02-17-11: The Escher President Series, No. 5: Fertile Egypt (Plus: Chris Christie)

Senate hearing turns into farce as American ignorance on Egypt situation revealed (YNET) Official: Iran Split on Nuclear Program (FOX) In sharp reversal, U.S. agrees to rebuke Israel in Security Council (FP) Bin Laden would be held at Gitmo if caught (THE HILL) Israel Warns It Might Act on Iranian Warships Passing Through Suez Canal (FOX) Police kill 2 in clashes with Yemen protesters (YAHOO) Feds Target Illegal Hires (WSJ) Riot police storm Bahrain camp; 4 reported dead (YAHOO) Egyptians reach Italy amid worry about Arab exodus (WP) Raped By ‘Democracy’ (MONICA CROWLEY) The Escher President Series, No. 5: Fertile Egypt Bill Siegel Perceptions of the president can flip from one perspective to another, from positive to negative and back, with such contrasts most apparent in his recent dealings with Egypt. * VIDEOS * TODAY'S HOT PICKS * 1. Video: Gov. Christie's Big D.C. Speech Wows, Increases Presidential Buzz 2. Video: MSNBC's O'Donnell Outrageously Attacks Congressman 3. Video: Video: Chris Matthews Talks to "Common Cause" About Justice Clarence Thomas...but he Never Refers to the Chants to ‘String Him Up' Made at "Common Cause" Rally 4. Mean old girls: Seniors who bully 5. House breaks old taboos in cutting spree; Murtha's project taken off dole 6. USPS gets short-term relief from President's 2012 budget, but some call it a bailout 7. Video: Anderson Cooper Confronts Disgraced Nir Rosen Over Lara Logan Twitter ‘Jokes' 8. Video: Field Trip! Teacher Takes High School Students to Union Protest 9. Video: Cartoon aardvark (with House members) lobbies for federal funding of PBS and NPR 10. Video: President Carter: Muslim Brotherhood Has Ties to Hezbollah But ‘Nothing to Be Afraid Of' Egypt and the Shortsightedness of the West Dr. Sami Alrabaa By supporting Arab dictators who oppress their citizens, Western powers have created resentments that are now expressed through revolt and rejection of the West. The Cruel and Unusual Punishment of Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins Diana West Jailed, freed, now jailed again - is this how a soldier should be treated? It is certainly harsher than the treatment meted out to former terrorists and enemy combatants... The Patriot Act and the Tea Party Andrew McCarthy When Tea Party Republicans voted with Democrats against reauthorization of three provisions of the Patriot Act, were they really supporting the needs of America? After Double Minded Justice; Sgt Larry Hutchins Ordered Back to Prison John Bernard Tomorrow, Sgt. Hutchins will be made to return to Ft. Leavenworth, where he had already spent three years in confinement. How is this good for army morale? ICE Agents' Attackers Likely to be Los Zetas Crime Gang Jim Kouri, CPP Two ICE agents who were working in Mexico were shot, with one dying, apparently by a notorious criminal gang. The Golden Rules and the ObamaCare Mandate Bruce Kesler How do the Golden Rules - do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and do not do to others what you would not want done to you - apply to Obamacare? Someone Should Tell Obama: Business People Are Not Stupid Herman Cain The president wants businesses to follow the government's lead. Namely, ignore the real state of the economy and spend irresponsibly for the good of the country. Does he think they're stupid? Caption Contest - February 17 - 22 Caption Contest Can you come up with the funniest photo caption? The Gypper And The Gipper Identity Theft and the Obama Presidency Ralph Peters Obama's followers have been trying to make comparisons between him and Ronald Reagan. Can they be serious? Click here to sign up for FSM's e-mail updates!