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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 Sorry for the late Briefing today...It's been really crazy around here and I've spent half the day putting out booking calls and producing part of the tonight's back half...We lead with the stunning developments in the Middle East and the announcement that the U.S. is pulling our ambassador out of Syria and essentially declaring that country get out of Lebanon...More saber rattling, folks... We speak with former U.N. ambassador and current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) up against Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) U.S. recalls ambassador from Syria...Move highlights suspicion of Damascus' role in deadly Beirut blast (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6967302/ Also today in Washington, a federal appeals court ruled that Time mag's Matthew Cooper and The New York Times' Judy Miller must comply with a grand jury investigation into who leaked the name of Valerie Plame...They both face jail time if they don't give up the source...We'll talk to Matt about the case Reporters ordered to testify in CIA leak...2003 case involves New York Times, Time magazine (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6974266/ Oh and Tom Selleck has a new TV movie coming out soon...We'll talk to him about it, the troops serving in Iraq and his take on the Academy Awards... Finally we wrap it all up with David Frum, "Frummy" as we call him, and our favorite Democratic activist Hilary Rosen on the political ramifications of the United States move in the Middle East today... Should be a pretty cool show tonight folks, I urge you to tune in... Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from Washington, DC Across the Middle East, Monday's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri raised fears that old wounds could be reopened and a fragile Palestinian-Israeli truce could be threatened. Lebanon, largely because of the Syrian influence there, remains an important part of the Mideast peace equation. (AP) http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/02/15/top_news/01top15.txt Aspell: Lebanon on edge...Fears of instability after the assassination of ex-prime minister http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6974458/ Elizabeth Cheney, the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, will become the second-ranking U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, the State Department said on Monday. (Reuters) http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=peopleNews&storyID=2005-02-14T223534Z_01_N14676223_RTRIDST_0_PEOPLE-PEOPLE-CHENEY-DC.XML Spies clash as FBI joins CIA overseas...Sources talk of communication problem in terrorism role (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6973534/ Kerry: U.S. would be better, safer with my plans...Ex-candidate: Bush 'dragged his feet' on security, military issues (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6974189/ Bush's war budget likely to pass...But Dems making political hay of $82 billion request (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6968221/ Bush's faith-based efforts questioned...White House falling short on 'poor people stuff,' ex-aide says (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6971511/ Curry: Why torture issue hasn't had political traction...Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo don't bar Gonzales, Chertoff confirmations http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6970081/ With America at war, Hollywood follows (USA Today) http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-02-07-military-projects_x.htm GOP donor expected ambassador job, letter to governor shows...Aggressive campaign launched by Nebraska business exec http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6974040/ Chocolate industry under fire on child labor...Candy makers 'puzzled' by lawmakers' assertions of slave labor (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6969960/ Opinion/Editorial DC Examiner: Journalists need watchdogs, too...Mark this date on your calendar: Feb. 11, 2005. This was the day when the nation's big-time media finally realized they don't own exclusive rights to the First Amendment. And they are not happy. http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/02/15//opinion/editorial/01aaedittxt Pat: In his second inaugural, George W. Bush used the words liberty and freedom 42 times. And, indeed, if America is about anything, she is about freedom. But freedom from what, and for what? http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42843 Reese: Truth Unwelcome http://reese.king-online.com/Reese_20050214/index.php Margolis: Is Palestine to be a state or a prison? http://www.ericmargolis.com/ Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/ ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received The Hardball Briefing Newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. 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