Today’s Headlines and Commentary

Let’s begin with the avalanche of coverage on last night’s presidential debate on foreign policy, which spanned Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Israel, drones, and yes, food stamps and education policy (not in that order). Here, for starters, are Peter Baker and Helene Cooper of the New York Times, David E. Sanger of the Times, the Times Editorial board, Scott Wilson of the Washington Post, David Ignatius of the Post, the Post Editorial board, Carol E. Lee, Janet Hook, and Julian E. Barnes of the Wall Street Journal, the WSJ Editorial board, and John Cassidy of the New Yorker.

Ben notes that there was no discussion of the big national security legal issues in the debate. Thanks for ignoring us, guys.

Now for everything else. John Kiriakou---the former CIA operative accused of leaking information---has pleaded guilty. Here are Greg Miller and Sari Horwitz of the Post, and Carrie Johnson and Mark Memmott of National Public Radio.

Wells was sitting pretty at Ft. Meade again, bless his heart, for the Al Nashiri motions hearing---though that has recessed for the day. Here is additional coverage from the AP.

What did Khalid Sheik Mohammed do with the breakfast he got at Guantanamo Bay, you ask? Turns out he dyed his beard with it. Yuck! Carol Rosenberg, who did not dye her hair with her breakfast, reports on the finally-solved mystery.

Reuters informs us that Mullah Abdul Rahman, a big-shot Taliban commander, was captured in a joint Afghan-NATO operation.

According to the Associated Press, Taliban militants killed 10 Afghan troops in an ambush in Herat province.

Ahmed Rashid, Pakistani journalist, writes about the dimming prospect of the Pakistani government cutting a deal with the Taliban in the wake of Malala Yousafzai’s shooting.

Hussain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, argues that both candidates have a “doomed” strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Jack Keane, former vice chief of staff of the Army, argues that Al Qaeda is making a comeback across the globe in this piece in the WSJ.

Three Brits from Birmingham are on trial for planning a mass suicide bombing campaign that one said would be “another 9/11,” the BBC reports. If they show up in court with red beards, check their breakfast menus.

France is to send surveillance drones to Mali and will play a larger role in helping the government win back control of territory in the hands of AQIM militants, says the AP.

From the Department of Alive or Dead? Tim Lister and Hakim Almasmari of CNN tell us that Abu Sufyan Said al-Shihri, AQAP’s second in command, appears to have been reincarnated in an audio message---despite the Yemeni government’s claim that it had killed him in an operation last month.

And, just in case any readers out there are feeling like there haven’t been enough Moments of Zen recently, I have two today---both from The Onion----one for Obama supporters and the other for Romney supporters in honor of last night’s debate. Let it never be said that I don’t love you all.

Here, for backers of our incumbent President, is today’s first Moment of Zen, entitled, “Obama Takes Out Romney with Mid-Debate Drone Attack”:

BOCA RATON, FL—Saying that the high-value target represented a major threat to their most vital objectives, Obama administration officials confirmed tonight that former governor Mitt Romney was killed by a predator drone while attending a presidential debate at Lynn University.

Sources said the drone attack, which occurred at approximately 10:10 p.m. Monday night, obliterated Romney in the middle of a statement on Chinese-purchased U.S. securities, sending his dismembered limbs and internal organs into the audience and leaving a smoking pile of charred flesh and bone in his seat.

And for those who back the challenger, here is today’s second Moment of Zen, entitled, “Weeping Obama Breaks Down, Admits Bin Laden Still Alive And Out There Somewhere”:

BOCA RATON, FL—In a stunning admission during tonight’s foreign policy debate, President Barack Obama broke down in tears and announced that Osama bin Laden was not killed by a U.S. special operations team last year, is in fact still on the loose, and remains a major threat to the safety of all Americans.

While answering a question from moderator Bob Schieffer on the possibility of another act of terrorism on U.S. soil, Obama began by touting his order to take out the al-Qaeda founder, but then suddenly stopped talking and gazed down at the debate table for nearly 10 full seconds. When he raised his head, the president, now shaking and weeping, proceeded to deliver the shocking news.

For those who want still more, check out The Onion’s endorsement for president.

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