Daily Briefing: The CIA: "They Run Operations"
• Bushkicks off two-day, five-state campaign blitz for Social Security overhaul: "I truly believe that the American people can help decide an issue in the halls of Congress." Uh, are we getting paid extra for that? [ WP , NYT , WSJ , LAT , USAT , BG ]
• Gonzalesconfirmed with less Democratic support thanAshcroftreceived. [ WP , NYT , WSJ , LAT ]
•Senate Democrats visitFDRmemorial to assert staunch opposition to Social Security plan; some Republicans still skeptical. [ NYT ]
• Bushacknowledges significant cuts in future benefits will be necessary: "I know that none of these reforms would be easy. But we have to move ahead with courage and honesty." [ NYT ]
• Bushto add $140b over 10 years in health care spending to widen coverage. [ WP , USAT ]
• Rumsfeldoffered to resign at two junctures during Abu Ghraib scandal. [ NYT , USAT ]
•House and Senate Intelligence Committees start review of Pentagon's intelligence gathering.Boykin: "We're talking about looking at intelligence as an operation, much like the C.I.A. does. They run operations." [ NYT ]
• Myersreports 40,000 Iraqi forces are fully trained, though the Iraqi Army experiences widespread shortages. [ NYT ]
• Ricesays U.S. will not join Europe in offering incentives to Iran: "I think our European allies agree that the Iranian regime's human rights behavior and its behavior toward its own population is something to be loathed." [ NYT ]
• Nelsonwooed by White House to switch sides on Social Security fight; dinner and a movie withGeorge, Laura. [ LAT ]
•Workers who earn return on personal account investment would receive smaller Social Security checks underBushplan. [ WP ]
•People in their early 50's are "in-between" new and old Social Security plans. [ NYT ]
•Democrats anxious asDeanascends. [ USAT ]
• Bushwill cut back on housing and community development. [ NYT ]
•EPA's inspector general alleges pre-determined conclusion to favor power industry. [ NYT , LAT ]
•Proposal to train capital defense lawyers resulted from "harmonic convergence" of interests; outsiders confused. [ WP ]
•Caps on campaign donations raised slightly to reflect inflation. [ NYT ]