News Tidbits

Suicide Bombers Strike U.S. Luxury Hotels In Jakarta: Two suicide bombers launched nearly simultaneous attacks on the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, killing at least eight and wounding upward of 50. Though no group has come forward to claim credit for the attacks, in the immediate fallout, suspicion has centered on Jemaah Islamiyah -- a Southeast Asian terrorist network with ties to al-Qaida that was responsible for other attacks in Indonesia, including a 2003 bombing of a Marriott hotel.

Pay For Play: Conservative Group Offers Support For $2 Million: The American Conservative Union asked FedEx for a check for $2 million to $3 million in return for the group’s support in a bitter legislative dispute, then the group’s chairman flipped and sided with UPS after FedEx refused to pay. For the $2 million plus, ACU offered a range of services that included: “Producing op-eds and articles written by ACU’s Chairman David Keene and/or other members of the ACU’s board of directors.

Deadliest Month For International Troops In Afghanistan: Seventeen days into July, the international mission in Afghanistan has suffered its deadliest month since the conflict began. 48 soldiers died fighting the Taliban this month so far from the NATO and international missions. In June and August last year, 46 soldiers died - the highest death-toll until the death of a Canadian soldier in Paniwavi district, Kandahar province, yesterday. All the constituent nations fighting in Afghanistan have stepped up operations ahead of presidential elections in August.

Obama's Historic All-Female Marine One Crew: When President Obama left the White House yesterday for Andrews Air Force Base, the Marine One helicopter that lifted off from the South Lawn was piloted by the first female helicopter aircraft commander in Marine One history...with an all-female crew (hat tip: Michelle Obama Watch). Maj. Jennifer Grieves flew her first Marine One mission in May 2008, and had flown then-Sen. Obama and then-President George W. Bush. In honor of Maj. Grieves' last day in the rotation, the Marines assigned two other female officers -- Maj. Jennifer Marino and Sgt. Rachael Sherman to complete the crew. Maj. Grieves is off to Command and Staff College in Virginia.