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Ahead of the headlines News from Here, News from ThereBy Rick Horowitz It's the top of the hour -- are you ready for some news? Here's what's happening around your world and around your block: * While the United States will attend a so-called "neighbors meeting" in Baghdad on March 10 to discuss the future of Iraq, White House spokesman Tony Snow insisted today that the U.S. will not talk "directly" to either Iran or Syria during that gathering. Snow did not rule out Instant Messaging, or passing notes through the Jordanians. * Five years of increased tensions with North Korea may have been for nothing -- that's the implication this week of statements from American intelligence officials, who now say they're not sure North Korea ever had an active program of enriching uranium to make nuclear weapons, as the Bush administration has long charged. After coming up empty on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, this latest disclosure could have been another embarrassment for administration hard-liners -- if they were capable of embarrassment.
* More details emerging today about Vice President Cheney's recent visit to Pakistan, and in particular, his blunt-talking meeting with Pakistan's leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. According to Pakistani sources, Cheney demanded that Gen. Musharraf step up military pressure on Taliban and al-Qaeda forces finding safe haven inside his country. Gen. Musharraf demanded that Cheney tell him all about his five deferments. * Cheney, meanwhile, continued to criticize Congressional Democrats for pushing plans to limit American forces in Iraq. "We understand the consequences of failure," said the vice president. "After all, we've had so much practice." * Speaking of which: President Bush paid a visit to New Orleans this week, his first since a visit last August to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. But the president insisted that his administration hadn't been ignoring the mess along the Gulf Coast. "We've been ignoring the mess at Walter Reed," he explained. Turning now to politics: * Speculation about Al Gore's political plans continues to grow even faster than his waistline -- this, after the former vice president's Oscar triumph for his documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." According to political insiders, Gore's smashing victory in Hollywood leaves him only 270 electoral votes short of capturing the White House. * Wall Street remained unsettled this week in the wake of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack's decision to drop out of the 2008 presidential race. Investors apparently thought that "Vilsack" was a new male-potency drug. * New polls out showing a big shift of black voters away from Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton toward Illinois senator Barack Obama. Clinton's support among blacks has always been key to her drive for the Democratic nomination, but meeting with church leaders today, she insisted that her support in the black community remained as strong as ever. Said Mrs. Clinton, "I'se sho' nuff not botherated none." * Over on the Republican side, Arizona senator John McCain has made it official, more or less, telling David Letterman that he will be a candidate for president in 2008. Reacting to McCain's announcement, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said he'll soon be appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson will have a guest shot on "Lost." * No word yet, by the way, on Mitt Romney's next TV appearance. The former Massachusetts governor has promised to drop in on his favorite program, as soon as poll results tell him which one it is. And finally, in sports news -- and who says politicians aren't role models? * The wife of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre said today that she was considering trying out to be the Packers' signal caller if her husband retires as expected after the 2007 season. Deanna Favre says that she acquired all the experience she needs to be an NFL quarterback "by being married to one." That's the news -- remember where you heard it. Posted 3/1/07. Get
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Rick Horowitz
