-up attack on the U.S. after September 11.
“Our priority must be to combat Americans and their representatives,” he wrote.
WATCH MORE: U.S. releases materials seized in Osama bin Laden raid
Meanwhile, the fall of Ramadi has Republicans questioning the U.S.’s approach to fighting ISIS militants in Iraq. House Speaker John Boehner is calling on President Obama to develop a new strategy which would include an expanded role for U.S. troops. Boehner also admits that giving the president authorization of military force has been stalled because the White House is not seeking a level of authority that congressional Republicans believe is necessary to defeat ISIS.
“I have not given up on it, but until the president gets serious about fighting the fight and really has a strategy that makes some sense, there is no reason for us to give him less authority than he has today,” Rep. Boehner told The New York Times.
Looking ahead to 2016, Hillary Clinton is pushing back a speech that was meant to lay out the fundamentals of her campaign. Originally set to take place in May following her visits to key primary states and roundtable discussions, the “big speech” is now said to be taking place in June, allowing the candidate more time for fundraising and establishing her policy positions. The front page story in USA Today expanded on the Clinton campaign with a piece entitled “Why is Clinton running?” “Clinton ‘cleared a couple of important hurdles,” Ben LaBolt, press secretary for President Obama’s 2012 campaign told USA Today. “The first is, showing that she’s relatable and down to earth.” RELATED: Even when flying with the public, Hillary Clinton keeps it private Tune into “Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 7pm/et for all the day’s political news and analysis.
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