memeorandum: The Glenn and Helen Show: Mitt Romney on the War, the Campaign and the Future (Glenn Reynolds/Instapundit.com)

9:45 AM ET, January 11, 2007

Top Items:

EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY: ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION — Good evening. Tonight in Iraq, the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror - and our safety here at home.

New York Times:

Promising Troops Where They Aren't Really Wanted — As President Bush challenges public opinion at home by committing more American troops, he is confronted by a paradox: an Iraqi government that does not really want them. — The Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, The News Blog, Brilliant at Breakfast, Outside The Beltway, Wonkette, TPMmuckraker, The Heretik, Daily Kos, Matthew Yglesias and The RBC

Jonathan Karl / ABCNEWS:

Troop Surge Already Under Way — 90 Advance Troops from 82nd Airborne Arrive in Baghdad — President Bush's speech may be scheduled for tonight, but the troop surge in Iraq is already under way. — ABC News has learned that the "surge" Bush is expected to announce in a prime time speech tonight has already begun.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Taylor Marsh, Redstate, PBD, Hardblogger, Wake up America, Sirotablog, TalkLeft, Firedoglake, Outside The Beltway, Wonkette, Tennessee Guerilla Women, The Democratic Daily and Donklephant

White House:

The President's New Iraq Strategy Is Rooted In Six Fundamental Elements: — Create space for political progress; — Diversify political and economic efforts; and — Iraq Could Not Be Graver - The War On Terror Cannot Be Won If We Fail In Iraq. Our enemies throughout the Middle East are trying to defeat us in Iraq.

Associated Press:

Iraq PM cracks down in Shiite militiamen — BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's prime minister has told Shiite militiamen to surrender their weapons or face an all-out assault, part of a commitment U.S. President George W. Bush outlined to bring violence under control with a more aggressive Iraqi Army and 21,500 additional American troops.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Michelle Malkin, Right Wing Nut House, Riehl World View and The Jawa Report

Howard Fineman / Newsweek:

A Crisis of Confidence — Bush's way forward may be sensible. But his face showed fear—and that's no way to rally a war-weary nation. — George W. Bush spoke with all the confidence of a perp in a police lineup. I first interviewed the guy in 1987 and began covering his political rise in 1993 …

Discussion: CorrenteWire, PSoTD, Blue Crab Boulevard, Tennessee Guerilla Women and The RBC

William M. Arkin / Early Warning:

War With Syria and Iran = Peace With Iraq? — Seek out and destroy. — If there's anything in the President Bush's remarks tonight that we didn't already know or didn't anticipate him saying militarily about Iraq, it is his evident willingness to go to war with Syria and Iran to seek peace.

Discussion: Unqualified Offerings, LiberalOasis and Brilliant at Breakfast

Washington Post:
Intensified Combat on Streets Likely

Discussion: The Heretik

Terence Hunt / Associated Press:
Bush takes blame in Iraq, adds troops

Discussion: Shakespeare's Sister

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Bush's Strategy for Iraq Risks Confrontations

Discussion: USA Today, BAGnewsNotes and PoliPundit.com

Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Bush Speech Live Blog

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog, Riehl World View, SevenStripes.com, Blogcritics Section and Sister Toldjah

Dan Froomkin / Washington Post:
A Change in Tactics, Not Strategy

Discussion: Gun Toting Liberal ™, The Mahablog, slacktivist, Liberal Values, Citizens Blogging … and The Democratic Daily

Washington Post:
Bush to Add 20,000 Troops In an Effort to Stabilize Iraq

Discussion: Newsweek and Peaktalk

David E. Sanger / New York Times:
Bush Adds Troops in Bid to Secure Iraq

Discussion: Jon Swift

CNN:
Bush blames failure to secure Baghdad on lack of troops

Discussion: Dean's World, Hullabaloo, Big Brass Blog, Blogs of War, Harry's Place, the talking dog, Unclaimed Territory and The Reaction

Deacon / Power Line:
A PREVIEW OF TONIGHT'S PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ON IRAQ

Discussion: Redstate, FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog and TigerHawk

Jay Reding.com:
Bush On Iraq — I'll be liveblogging the President's speech on Iraq tonight.

Discussion: Political Animal and Chicago Boyz

Michelle Malkin:

In the slums of Baghdad — My Hot Air colleague Bryan Preston and I have been in Iraq, embedded with an incredibly dedicated Army unit in Baghdad tasked with training Iraqi security forces (both Shia and Sunni) conducting counterinsurgency operations, and carrying out civil affairs work.

Discussion: Mensa Barbie Welcomes You and Don Surber

Bryan / Hot Air:

On Patrol in Baghdad; Update: Photos posted at Michelle's site — Michelle and I are embedded with a unit in Baghdad that's responsible for the "standing up" part of the US plan to get Iraq ready to become master of its own destiny. This unit trains Iraqi army and police …

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, Blogs of War and Gateway Pundit

Washington Post:

Democrats Aim to Block Funds for Plan — Senior House Democrats said yesterday that they will attempt to derail funding for President Bush's proposal to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq, setting up what could become the most significant confrontation between the White House and Congress …

Discussion: MyDD, AMERICAblog, Swampland, The Strata-Sphere and DownWithTyranny!

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Bush's surge speech; Update: Hillary opposes surge; Update …

Discussion: huffingtonpost.com

Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:

The Glenn and Helen Show: Mitt Romney on the War, the Campaign and the Future — Mitt Romney has officially declared his interest in the 2008 Presidential election. In this interview, he responds to a controversial YouTube video about his positions on abortion and other social issues …

Discussion: Hot Air, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, ElephantBiz, Power Line, Ace of Spades HQ, BuzzMachine and Captain's Quarters

Avi Issacharoff / Reuters:

Hamas denies Meshal said group would recognize Israel — Hamas denied Wednesday that its Damascus-based political leader Khaled Meshal told Reuters in an interview that his group would consider recognizing Israel once a Palestinian state is established. (Click here for the full interview)

Discussion: The RBC, Little Green Footballs and It Shines For All

Richard Beeston / Times of London:
Hamas leader accepts the 'reality' of Israel

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Tammy Bruce

Hugh Hewitt / Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog:

"Noble and Necessary" — President Bush was at his best tonight: serious, detailed, and above all, resolute. He spoke to many audiences. — To the public weary and grieved by the death of many of the finest Americans, the president spoke of the crucial issue: "For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq."

John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Brit Hume is fed up with Bush too

Discussion: PoliBlog (TM) and The Sideshow

RADAR:

DLC TAPS HAROLD FORD AS NEXT CHAIR — Young, black, and good-looking, Harold Ford is the kind of comer that the Democratic Party latches onto. But last November, after losing the closest Senate race in Tennessee history to Republican Bob Corker, the 10-year congressman suddenly found himself out of a job.

Discussion: Daily Kos

Alan Sipress / Washington Post:

Too Casual To Sit on Press Row? — Bloggers' Credentials Boosted With Seats at the Libby Trial — When the trial of Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice opens next week, scores of journalists are expected to throng the federal courtroom …

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, TalkLeft, Blue Crab Boulevard and Romenesko

Memri Latest Blogs:

Salahaldin Al-Ayoubi Brigades Claim To Have Launched Missiles Loaded With Chemicals — Read MEMRI's Latest Reports on the Islamist Website Monitor Project — The Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiyya Cessation of Violence: An Ideological Reversal — 'Committee of Women's Petition' President to British House of Lords …

Discussion: The Jawa Report, The Strata-Sphere and Wizbang