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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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John McCain will lead the show tonight just as our weekend promos promised...We'll
discuss Powell's warning that "if Saddam Hussein was still not cooperating with United
Nations inspectors at the end of this week, President Bush would press immediately for
consideration of a Security Council resolution authorizing possible use of force
against Iraq."...We'll also discuss the widening gulf with Nato over the defense of
Turkey and "old Europe's" opposition to war with Iraq, yada, yada...
U.S. Demands Iraq Show Cooperation by This Weekend (The New York Times) Registration
required http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/10/international/middleeast/10DIPL.html
Iraq tensions split NATO allies...France, Germany and Belgium on Monday blocked the
start of NATO military planning to protect Turkey against the threat of an Iraqi
attack, further deepening divisions in the alliance.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/870811.asp
Yesterday when you were having your Sunday morning coffee/donut/bagel, perusing The
New York Times while keeping one ear on Tim with Colin and such, you probably noticed
the front page piece on Saudi Arabia and how they want to tell U.S. troops based there
to take a hike...Well today the Saudis are pooh-poohing the story...We'll get into it
with Middle East expert Shibley Telhami...
Saudi Arabia's leaders will ask U.S. forces to leave the country after any war with
Iraq, according to a New York Times report on Sunday that Saudi and U.S. officials
called speculative and hypothetical. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=UU0RE2NDR11WWCRBAE0CFFA?type=topNews&storyID=2195787
In the D block debate we ask: Is it time for U.S. to rethink the Nato alliance? Maybe
constructively disenage from this Cold War relic?
In the E block we'll do Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch on the nomination of
Miguel Estrada to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Dems possible
filibuster...
Democrats Split on Plan to Block Bush Nominee...Senators Weigh Risks of Filibuster
(The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45703-2003Feb8.html
Norah and Howard will do the political buzz in F....
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing in Washington, DC...
btw, Chris will be out of the 30 Rock nook today so don't be alarmed by the different
set...
Iraq sent a letter to U.N. weapons inspectors Monday approving the use of U.S.-made
U-2 surveillance planes in the search for weapons of mass destruction, Iraq's
ambassador to the United Nations said. (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/842500.asp?0cv=CA01
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday France, Germany and Belgium made a
mistake by blocking NATO planning for steps to defend Turkey in the event of war
against Iraq, but said such a move would not delay a possible attack. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=5AQKVWRBYOAESCRBAE0CFFA?type=topNews&storyID=2201068
The United States showed serious irritation on Monday with European countries that
blocked a plan to strengthen Turkish defenses in case the United States attacks
neighboring Iraq. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=2200720
France, Germany and Belgium blocked NATO efforts Monday to begin planning for possible
Iraqi attacks against Turkey, deepening divisions in the alliance over the U.S.-led
push to oust Saddam Hussein. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=518&e=1&u=/ap/20030210/ap_on_re_eu/nato_iraq
U.S. military in Europe may change...Government mulls altering NATO structure to
reflect new era (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.com/news/870793.asp?0sl=-12
Bush Says U.N. Faces A 'Moment of Truth'...President Bush declared yesterday that the
United Nations has reached a "moment of truth" on Iraq and warned the world
organization that it is flirting with irrelevance if it does not support the American
position. (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48927-2003Feb9.html
Blix: Iraq offered no new evidence...Chief U.N. arms inspector Hans Blix said he saw
little new evidence from Iraq about its weapons of mass destruction after a trip to
Baghdad.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/842500.asp
Not Even the Reputable Powell Could Alter Opinion in Europe...'Those who are against
the war are still against it. Those who are for it are for it. Nobody changed their
minds,' French journalist says. (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-eurpowell10feb10,0,7100590.story
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld yesterday blasted Germany, France and Belgium for
blocking plans to protect NATO ally Turkey in the event of war with Iraq, charging
that their "inexcusable" actions hurt Turkey and NATO and made military action more
likely (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/nation/5137746.htm
The United States and Britain are drawing up plans to give Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein as little as 48 hours to flee Baghdad or face war if U.N. weapons inspectors
report this week that he is still refusing to disarm fully. (London Sunday Telegraph)
http://washingtontimes.com/world/20030210-68198564.htm
Many Desire U.N. Backing for War on Iraq...Most Americans believe Colin L. Powell was
persuasive, but support for action falls from 62% with Security Council backing to 55%
without. (LA Times) http://www.latimes.com/la-na-poll9feb09001509,0,4299545.story
Poll Analysis: Americans Convinced by Powell U.N. Address Even If Member Nations Are
Not...War is seen as inevitable, but most still want the U.S. to wait for U.N. backing
http://www.latimes.com/la-na-poll9feb09-482pa1an,0,4436592.story
Nation steps up security after alert...Police stepped up security at airports, subways
and hotels over the weekend, after the nation was put on heightened terrorist alert
and law enforcement officials indicated New York was a possible target.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/870313.asp
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday the latest terrorism alert issued by
the Bush administration represented "the most significant" such warning since the
Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=542&ncid=718&e=1&u=/ap/20030210/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/ridge_alert
Intelligence officials believe al Qaeda has plans for a series of attacks either just
before or just after the start of a U.S.-led war on Iraq - a possibility that helped
spark the nation's elevated "orange" terror alert, it was reported today. (NY Post)
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/68783.htm
Bush to Renew Economic Emphasis...The president will try again to appear as concerned
about jobs as he is about terrorism with a two-week focus on the economy before a
likely war with Iraq. (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48887-2003Feb9.html?referrer=email
President Bush is stepping up efforts to get religious groups involved in the delivery
of social services while pushing new initiatives for mentoring children and helping
drug addicts (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20030210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush
Democrats on defense with Hispanics...Some Democrats are continuing to complain that
the party's message is not clear, and that Democratic opposition to a major judicial
nominee threatens to alienate Hispanic voters (The Washington Times)
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030210-69312634.htm
Threat of Iraq war puts Democratic presidential hopefuls in hot seat...If presidential
campaigns sometimes resemble a circus, then step right up and watch the Democratic
high-wire act on Iraq. (Kansas City Star)
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/politics/5148148.htm
Time Mag: A Chamber Full Of Candidates...Will Connecticut's other Senator give Joe
Lieberman some company in the 2004 presidential campaign?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030217-420971,00.html
Lugar: measured, methodical - and worried on Iraq...Senate's foreign-relations
chairman plans a hearing Tuesday to spotlight long-term US role in Iraq. (CS Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0210/p05s01-uspo.html
The United States must change its views about energy efficiency in order to avoid
foreign entanglements over oil, U.S. Sen. John Kerry said last night. (The Boston
Herald) http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/kerr02102003.htm
GAO Ends Fight With Cheney Over Files...Weakening of Hill's Oversight Decried (The
Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42229-2003Feb7.html
Kurtz: Funny, the Calendar Doesn't Say 2004...Journalists recognize that few people
are tuning in to the presidential race right now. But with a compressed primary
schedule, they have little choice but to leap into action.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49424-2003Feb9.html
Opinion/editorial
The Wall Street Journal: The End of NATO...An alliance that refuses to defend a member
nation is useless. http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003049
Road to regime change...Colin Powell did indeed produce a 'smoking gun,' but America
should still go through the U.N. to make Iraq disarm, even if by force. By Robert
Wright.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/869972.asp
Giuliani on Miguel Estrada http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/68753.htm
Peggy: Gut Time...Colin Powell has persuaded me.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110003048
Barnicle: God's request line is taking lots of calls
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/story/58255p-54549c.html
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
Mallard http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp
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