Morning Must Reads: WikiLeaks

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Whit House

–The emerging consensus on the Wikileaks  documents seems to be that while they include few shocking revelations, they paint a picture of a faltering mission in Afghanistan that will likely feed growing unease about the sustainability of the American effort there. John Kerry released the following statement as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (emphasis mine):

However illegally these documents came to light, they raise serious questions about the reality of America’s policy toward Pakistan and Afghanistan. Those policies are at a critical stage and these documents may very well underscore the stakes and make the calibrations needed to get the policy right more urgent.

–Crowley brings up what may well be the central question:

The Wikileak dump is certain to accelerate the feeling, both around the country and here in Washington, that the war effort isn’t sustainable for much longer. And right now, the biggest secret of all, the one no one is leaking, is whether Barack Obama agrees.

–James Fallows draws a comparison to the Pentagon Papers.

–Pakistan pushes back.

–Afghan President Hamid Karzai reportedly said, “Look, this is nothing new.”

–Marc Ambinder wades into the documents.

–Bruce Barlett argues there’s no clear path to stimulating the economy.

–The White House is beginning to press their case on allowing portions of the Bush tax cuts to expire, with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner out front. Democrats hope to use it as a populist wedge ahead of the midterms.

–Geithner’s also building a case for preserving government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

–BP CEO Tony Hayward is on his way out. Let the “He finally got his life back” jokes begin!

–And Colorado Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck vents a bit:

“Will you tell those dumbasses at the Tea Party to stop asking questions about birth certificates while I’m on the camera?”

What did I miss?

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