Non-election

(Reuters) Condi Rice "mildly chastised" UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for sitting on the same panel as an Iranian representative at the Davos summit. (Seriously?)

(AP) Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said

U.S. forces are "significantly stressed" by fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan while simultaneously trying to stem the tide of violent extremism elsewhere.....

"I am extremely concerned about the toll the current pace of operations is taking on them and on their families, on our equipment and on our ability to respond to crises and contingencies beyond ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.

(WaPo) After being such an integral part in "stressing" the US Army, Lt. Gen Odierno is about to get promoted and moved to the Pentagon post where he will now be responsible for the "stressed" army's day to day operations.

(BBC) The Iraqi government is now paying lip service to integrating the local Sunni "concerned citizens" into the security force. (I say lip service, because they're talking about "vetting" each and every one of them, meaning nothing will ever get done.)

(NYTimes) Hamas claims responsibility for the recent blast in Israel.