The Morning Scoop - America's Libyan Revenge

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MARCH 31, 2011

America's Libyan Revenge Forget U.N. resolutions! After decades of Col. Gaddafi's deadly attacks and his support for terrorist groups across the world, America has every right to seek revenge, says The Daily Beast's Andrew Roberts. The certain knowledge that the West will eventually take revenge for terrorist crimes committed even as long ago as the 1970s and 1980s is itself a vital strategic interest, Roberts writes. Western vengeance might take time, but it will eventually be served. Read it at The Daily Beast CIA Gathering Intel in Libya The CIA has been involved in a secret mission in Libya, gathering intelligence to aid the NATO airstrikes and meeting with the rebels for several weeks, U.S. officials said Wednesday. News seeped out earlier Wednesday that President Obama had approved secret aid to the rebels, and officials confirmed that an unknown number of American spies are meeting with the rebels to figure out who exactly they are—a burning question, as some have suggested al Qaeda is among their ranks. In addition to the CIA presence, British MI6 officials are also stationed in Libya, directing airstrikes from British jets and gathering intelligence. This makes the situation in Libya much murkier, as the stated goal has been not to oust Col. Muammar Gaddafi, but to enforce the no-fly zone. Read it at The New York Times Japan Pressured to Expand Evacuations Japan is facing new pressure to expand evacuations after the IAEA detected unsafe radiation levels in a village 40 km from the plant—well beyond the current 20 km radiation zone. Radiation levels in seawater around the plant also continued to rise, hitting a new high Thursday of 3,355 times the legal limit. Meanwhile, tsunami rescue workers have been unable to collect as many as 1,000 bodies inside the evacuation zone, and it is unclear how to collect them, since they now pose a radiation threat to people who come into contact with them. Read it at Kyodo News Tentative Deal to Avoid Shutdown Sources said Wednesday that a tentative deal had been reached among congressional leaders to avoid a government shutdown. The deal reportedly will cut $33 billion from the budget—about $23 billion more than Democrats have previously agreed upon in the short-term resolutions and $28 billion less than House Republicans wanted. House Speaker John Boehner's spokesman Kevin Smith said Wednesday night that "no number" had been set for the budget cuts. The House Appropriations Committee reportedly met with Senate leaders Wednesday night, and Vice President Joe Biden was rumored to have gone to Capitol Hill as well. Read it at ABC News Libyan Rebels Continue Retreat The Libyan rebels' woes continue, as Muammar Gaddafi's forces recaptured the towns of Ras Lanuf and Brega Wednesday, giving him control of much of the east's oil-producing region. Rebels are once again in Ajdabiya, the last line of defense before their stronghold in Benghazi. Still, the defection of Gaddafi's foreign minister Moussa Koussa to London shows doubts within his government that he can continue to hold on to power. Read it at The New York Times Giffords Aides Hope for Senate Run As Democrats wait on her announcement. Google Tricks Out Search Adds social "+1" function. Schwarzenegger Gets a Comic Book "Governator" will be co-developed by Stan Lee. Ohio Man Found Fused to Chair Dies after skin allegedly attaches to fabric. Chris Brown Tops Pop Chart One week after GMA outburst. Sign up for The Yes List email, our weekly cultural recommendations. For more of The Daily Beast, become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The Case Against BP by Tom Shroder Does the government have a case against BP for the deaths of workers in the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion? Journalist Tom Shroder lays out a timeline of safety lapses that could help their case. George R.R. Martin Picks His Favorite Science-Fiction Films of All Time by George R.R. Martin Game of Thrones, HBO's adaptation of George R.R. Martin's first book in his bestselling series, premieres April 17—and the network is showing the first 15 minutes of the first episode this Sunday. In anticipation, the writer curates his 10 favorite science-fiction films, from The Road Warrior to Blade Runner. And check back next week, when Martin curates his favorite fantasy films. Does Beauty Buy Happiness? by Jessica Bennett A new study appears to show that beautiful people are happier than their ugly counterparts—but research has also proven good looks to be a curse, especially on the job. Jessica Bennett reports.

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