1. What is the strategic goal? The key passage of United Nations resolution 1973, passed unanimously last night, authorizes all necessary measures… to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory [...]

There’s been some amazing diplomacy afoot over the past few days regarding multilateral actions to be taken, perhaps, against Libya. The notion that the Arab League came out in favor of a no-fly zone is extraordinary; that the UN Security Council, not an easy place to press military action, has agreed is almost mind-boggling. I [...]

Politico’s story on Republican legislation to roll back slivers of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law has gotten a little more attention than I expected. I’m not entirely sure why, considering that the Senate won’t pass these measures and the President wouldn’t sign them. The argument for paying mind laid out by Jon Chait is that [...]

The UN Security Council voted this evening to authorize “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya “excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.” The Associated Press reports that congressional officials say the Obama administration is preparing to participate in a no-fly zone and that Jordan, Qatar and [...]

The House voted 228-192 to defund NPR this afternoon. A few Republicans sided with the Democrats, but they weren’t enough to topple the GOP in the final tally. The Republican triumph is symbolic, given that the Democrat-controlled Senate is highly unlikely to follow suit. But the issue seemed anything but an empty gesture as members [...]

–In an 87-13 vote, the Senate passed the three-week stopgap measure to fund the government through April 8, sending the bill to the President’s desk. –Meanwhile, the House Republicans passed a bill de-fund NPR, but the measure is expected to die in the Senate. –It didn’t take long for Jim DeMint, through an anonymous proxy, [...]

President Obama just made his first public remarks since Friday on the unfolding crisis in Japan, and the state of America’s own nuclear industry. Much of his statement amounted to an expression of sympathy and solidarity. “Disasters like this remind us of our common humanity,” Obama said. But the crux of Obama’s appearance was likely [...]

With Clinton eying a first-term exit from State, the Senate Foreign Relations chair is making himself heard: US Senator John Kerry said that US policy toward the Middle East needs a “readjustment” to reflect the new realities of the region, which is at a boiling point with mass uprisings. “Too often over the past decade [...]