WEDNESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* The cut-and-cap effort isn’t working, either: “As the crude crept closer to Florida, the risky effort to contain the nation’s worst oil spill hit a snag Wednesday when a diamond-edged saw became stuck in a thick pipe on a blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf.”
* Netanyahu’s defense: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a vigorous public defense of Israel’s blockade of Gaza on Wednesday…. In his first nationally broadcast comments on the raid, Mr. Netanyahu accused Israel’s critics of hypocrisy and said the blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory of Gaza was necessary to prevent rockets and missiles from being smuggled to militants.”
* Right-wing media personalities and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) are suggesting President Obama is partly to blame for the incident off the Israeli coast. Seriously.
* In the meantime, the White House has urged Israel — privately and publicly — to show great restraint when it comes to other aid ships on their way towards Gaza.
* Afghanistan: “Taliban militants launched a suicide attack on Afghanistan’s national peace conference Wednesday as President Hamid Karzai interrupted his opening remarks to reassure nervous delegates hearing the thump of rockets and rattle of gunfire outside. No delegates were harmed but at least two attackers were killed in fighting with Afghan security forces near the giant tent erected for the three-day gathering, officials said.”
* Getting North Korea’s attention: “The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington will participate in a joint naval exercise with South Korea next week in the Yellow Sea, the same waters west of the Korean peninsula where North Korea is accused of sinking a South Korean warship last March, ABC News has learned.”
* I’m not sure why BP can’t see oil plumes that are clearly there.
* Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.) would like to see BP CEO Tony Hayward lose his job.
* In related news, Hayward is sorry about the whole “want my life back” thing.
* Better than expected news on pending home sales.
* Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigns, in large part because of a broken promise to get rid of a U.S. base in Okinawa.
* Democrats’ Wall Street reform bill is popular, and apparently so is Elena Kagan.
* Scary thought: Newsmax would like to purchase Newsweek.
* The Collegiate Learning Assessment may not be the most effective test.
* Occasionally, the Weekly Standard really is cringe-worthy.
* And Glenn Beck now believes he never said U.S. officials are “mimicking” Nazi Germany. That’s true, except for all the times he said U.S. officials are “mimicking” Nazi Germany.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
