Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Syria: “After a bruising, 27-day siege under intensifying bombardment, rebels holed up in the shattered Baba Amr neighborhood of the central Syrian city of Homs announced a ‘tactical withdrawal’ on Thursday, apparently handing victory to forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad but raising concerns about the plight of civilians there.”
* Diplomatic resolution in Egypt: “The foreign nationals under criminal investigation here for their pro-democracy activities, including several Americans, arrived in Cyprus on a chartered flight from Cairo on Thursday night in what could be the end of a months-long diplomatic drama between Cairo and Washington.”
* It’s a good thing the country didn’t let Detroit go bankrupt: “A surprising sales gain by General Motors Co and strong performances by Ford Motor Co and others helped put U.S. February auto sales on track for their highest annual sales rate in nearly four years.”
* The Blunt Amendment probably wasn’t the best way to kick off Women’s History Month.
* Sounds right to me: “When you get a prescription from your doctor, you shouldn’t have to wonder whether his or her decision was influenced by payments from the drug’s maker.” * U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull’s racist email has caused a stir on Capitol Hill. I’ll have more on this tomorrow morning. * And in an unfortunate exchange during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on contraception, a confused Republican congressman, Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, falsely accused HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of lying about the administration’s policy, and argued that understanding whether the morning-after pill is an abortification is a “religious” question, not a scientific one. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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