Morning copy 01.27.2006

Hamas

The New York Times has news analysis advancing the story in the same a.m. printing cycle. Experts say:

They said Israel — whose own elections in two months could be heavily influenced by the Palestinian results — was likely to focus on speeding up construction of the separation barrier, which runs along and through parts of the West Bank. After more than three years of building, it remains less than half finished, but Israeli officials say it has contributed enormously to the reduction of suicide bombings and other attacks. Palestinians, on the other hand, say the barrier takes land they want for a future state.

Iran

The great(er) powers seem to have a consensus on how to proceed with Iran, namely a policy of face-saving concession. The lede from this New York Times story neglects Iran's response, this proposal is not sufficient in Iran's point of view:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 — President Bush and the Chinese government both declared their full support on Thursday for a Russian proposal to allow Iran to operate civilian nuclear facilities as long as Russia and international nuclear inspectors are in full control of the fuel.

Mr. Bush's explicit public endorsement puts all of the major powers on record supporting the proposal, even as most acknowledge that it is a significant concession to Iran and runs the risk that the country will drag out the negotiations while continuing to produce nuclear material. Yet officials say they believe it is the best face-saving strategy to pursue a negotiated settlement with Iran.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

The poll, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, found that 57% of Americans favor military intervention if Iran's Islamic government pursues a program that could enable it to build nuclear arms.

U.S. Forces

The Boston Globe has General Casey's (public) analysis:

DIWANIYAH, Iraq -- The top US commander in Iraq acknowledged yesterday that the US Army was stretched, but insisted that forces here were capable of accomplishing their mission and that any recommendation to reduce troops further would be dictated by the situation on the battlefield.

Kerry's already ill fated filibuster

An on-the-record quote like this, via the New York Times, shows how dumb the junior Senator from Massachusetts really is:

"God bless John Kerry," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican on the Judiciary Committee. "He just cinched this whole nomination. With Senator Kerry, it is Christmas every day."

The Washington Post story shows that Senator Frist is going to tolerate a little chit chat and then Alito will get confirmed:

Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said the Senate will vote Monday afternoon to end debate and vote Tuesday morning on whether to confirm Alito to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. At least three Democratic senators -- Ben Nelson (Neb.), Robert C. Byrd Jr. (W.Va.) and Tim Johnson (S.D.) -- have said they will vote for Alito. Others have said they would not support a filibuster, regardless how they vote on confirmation.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) repeatedly told colleagues this week that he wanted to avoid a filibuster, party members said. He looked frustrated in the Senate chamber yesterday as he told Frist he could not avert the parliamentary tactic. Shrugging his shoulders, Reid said he hoped "this matter will be resolved without too much more talking, but . . . everyone has the right to talk."

Remember that big GOP boon from Medicare?

The Los Angeles Times ledes:

WASHINGTON — The new Medicare drug program is denying supplies that seriously ill patients need to administer intravenous antibiotics and other medications at home. As a result, some patients are being referred to nursing homes, and others have had to go into hospitals.

Pork

Senators McCain and Coburn are today's parliamentary tacticians of the day, Washington Times:

Two Republican senators say they will force their colleagues to vote on the Senate floor on each so-called pork-barrel spending project this year, and President Bush also called for reforms to rein in the projects.

The battle over earmarks -- the line-item projects that members of Congress insert into spending bills to benefit their districts -- has ballooned as Republicans debate congressional reforms and budget deficits.