Monday’s Mini-Report

Today’s edition of quick hits:

* A rough spring for bad guys: “Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Al Qaeda’s leader in East Africa and the mastermind of the American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, was killed in a late-night shootout at a security checkpoint in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, Somali and American officials said Saturday.”

* Astounding statistic out of Afghanistan: “The United Nations reported this weekend that May 2011 was the deadliest for civilians since the war began.”


* Congress recently passed resolution criticizing President Obama for using U.S. forces in an offensive against Libya. Last week, Moammar Gadhafi sent lawmakers a thank-you note, praising them for their rejection of the Obama line.

* Aides to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) released the first photographs of the congresswoman since the shooting in January.

* The Bush administration lost $6.6 billion in cash, sent to Iraq after the start of the war. Eight years later, we still don’t know where the money went, but investigators suspect our money was stolen.

* The Obama administration is expanding benefits to same-sex couples under Medicaid.

* There are at least 100 reasons why it’s a bad idea that will never happen, but Mark Halperin suggests making Bill Clinton a “jobs czar,” and I have to admit, I kind of like the idea.

* Remember that massive Republican push to convince Americans the president doesn’t support Israel? It looks like the clear majority of the country didn’t buy it.

* With tuition costs rising, are middle-class families getting “priced out” of higher ed?

* Republicans keep saying that discretionary non-defense spending is up 80% under Obama. They’re lying.

* Herman Cain’s newest criticism of the president is that Obama “was raised in Kenya.” That’s not even close to true.

* Just a reminder, the first big debate for Republican presidential candidates is tonight at 8 eastern. I won’t be live-blogging it, but if I remember, I’ll put up an open thread.

Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.

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