The Morning Scoop - The Terrifying Truth About Pakistan

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MAY 9, 2011

The Terrifying Truth About Pakistan Unraveling the mystery of who sheltered bin Laden won't be easy. There are two possible explanations for the relationship between al Qaeda and the Pakistani army, writes The Daily Beast's Bruce Riedel: The army manipulates the jihadis or the jihadis manipulate the army. Both are terrifying. The first is awful, the second is much more frightening. Both are true. Read it at The Daily Beast Obama: 'We Have to Investigate' Tensions with Pakistan are continuing to rise as the Pakistani media has published what it says is the name of the CIA station chief in Islamabad—although, according to the Associated Press, it the name is incorrect. Still, the U.S. is continuing to turn the screws on Pakistan in regard to an investigation into whether or not the country's intelligence apparatus aided Osama bin Laden during his years in hiding. "We have to investigate, and more importantly, the Pakistani government has to investigate," President Obama told 60 Minutes on Sunday night. "We think that there had to be some sort of support network for bin Laden inside of Pakistan." A senior official in Pakistan's government tells ABC News that Pakistani intelligence agents, probably rogue or retired, definitely aided bin Laden. Read it at CBS News Alleged Rape Victim Flees Libya Eman al-Obeidy, the Libyan woman who burst into a Tripoli hotel to tell foreign reporters that Muammar Gaddafi's goons had raped her, has fled the country, according to CNN. Fearing for her life, she disguised herself in a head cover and crossed into Tunisia on Thursday with the help of a military officer and his family. European diplomats met her at the border and drove her to Tunis, where they are giving her sanctuary. Read it at CNN CEO Pay Rose 11 Percent in 2010 The median value of compensation for CEOs of 350 major companies rose 11 percent to $9.3 million, according to a study conducted for The Wall Street Journal by management consultancy firm Hay Group. At the top of the list is Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, who pocketed $84.3 million in compensation—more than double his 2009 total. Next was Oracle honcho Larry Ellison, who received compensation valued at $68.6 million, followed by CBS CEO Les Moonves, who can drown all his Charlie Sheen-related sorrows with compensation valued at $53.9 million. Four of the top 10 most highly compensated CEOs were heads of media companies, including those at Viacom, CBS, Walt Disney, and Time Warner. Meanwhile, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch ranked 52nd on the list, receiving $16.5 million in compensation. Read it at The Wall Street Journal Syrian Troops Surround Damascus Suburb The bloodshed in Syria shows few signs of letting up: Government soldiers, snipers, and tanks have surrounded the suburb of Muadhamiya, west of Damascus, and witness report the sound of heavy gunfire. The government also cut off electricity and phone lines to the area, with one human-rights group calling the situation a "total siege." Meanwhile, a Syrian human-rights activist says the government is arresting hundreds of people in house-to-house raids. Foreign journalists have been denied entry into Syria as part of the crackdown. Read it at BBC Man Tries to Open Plane Door Mid-flight One of two flights diverted Sunday. New Study Finds Higher Rate of Autism One in 38 kids diagnosed in South Korean city. Woman Survives Seven Weeks on Candy After car breaks down in Nevada wilderness. Undoing Asian Parenting Why do Asian students struggle after the testing ends? Lakers Swept Out of Playoffs Fall to Dallas in coach Phil Jackson's last game. 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.

How to Stop the Fiscal Bleeding by Michael Tomasky With the budget debate firing up again this week, Michael Tomasky says there's just one serious way to cut our deficit—by focusing on tax expenditures, the tax loopholes and deductions that are bleeding federal coffers dry. Israel's Democracy Hypocrisy by Peter Beinart The flap over whether CUNY should award playwright Tony Kushner an honorary degree underscores the growing debate over whether people who want Israel to be a secular democracy rather than a Jewish state can be tolerated in public life, writes Peter Beinart—and it is a welcome discussion. 10 Buzziest Movies at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival by Marlow Stern The 64th Cannes Film Festival kicks off May 11 with the premiere of Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, featuring France's first lady, Carla Bruni. From Terrence Malick's ethereal Brad Pitt-starrer to the controversial Lars von Trier's take on Armageddon, see what films will light up the Croisette.

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