July 10, 2007

Earlybird Roundup: 'Post-Surge' Plan, Gonzales & The Patriot Act

Iraq. Pressure from his fellow Republicans is leading President Bush to focus on the "post-surge" phase of the war, which he will outline in a speech today in Cleveland. Meanwhile, Democratic senators renewed their efforts to change Iraq policy, this time with the defense spending bill currently under debate.

Administration. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales knew about Patriot Act abuses before he told a Senate committee that he did not, according to newly released FBI documents.

Congress. Asserting his executive privilege, Bush instructed two former White House aides -- Harriet Miers and Sara Taylor -- to ignore congressional subpoenas relating to the U.S. attorney firings. The heads of the House and Senate judiciary committees must decide whether to accept private hearings or try to hold the aides in contempt of Congress.

Pakistan. Nearly 60 people were killed when Pakistani security forces stormed a mosque where militants had barricaded themselves.

Washington. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., expressed remorse last night "for a very serious sin" after his phone number was found among those implicated in the "D.C. Madam" scandal.

See Earlybird (subscription) for more of this morning's headlines.

Posted at 8:58 AM
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