In today’s news, today is the 70 year anniversary of Pearl Harbor; the Romney campaign is gearing up to attack Gingrich; and Apple may not be able to sell the iPad under its name in China. In entertainment news, Stephen Colbert vows to hold his own GOP debate, and the world’s oldest dog has died.
Coral + Caitlin
CRUCIAL
(via POLITICO Playbook) Good Wednesday morning. PEARL HARBOR, 70 YEARS ON — USA Today, “A day that changed America: Shock of sneak attack recalled in books, History Channel show,” by Bob Minzesheimer : “They had been assured by aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, a leader of the isolationist, anti-war movement, that ‘the Japanese had such bad eyesight that they could not fly aircraft effectively.’ Yet without declaring war, Japan had launched a massive air attack on the ill-prepared U.S. naval forces in Hawaii. The damage — 2,402 Americans killed, four battleships sunk, 188 aircraft destroyed –wouldn’t be known publicly for weeks. But the idea that the USA was headed to war – an unpopular position on Dec. 6 – had become an undisputed reality.
U.S. Made Covert Plan to Retrieve Iran Drone, http://on.wsj.com/uRAuDv
The United States considered a series of plans to recover a stealth drone that crashed in Iran last week, including launching an airstrike to destroy the remaining parts and sending commandos in to retrieve them. It was ultimately decided that none of the plans would be successful. The U.S. said it did not want to risk confrontation with Iran and wwas hoping it would just not notice the drone. However, the Iranian media has since announced that the craft had been shot down by Tehran.
Defiant Assad Denies Ordering Bloody Syrian Crackdown, http://abcn.ws/tjQv93
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied that the demonstrations in his country are in protest against his rule; instead, he is calling them armed uprisings. In an interview with Barbara Walters, Assad pointed to the many reports of civilians being tortured and murdered.
Police clear Occupy SF in early morning raid, http://bit.ly/uy1wwy
Police cleared out the last of the Occupy San Francisco encampments early Wednesday morning, arresting at least 70 people. There were no reports of violent clashes between police and protester. Protesters said they awoke around 1 a.m. to find police circling the camp and announcing a five-minute warning that it would be cleared out. Police Chief Greg Suhr said the raid came after talks broke down between occupiers and the city about moving the encampment to an abandoned elementary school nearby.
Mikhail Gorbachev calls for a new vote in Russia, http://yhoo.it/taZuda
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said that Russian authorities should throw out the results of the parliamentary vote and hold a new election. This comes Wednesday as resentment grew over allegations of election fraud. “More and more people are starting to believe that the election results are not fair,” Gorbachev said. “I believe that ignoring public opinion discredits the authorities and destabilizes the situation.”
Mexico says Gadhafi son tried to enter country, http://apne.ws/vuODlM
Mexican officials have discovered a plot by Saadi Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan dictator, to sneak into Mexico using false documents. The plan involved opening bank accounts and buying properties in Mexico that would serve as safe houses for Gaddafi and his family. Two Mexicans, a Canadian, and a Dane have been implicated in the scheme and are under house arrest. Gaddafi is also under house arrest in Niger.
Indian Government Halts Foreign Retail Plan, http://nyti.ms/vu27t4
The Indian government has suspended a plan to allow overseas retailers, such as Walmart, to open stores in the country after protests from opposition parties. The government had announced on Nov. 24 that it would allow foreign companies to own 51 percent of supermarkets and 100 percent of single-brand stores, which appeared to be good news for companies looking to enter the Indian market. But opposition parties disputed that the move would kill mom-and-pop stores. Now Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee says foreign retail is “suspended until a consensus is developed through consultations with various stakeholders.”
Thomas Haynesworth fully exonerated by Va. appeals court, http://wapo.st/uMeCcB
A court in Virginia declared on Tuesday that Thomas Haynesworth is innocent of the rape charges that had him in jail for the past 27 years. Haynesworth had been arrested on his way to the grocery store when he was only 18 after a woman that had been raped identified him as her attacker. Haynesworth’s break came after authorities did a DNA test on semen from the 1984 case. “I am very happy,” said Haynesworth. “Me and my family can finally put this behind us, and I can go on with my life. And I can finally vote.”
Roadside bomb kills 19 civilians in south Afghanistan, http://bbc.in/vkTBpV
At least 19 Afghan civilians have been killed by a roadside bomb in the southern Helmand province just a day after at least 63 Shiites were killed in multiple bombings. The incident occurred in the province’s volatile Sangin district, a Taliban stronghold, Helmand spokesman Daud Ahmadi said. The dead are said to include women and children, many from the same family.
Newt Gingrich poll vault prompts Mitt Romney reboot, http://politi.co/ulIivM
Since Newt Gingrich started to surge in the polls if key states, Mitt Romney has decided to become more aggressive when campaigning the few weeks before the Republican Primary. “We’re going to make sure that the differences in our experience and our perspective and our views on issues are well aired and people can make a choice,” Romney said about Gingrich. “You can be sure I will not be quiet.”
Obama whacks Republican economics, http://usat.ly/sqFsAV
On Tuesday, President Obama gave a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas where he attacked Republican economics. “Their philosophy is simple,” Obama said in a high school gym. “We are better off when everybody is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. I am here to say they are wrong.”
Facebook glitch reveals private photos — including Zuckerberg’s, http://bit.ly/v06Lxe
A Facebook glitch that was meant to report inappropriate pictures briefly allowed users to view others’ private photos. Users were even able to see Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s photos.
(via POLITICO Morning Tech) APPLE LOSES iPAD FIGHT IN CHINA: Apple might have to sell the iPad under a different name in China or shell out $1.6 billion after a court Wednesday rejected the company’s lawsuit against a local firm for infringing on the tablet’s trademark, PC World reports. http://bit.ly/trQZ0z
(via POLITICO Morning Tech) MICROSOFT APP STORE: The company plans to up the ante with rival Apple when it emulates the app store concept in personal computers with the February launch of Windows 8, the WSJ reports. http://on.wsj.com/tVEOPW
CULTURAL
The NY Times writes about “Obama in Osawatomie,” http://nyti.ms/vaP0Dq
Dana Milbank says “Republicans color the abortion debate,” http://wapo.st/vb8HvR
Stephen Colbert Vows To Hold His Own Republican Presidential Debate, http://n.pr/uqMzk5
Game addiction costs Alec Baldwin his airline seat, http://bit.ly/ul8bl0
World’s oldest dog dies — aged 182, http://bit.ly/v6aNRq
Nicki Minaj, LMFAO Join ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, http://on.mtv.com/sum4g4
