Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, December 31, 2009 Make us your homepage
Top Breaking News
This Morning's Cut
Leading The News
Eight Americans Killed in Afghan Attack . . . Some or all were CIA officers in what could be largest loss of intel personnel since war began. Wall Street Journal
Mullahs Drum Up Their Own Rallies . . . Organize national demonstrations and strike out at reformist supporters of the Green Movement.
Christian Science Monitor
U.S. Considers Air Strike Over Bombing Fresh list of targets drawn up as President Obama moves from reassurance to thinly-veiled threats. Times of London
Politics
USA Today
GOP Demands Obama Keep Gitmo Open . . . Republican leaders renew a call for suspension of transfers to Yemen.
Miami Herald
No Drama Obama: Not Enough Drama? . . . Vacationing Obama draws fire for taking three days to comment on al Qaeda airplane attack. Toronto Globe and Mail
Fox Investigating the Hen House? . . . White House Homeland Security chief John Brennan will review watch list his company helped create. Washington Times
Sen. Nelson Defends Health Vote . . . Faces uprising in GOP-leaning Nebraska after backing Democratic health bill.
New York Times
Democratic Superdelegates May Lose Powers . . . Panel recommends ending their uncommitted status and having them vote in state primaries. Washington Post
National Security
Four Canadian Soldiers, Journalist Killed . . . Brazen strike in peaceful area signals upsurge in violence around Kandahar, threatening to undermine soldiers' advances. Toronto Globe and Mail
Spy Agencies Failed to Collate Clues . . . NSA intercepted discussions of a plot by leaders of Al Qaeda in Yemen. Nothing was done. New York Times
U.S.-Born Cleric Focus of Investigation . . . Radical Yemeni cleric emerging as a central focus of the Christmas Day airline-bombing investigation. Wall Street Journal
Failed Early Afghanistan Strategy . . . Army's own account says U.S. didn't have enough troops on the ground and resources were drawn to the Iraq Fight. New York Times
Will Heads Roll? . . . Intel Chief Dennis Blair under scrutiny after failure to stop Northwest flight bomber. Washington Times
The Tale of the Shadowy Spy Couple . . . For five years the unassuming Soviet couple hung with the likes of Walt Disney and Orson Welles. Los Angeles Times.
Money
Jobless Claims at Lowest Since July 2008 . . . Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 432,000 last week.
Reuters
Laptop, RIP? . . . Rumors abound that Apple will introduce a tablet that would lead new class of slate-like devices that could leapfrog the laptop. Los Angeles Times
Goldman Sachs Deceived With Risky Deal . . . Gave investors little hint the deals were so risky they could lose hundreds of millions of dollars. McClatchy Newspapers
US Rescues GMAC - Again . . . Treasury to give $3.8 billion more in aid to auto lender; move makes government majority owner.
Washington Post
International
Gunman Kills Five in Finnish Shopping Center Police believe they have found body of man who sprayed bullets into shoppers buying food ahead of new year celebrations. Times of London
UN Pulls a Third of Staff From Pakistan . . . Deteriorating security situation cited. Wall Street Journal
Fears of Renewed Iraqi Violence . . . Deadliest day in months for Anbar raises fears an uneasy peace that's prevailed for two years may be unraveling. McClatchy Newspapers
You Must Also Know . . .
Russia May Try to Deflect Asteroid . . . Spacecraft may be dispatched to knock large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact. Associated Press
Questions on Ammonia Treatment of Beef . . . E. coli and salmonella found dozens of times in meat processed by one company. New York Times
Rush Limbaugh in Hospital With Chest Pains . . . Rushed from hotel room in Hawaii but said to be resting comfortably.
KITV Honolulu
Full Body Scanners to Quadruple in 2010 . . . In 2010, US airports will add at least 150 to the 40 already in use.
Christian Science Monitor
Some Say Polar Bear Populations Are Rising . . . Climatolgists predict a dire future based on global warming, but for now there seem to be more of them. Wall Street Journal
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