Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Afghanistan: “Afghan police killed four American soldiers coming to their aid after a checkpoint attack Sunday, the third assault by government forces or insurgents disguised in military uniforms in as many days.”
* Unrest that began in the Middle East and North Africa has now spread to 20 countries.
* This includes Hezbollah: “The head of Lebanon’s Shi’ite militant group Hezbollah on Sunday called for nationwide protests over a film about the Prophet Muhammad, saying that the United States must be held accountable for creating strife between Muslims and Christians.”
* In Ohio: “President Obama, under renewed fire from Mitt Romney for not standing up to China on behalf of American workers, used a rally in this battleground state on Monday to announce a new trade case against Beijing. He said it was Mr. Romney who had sent jobs to China through his zealous practice of outsourcing at Bain Capital.”
* One year later: “Looking to reignite their movement on its one-year anniversary, several hundred Occupy Wall Street activists protested in lower Manhattan Monday, staging a sit-in near the iconic New York Stock Exchange and swarming through the streets in costumes and toting American flags and signs.”
* Welcome candor: “Meir Dagan, a former head of the Israeli Intelligence service Mossad, says that an attack on Iran would be the ‘stupidest idea [I’ve] ever heard.’”
* It appears that House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Pete King (R-N.Y.) really doesn’t care for the judgment of independent fact-checkers on easily-verifiable claims. King wants to believe and repeat falsehoods, and seems quite irritated by evidence that contradicts his preferred fantasy. * I suspect Republican officials are generally delighted most poor people don’t vote. If the poor voted in greater numbers, the GOP would get crushed in most elections. * And I suppose this was inevitable: “Limbaugh: Middle East unrest was ‘contrived’ to blame conservatives and make them look ‘nuts.’” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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