Daily Briefing: It’s Hot Over There!

• The House today will debate extensively on the Iraq war, in a move designed to force members — mostly Democrats — into an on-the-record vote on resolve and course-staying. The resolution, which calls on the US to complete its mission to make Iraq a free and soverign state, has attracted criticism even from pro-war Republicans: Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich) called it “”strategically nebulous and morally obtuse.” [WP]
• In a speech on Iraq, President Bush also urged resolve and course-staying. He said he planned on making some of his cabinet secretaries go to Iraq to offer their support to the new Prime Minister. When asked about a timetable for troop withdrawal, he neglected to answer. “The answer to electricity is, sooner the better,” he said. “I mean, it’s hot over there!” [NYT]
• The annual financial disclosure reports of members of congress were released yesterday. Book royalties made up a significant portion of income for a few lawmarkers, and “scores of House and Senate members and their spouses traveled the world as guests of think tanks and corporations.” Majority leader John Boehner “reported winning $2,700 at slot machines in Manistique, Mich., where an aide said he had gambled to pass the time at a rest area while waiting for a colleague.” [NYT, WP]
• In the first federal ruling on detainment of noncitizens, a judge in Brooklyn ruled yesterday that the US government has broad authority to detain foreign nationals on US soil for as long as it likes, without explanation. [NYT]

READ MORE: congress, daily briefing, gambling, george w. bush, iraq, john boehner, law, money, timetables, war