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August 14, 2012 | | DEFECTOR Syria’s highest-ranking civilian defector, former prime minister Riyad Hijab, says he has ‘sacrificed’ himself for the cause—could he be the man to lead the uprising? Mike Giglio reports from Istanbul, where Hijab has landed. Middle East Syria’s former prime minister who defected to the opposition claims that Bashar al-Assad’s regime is nearing collapse. At a press conference in Jordan, Riad Hijab said, “The regime is on the verge of collapse morally and economically in addition to cracks in the military.” He is the highest-ranking official to defect, though he was not part of Assad’s inner circle. Hijab said he felt “pain in his soul” over the violence, and that “honorable leaders” should also defect. “I urge the army to follow the example of Egypt’s and Tunisia’s armies—to take the side of the people,” he said. THE INSIDE GAME The Justice Department's decision not to prosecute Goldman Sachs in a financial-fraud probe is another sign of the cronyism that has kept Attorney General Eric Holder from taking action against other big Wall Street firms, says Peter Schweizer. GAFFE Surprise, surprise. Vice President Joe Biden’s comments Tuesday are facing criticism from the GOP. During a campaign stop in Danville, Virginia, Biden said, “[Romney] said in the first 100 days, he’s going to let the big banks write their own rules – unchain Wall Street. They’re going to put y’all back in chains.” The audience of about 1,000 supporters was roughly half African-American. Mitt Romney’s press secretary called the comment a “new low” for the Obama Campaign. Obama’s deputy campaign manager said the campaign had “no problem with those comments” and called the criticism, “faux outrage.” Heist More than $60,000 worth of computers and personal items have been stolen from the Palo Alto, Calif., home of the late Steve Jobs. Thirty-five-year-old Kariem McFarlin has reportedly been arrested and charged with residential burglary and selling stolen property. McFarlin’s bail has been set at $500,000, pending a court hearing on Aug. 20. It was not clear if the stolen items belonged to Jobs or to another member of his family. | | 
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