The Morning Scoop - Exclusive Details of Obama's Afghan Withdrawal Plan

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JUNE 12, 2011

Obama's Secret Afghan Exit Formula President Obama is poised to unveil his top-secret plan to slowly reduce U.S. troops in Afghanistan by upward of 30,000 over 12 to 18 months—a plan he hopes will satisfy both those pushing for a quick exit and the diehards determined to stay the course. The Daily Beast's Leslie H. Gelb reports exclusive details of the exit strategy. Read it at The Daily Beast Syria Attacks Town After surrounding and bombarding the town of Jisr al-Shughour, Syrian forces have entered the city. Witnesses say troops burned crops and shelled buildings, and helicopters strafed the city before the final assault. Syrian officials say they are fighting against "armed gangs" responsible for killing 120 security personnel in the town, but human-rights groups say the deaths were the result of fighting when security forces mutinied after refusing to fire on civilians. More than 4,000 civilians have fled the town for Turkey. Read it at Reuters Panetta: Pakistan Has Ties With Militants CIA Director Leon Panetta warned Pakistani officials that he believes there is evidence of collusion between Pakistani security officials and militants staging attacks in Afghanistan. An U.S. official said Panetta confronted Pakistan's intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha during an unannounced visit to the country. According to the evidence, the CIA alerted Pakistan about bomb-making facilities weeks ago and asked for a raid on the locations. But when the Pakistani army showed up, the militants were gone, making the CIA suspicious that the militants were tipped off. The visit came just before 34 people were killed and 100 injured in twin blasts by a suspected suicide bomber in Peshawar on Saturday. Read it at The New York Times U.S. Funding Shadow Internet Repressive rulers like Egypt's ousted President Hosni Mubarak and Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad may not be able to shut down their countries' Internet much longer. The Obama administration is leading an effort to develop "shadow" Internet and mobile-phone networks that allow activists to circumvent state control. Programs include a prototype "Internet in a suitcase," a powerful portable wireless transmitter that activists can use to set up their own networks. Another program is building an independent cellphone network in Afghanistan to counteract the Taliban's ability to shut down the official Afghan service. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the effort "a historic opportunity to effect positive change, change America supports." Read it at The New York Times New Photos of Giffords Released A much clearer picture has emerged of how Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is doing, and it's a comforting look. Two photos of a smiling Giffords were posted early Sunday on her public Facebook page by her aides. Her hair is shorter, but there are few other signs of her gunshot wound to the head five months ago in Tucson. Giffords has been in a Houston rehab facility since Jan. 26, two weeks after the deadly shooting that killed six and injured another 13, including Giffords. Her spokeswoman, Pia Carusone, cautioned that Giffords still has a long way to go in her recovery, but she said Friday that Giffords could be released sometime this month. Read it at Associated Press Ariz. Fire Could Be Biggest Ever Still only 5 percent contained. Education Secretary: NCLB Action Needed Arne Duncan promises reform with or without Congress. Rebels Launch New Offensive Gaddafi's forces fight them off with heavy shelling. Redistricting May Not Help GOP Biggest population growth in Democratic areas. Salman Rushdie Making TV Series Says "It's like the best of both worlds." 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 Quirks in the Sarah Palin Emails by Shushannah Walshe and Michael Falcone From her "unflippinbelievable" exasperations to requests for Champagne and low-carb foods, the former VP candidate's emails reveal some oddball quirks. By Shushannah Walshe and ABC News' Michael Falcone. Plus, read The Daily Beast's complete coverage of Palin's emails. Will a Billionaire Be Yemen's President? by Babak Dehghanpisheh With the small, strategic Middle Eastern country's leader wounded from a bomb attack, a wealthy businessman is eyeing the presidency, setting the stage for a titanic political showdown. The Week in Weiner Comedy by The Daily Beast Video This week, comedians and hosts couldn't stop talking about Anthony Weiner's social-media antics. From Jon Stewart and Kathy Lee Gifford to Bill Maher and Jane Lynch, watch video of the week in Weinergate reactions.

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