------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
Hardball airs on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Find MSNBC on your TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp MSNBC also is on your XM satellite radio on channel 130 Lots of news out there for a Friday, particularly ex: Iraq...The Pentagon will send a retired four star general for an "open ended" review of the situation...Army Reservists face longer tours of duty as U.S. forces continue to be stretched to the breaking point...9 U.S. troops have been killed in the last 24 hours and both Iraqi and U.S. officials are warning of further "spectacular" violence before the January 30th elections...Plus, martial law is extended in liberated Iraq...Not to mention Scowcroft & Zbig offering a pessimistic outlook at a Washington luncheon yesterday...We'll tie it all together at the top of the show with Andrea ... On Monday, opening statements are scheduled to begin in the first trial stemming from the Abu Ghraib torture scandal...Spc. Charles Graner faces up to 17 1/2 years for his alleged role as "ringleader" in the abuse...In a Hardball exclusive we talk to his lawyer Guy Womack about his line of defense... And now for something completely different...Chris talks to Robert MacNeil about the American language and all its wonderful regional dialects...As the former "MacNeil" in the "MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour", we'll probably throw some current events at him as well...MacNeil promises to drop some heavy gravitas... We finish up with a fun interview taped earlier this week with Al Franken...If you can believe it, he's just back from a USO tour of Iraq...We'll get his eyewitness report... Have a great weekend! Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from Washington, DC Graner Backgrounder: On the eve of the first trial stemming from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, prosecutors dropped two charges against the soldier accused of being the ringleader of the abuse. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050107/D87FAQ280.html Allawi warns of more violence ahead of vote...Iraqi PM's comments follow death of 9 Americans in two attacks (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6727646/ The Pentagon is sending a retired four-star Army general to Iraq next week to conduct an unusual "open-ended" review of the military's entire Iraq policy, including troop levels, training programs for Iraqi security forces and the strategy for fighting the insurgency, senior Defense Department officials said Thursday. (NY Times) http://nytimes.com/2005/01/07/international/middleeast/07military.html?hp&ex=1105160400&en=b700c9c0f96bdef9&ei=5094&partner=homepage The U.S. military vowed on Friday to do everything possible to safeguard Iraq's Jan. 30 election, undeterred by the killing of nine troops in the deadliest day for American forces since an attack on a U.S. base last month (Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7267198 Reservists may face longer tours of duty...Army leaders also consider allowing for more frequent call-ups (The Washington Post) http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6796861/ Three Pennsylvania Army reservists at the center of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq are likely to face off in a Texas courtroom during the next week in the court-martial trial of a Fayette County soldier. (Pittsburgh Tribune Review) http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/fayette/s_290703.html Scowcroft Skeptical Vote Will Stabilize Iraq...Friend of Bush Family Joins Pessimists (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A54680-2005Jan6?language=printer Crumbling at the seams in Iraq...Bloody deeds, bold defiance -- and what it may say about the future (NBC News) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6727646/ Undersecretary of State John Bolton, a leading hard-liner on nuclear nonproliferation who has raised hackles among America's allies as well as its adversaries, is expected to quit the Bush administration, sources said on Thursday. (Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7258992 Bush's approval rating at 49 percent in new poll...President Bush's approval rating as he prepares for a second term is at 49 percent, with 49 percent disapproving, according to a new AP poll. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6798213/ Zoellick in line to be Rice's top deputy...Officials: Trade negotiator chosen for State Department position http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6798082/ Kerry cheered in Baghdad, decries Bush team's 'blunders'....Once criticized for war stance, he says force alone won't win (SF Chronicle) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/06/MNG2VALREG1.DTL Police blame IRA for massive Belfast robbery...Announcement will likely complicate peacemaking efforts (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6798331/ Report: Administration paid commentator to promote initiative...Williams got $240,000 to push education reform (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6798618/ Drug Control Office Faulted For Issuing Fake News Tapes (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A54651-2005Jan6?language=printer Conservative Christians are flabbergasted about reports that raunchy rock-rapper Kid Rock will perform at a youth concert at the presidential inauguration. (NY Daily News) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/268839p-230237c.html James Brown sued for alleged rape in 1988...Former employee seeks more than $100 million in damages (Reuters) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6796284/ Julia Roberts Buys Donald Rumsfeld's Land (People Mag) http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,1014899,00.html ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received The Hardball Briefing Newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. To remove yourself from the list (or to add yourself to the list if this message was forwarded to you) simply go to http://www.msnbc.com/tools/newstools/e/emailextra.asp?nfeature=19 Microsoft Corporation - One Microsoft Way - Redmond, WA 98052 MSN PRIVACY STATEMENT http://privacy.msn.com