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Monday, December 9, 2013

Cheat Sheet - Exclusive: Syria’s Jihadists Linked to Organized Crime

Today: Cheney: White House Lied , Gavin Arvizo's New Beginning: Jackson Abuse Accuser Gets Married at 24 , Bibi Not Attending Mandela Funeral
Cheat Sheet: Afternoon

December 09, 2013
SKETCHY

Syria's insurgent militias are becoming more enmeshed with organized crime, blurring the line between insurgents and racketeers and undermining the rebels' efforts to maintain sagging popular support for the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Al Qaeda-affiliated groups in particular, reports The Daily Beast's Jamie Dettmer, have started working with crime syndicates and racketeering thugs for kidnappings, arms-smuggling, and widespread looting.

POT TO KETTLE

Takes one to know one. On Fox and Friends, former Vice President Dick Cheney attacked President Obama and his team for their promise that people could keep their plan under Obamacare if they liked it. "It was a lie. It was deliberate. They knew if they told the truth, the bill would've never passed," said Cheney. He made a personal argument against the president, citing his well-documented heart troubles which he said required having access to the same doctors over the years. "One of the most important decisions I made was I had exactly two doctors who covered me over that 35-year period of time and that was crucial in terms of my care," explained Cheney.

AWKWARD

At the center of the sensational 2005 Michael Jackson sex abuse trial, Gavin Arvizo's abuse allegations almost brought down the King of Pop. Last week, reports The Daily Beast's Diane Dimond, he wed his longtime sweetheart in front of the prosecutor, his mom—now named Janet Jackson—and a DJ who unknowingly spun an MJ tune.

'LOGISTICAL CONCERNS'

Doesn't the funeral of a world icon merit dipping into some savings? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be attending Nelson Mandela's memorial on Tuesday, due to the high cost and several other logistical concerns. An unnamed representative will attend in his place. The trip is estimated to cost roughly $2 million. In addition to the cost, the short notice of the trip and the complex security arrangements made it difficult for Netanyahu to attend. Fifty-nine heads of state are expected to attend Mandela's memorial, including U.S. President Obama, who left Washington on Monday morning for South Africa.

RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION

This might make for an awkward plane ride to the Mandela service. Former President Bill Clinton told Brazilian newspaper O Globo that, "We should never collect economic information under the pretext of security." Clinton is in the country for Clinton Global Initiative, and his declaration comes after reports that the NSA collected financial information on Petrobras, Brazil's state-run oil company. The reports also said that the NSA targeted Google and the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. While failing to offer reasons why the spying was conducted beyond national security, the U.S. government said it is not done to steal trade secrets. Clinton had previously criticized the NSA spying on foreign leaders, saying it had a "damaging effect."


NOT A GAME
NSA Spied on World of Warcraft
Xbox gaming console has 48 million members.
RAGS TO RUCGES
One in Five Americans Will Be Rich
At some point in their life.
BIRTH CONTROL
Is NuvaRing Deadly?
Allegedly caused blood clots in thousands.
LEGENDS
La Russa, Torre, Cox Make Hall
Three of the most successful managers ever.
FINALLY
'Homeland' Is Finally Back on Track
With Season 3's penultimate episode.

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