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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Today, Hardball kicks off a series of special reports examining the debate over
ending the war in Iraq. It's a complicated discussion of course because, among
many other reasons, in between the two extremes of "get out now" and "stay as
long as necessary," there are many, many shades of gray. All this week, Chris
will hear from military and political leaders who have very different opinions
on this issue. First up today, Gen. William Odom (Ret.), director of the
National Security Agency under President Reagan, who says U.S. troops need to
leave Iraq in order to have Middle East stability. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA),
chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will also join Chris to voice
his support for the president's leadership and plans for Iraq. (Bonus -- Read
Hardblogger All-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret.)'s reaction to the president's
plan: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10284912/#051205b)
Chris (who is on Hardblogger here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10284912/#051205a) will also talk with Tucker
Carlson, host of MSNBC's "The Situation," about the political debate raging on
-- both here and in Iraq -- about the proposals for a U.S. exit from Iraq.
Tucker has been there and has talked extensively with military personnel on the
ground. Don't miss a chance to hear what he's heard.
Plus, Hardball's David Shuster will have a report on how the FBI is taking
another look at pre-war intelligence, specifically the alleged credibility, or
alleged lack thereof, of those Italian documents on intelligence about Iraq and
Africa. In case you missed it, there was a report on this in Saturday's Los
Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-niger3dec03,1,7282775.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
There was other big news today as the former members of the bipartisan 9/11
Commission issued their final report on the government's efforts to improve
national security and prevent future terror attacks. In short, their analysis
was not good. Chris will discuss the report with commission alumni Richard
Ben-Veniste, Democratic attorney, and former Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA). You can
see their final report (and others) here: http://www.9-11pdp.org/.
All of that's in the show, plus Chris will talk with Susan Page, Washington
Bureau Chief for USA Today, and CQ's Craig Crawford, Hardblogger All-Star and
author of "Attack the Messenger: How Politicians Turn You Against the Media,"
about the war debate, the media's role in war, and the administration's
attitude towards the media. Sec. of Defense Don Rumsfeld said in a speech
today, "Speed, it appears, is the critical determination -- the determinant;
less so context."
Here are some things you might not have read yet today:
--AP reads the final report of the former Sept. 11 commission
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10335384/
--AP listens to Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice's terror policy comments
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10323501/
--MSNBC's Tom Curry ponders third-party possibilities
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10286455/
--Newsweek contemplates Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)'s hawkishness
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10313850/site/newsweek/
--Hardblogger! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
--Doonesbury http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.html
Brooke Brower compiled the "Hardball Briefing" in Washington, D.C.
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