Today’s edition of quick hits:
* As violence in Israel intensifies, the prospects for even a ceasefire are not at all good.
* Hamas said today it’s “up to Israel to end the new conflict it had started, adding that a ‘land war’ would cost Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the election.”
* Dana Liebelson put together a primer on the Israel-Hamas conflict for those who want to get up to speed.
* President Obama makes a historic visit to Burma.
* Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered his aides to “institute the ‘full Afghanization’ of the U.S.-run prison at Bagram Air Base, charging that American forces are continuing to detain Afghans despite a bilateral agreement in March to transfer all prisoners to Afghan authorities.”
* Officials at the World Bank are once again warning of “catastrophic consequences” if average world temperatures rise more than 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.
* Could an extension of Bush-era tax breaks be bad for the economy? Actually, yes.
* Good call in Massachusetts: “Governor Deval Patrick will direct state colleges and universities Monday to allow young illegal immigrants to pay the lower resident rate for tuition and fees as soon as they obtain work permits through a new federal program.” * As if Rupert Murdoch didn’t have enough problems, he had to walk back a controversial tweet over the weekend after accusations of anti-Semitism. * And those eager to equate every potential political controversy to Watergate should take a moment to remember what the Watergate actually was and why it was so important. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
The place for in-depth analysis, commentary and informed perspectives. Recommended
