MONDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Afghanistan: “Groups of tribal militia attacked two American outposts in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the American military said, killing eight American soldiers and two Afghan police officers in a bold attack that was the deadliest for American soldiers in months.”
* Pakistan: “A suicide bomber blew himself up Monday in the lobby of the U.N. food agency in Islamabad, killing three people just a day after the new leader of the Pakistani Taliban vowed fresh attacks to avenge U.S missile strikes in the northwest, police and witnesses said.”
* Will the Senate Finance Committee vote on a health care reform bill tomorrow? Almost certainly not, and delays from the CBO may delay a vote until next week.
* Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants advice from commanders to the president to be private and confidential.
* Vaccinations against the H1N1 flu virus will be limited but available this week, but unless you’re a medical professional, you probably shouldn’t bother trying to get it right away.
* Plutonium Page had a good item last night on where things stand with Iran’s nuclear program and international efforts.
* The Federal Trade Commission finds new reasons to scrutinize bloggers who take fees to review goods and services. (thanks to B.D. for the tip)
* Nearly two dozen House liberals are on board with a bill to prohibit the administration from sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
* Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor isn’t impressed with what the Roberts Court is doing to some of the precedents she helped establish.
* President Obama will speak on Saturday at the annual dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group.
* MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, watching Rush Limbaugh celebrate the U.S. Olympic bid defeat, noted on the air this morning that mainstream voters watching the radio host must think, “My God, the Republicans have gone off the deep-end.”
* Is modern technology actually helping college students to become better writers? It’s a debatable point.
* State lawmakers in South Carolina still want Gov. Mark Sanford (R) to resign.
* House GOP leaders really don’t like net neutrality.
* If you haven’t seen it, Ryan Lizza’s big New Yorker piece on Larry Summers & Co. is online.
* The The New Republic helped professional liar Betsy McCaughey in her efforts to destroy Clinton’s health care reform. This week, the magazine makes amends.
* Bill Frist begins to walk back his support for health care reform.
* Fox News ran an online correction about a claim in one of its smear jobs against Department of Education official Kevin Jennings. Will any of the network’s on-air personalities follow suit?
* In related news, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is directing his ire towards Jennings. Given his background, that’s not a good idea.
* And over the last few days, there’s been more than a little debate in conservative circles right now about the role and influence of right-wing voices like Limbaugh and Beck.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
