Clem’s Chronicles: Afghanistan/WA State Manhunt Continues/Tiger Woods

Happy Monday folks. Hope you're enjoying the Thanksgiving leftovers. Here's tonight's note:

AFGHANISTAN/”THE ERA OF THE BLANK CHECK FOR PRESIDENT KARZAI IS OVER”-Tomorrow night we’ll find out officially what the President has in mind going forward in Afghanistan when he addresses the nation at 8pm ET from West Point. But it’s apparent that many of the people who need to know his decision have already been briefed-“the Generals now have their marching orders” Jake Tapper noted on WORLD NEWS. Tapper continues: “at 5pm (Sunday night) the President met with his national security team in the Oval Office and told them his decision…at 6pm the President then gave the news via teleconference to the top military man and the top diplomat in Afghanistan.” Today? Tapper: “The President spent much of today consulting key foreign leaders-the heads of NATO, France, Russia and the UK and he met with the Prime Minister of Australia, who sent more troops to Afghanistan earlier this year.” The details? Tapper: “His strategy is based more on fighting terrorism than nation-building. The 30K new US troops will head to Afghanistan with a more focused mission and an exit plan that relies on training up Afghan forces.”
One individual who may be in for a shock? Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Tapper tells us “business as usual” is changing: “Instead of US funds going to Karzai’s central government as they do now, most will go to the provincial and district level and to specific ministries, such as those devoted to Afghan security. ‘Investments will be based on performance’, a senior Administration official told ABC NEWS and if Karzai continues to run a government that is full of corruption and fails to provide basic services, he may find himself out of the loop entirely.”

WASHINGTON OFFICERS KILLED:  Police are still searching for a suspect more than 24 hours after four police officers were killed execution-style at a local Washington coffee shop Sunday afternoon.  Authorities say the four officers – one female and three male – were working on their laptops at the coffee shop when a man entered and walked up to the counter as if he was planning to order from the barista.  He then turned around, pulled a gun out of his coat and opened fire on the officers.  Police are on the lookout for a person of interest, identified as Maurice Clemmons, who they say may have been wounded by one of the officers he shot.   Clemmons, 37, was recently released from a Washington jail and has an extensive criminal record.  “Maurice Clemmons seemed to be given more than his share of chances at freedom despite a long and violent criminal past,” Neal Karlinsky reported on WORLD NEWS.  “He should have been in an Arkansas prison until the year 2015 for a teenage crime spree.  But a decade ago he wrote then Governor Mike Huckabee to commute his sentence, saying ‘Where once stood a young sixteen year old misguided fool…now stands a 27 year old man, who has learned through the ‘school of hard knocks’ to appreciate…the rights of others.” Huckabee granted the commutation.  “It wasn’t Clemmons’ only lucky break,” Karlinsky continues, “He was released on bail from a Washington jail just a week ago pending charges of child rape and assault on a police officer – all the while facing more pending charges in Arkansas.  But prosecutors here say they weren’t aware of them.”  A lot of miscommunication…and in the meantime authorities continue to search for Clemmons.  Police say they’ve received hundreds of tips and the reward for Clemmons’ capture exceeds $100,000. (thanks to Marisa Bramwell for this entry)

TIGER WOODS-Tiger Woods announced on his website today that he would not be playing in his own tournament later this week in California saying “I am extremely disappointed.” But don’t expect him to be playing a four-ball instead with the Florida Highway Patrol. John Berman reporting for WORLD NEWS, notes that “after 3 days of being turned away from Woods’ gated community, investigators today released this tersely worded statement ‘As of Nov. 30, 2009, the Florida Highway Patrol has been unable to speak to Mr. Woods about the crash he was involved in on the morning of Nov. 27th, 2009 despite attempts to do so.’
Don’t expect Mr. Woods to go running on Oprah or any other media outlet to explain himself either. As Berman notes “Woods is fiercely protective of his image…his yacht is named ‘Privacy’.” Christine Brennan added that “Tiger is the guy more than anyone else who wants to control what you know about him and how you know it and when you know it.”
While Woods decision not to talk may be unpopular with authorities, the media and possibly even his own fans, he is completely within his rights.Terry Moran was asked about this by Charles Gibson on WORLD NEWS and Moran noted: “Every American, Tiger Woods included, has an absolute fundamental constitutional right under the 5th amendment not to talk to police and every lawyer in the country just about would advise Tiger Woods to hold on to that right and remain silent.”
And the charges that Tiger Woods could face? Moran: “Right now it’s a traffic problem and under Florida law, that traffic problem is careless driving probably, which is not even a criminal offense, it’s a civil infraction in Florida. Couple points off his license, a fine and that’s it.”

BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY:   Well, the Black Friday retail sales estimates are in…here’s Dan Arnall: “Retail research firm ShopperTrak just released its estimates of Black Saturday retail results, showing a modest 1.5% increase over the same day in 2008 with $6.107 billion in total sales. Sales on Friday and Saturday combined were up 0.9% over last year…Of note, ShopperTrak says its metrics show actual foot traffic at the nation’s malls and stores were actually down compared to last year – something which confounds the National Retail Federation’s claims that more people were out shopping.”  Arnall also reports that “The full details from the government are not out until December 11th. We’ll have a complete picture at that time. These early reports can be less than perfect because they don’t have as broad a reach.”
Today was “Cyber Monday” and to encourage consumer spending, retailers took full advantage of traditional and social media to promote deals.  “Experts estimate that fully half of all retailers, desperate for buzz, are using Twitter and other social networking sites like Facebook – to boost holiday sales,” Dan Harris reported on WORLD NEWS. And these sites go beyond just promoting Cyber Monday sales, Harris tells us “Social media sites aren’t just a way for customers to buy things…they’re also a way to reach out to companies with complaints or questions…without having to call the help line and wait on hold forever.” (thanks to Marisa Bramwell for this entry)

SENATE/HEALTH CARE REFORM-The Senate began its’ debate over health care reform today. Don’t get excited that you’ll learn anything soon-the Senate is expected to take at least three weeks for debate, according to Zach Wolf. And Wolf notes reasons why that could slip even further:  “Consider this: Dec. 18th is also when a temporary measure to fund the government runs out. Congress has approved final legislation for five of the 11 normal appropriations bills so far. The remaining will either have to wrapped into another temporary bill – the third since the fiscal year began – or wrapped into an omnibus spending bill for the next year.
Also factor in the surge in Afghanistan. The effect that an internecine struggle between Democrats in Congress and the White House over the infusion of combat troops could have the effect of diverting attention away from health reform.
Taking time out of the health reform debate to write government checks is likely to push a health reform vote in the Senate closer to or even after Christmas. And that would not include meetings with House members to create a final conference report that would need votes in both houses.”
The Congressional Budget Office released a report today on their cost and coverage estimates for the Senate bill. It would cost nearly $1 trillion but reduce deficits by $130 billion over the next decade. The CBO says the bill would provide some 31 million uninsured individuals with coverage, or 94 percent of eligible Americans. It also says the bill would lower the average price of insurance premiums, though millions would end up paying more.

AMANDA KNOX-Jury is expected to begin deliberations in the Amanda Knox murder trial at some point tomorrow. Knox and her former Italian lover Raffaele Sollecito are accused of murder and sexual violence in the death of Meredith Kercher, who was found in her bedroom in the rented house she shared with the American from Seattle. Both defendants insist they are innocent.

MORTGAGE MODIFICATION PROGRAM- Treasury Department officials said Monday they will step up pressure on the 71 companies participating in the government's $75 billion effort to stem the foreclosure crisis. This is not just aimed at the mortgage companies, Matt Jaffe reports, “but also at borrowers. This week the administration will send so-called ‘SWAT teams’ – made up of three staffers from Treasury and Fannie Mae – to servicers’ headquarters to help them obtain outstanding documents from borrowers. Of the 650,000 borrowers in trial plans at the present time, 375,000 are scheduled to make their modifications permanent by the end of the year – but only one-third of these 375,000 borrowers have submitted complete documentation to servicers and more than 20 percent have submitted no documentation at all.” Betsy Stark has the following take from consumer advocates-“They say anything that the government does to hold mortgage servicers more accountable is welcome.  But in their view, this program remains flawed in fundamental ways that will prevent it from reaching its goal of helping 3 to 4 million homeowners avoid foreclosure. “

MEDIA REPORTS: GENERAL ELECTRIC SORTS OUT ISSUES WITH VIVENDI, COMCAST DEAL MAY BE ANNOUNCED LATE THIS WEEK-Media outlets (AP/Reuters/Wall Street Journal) are reporting that General Electric and Vivendi have worked out a deal for GE to buy the 20% in NBC Universal that Vivendi holds. That’s “worked out a deal”, not formalized one, according to the various reports. The agreement would pave the way for GE to sell control of the TV and movie company to Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable TV provider. That deal, which would make Philadelphia-based Comcast one of the nation's largest entertainment companies, is valued at about $30 billion.

OTHER STUFF-
–SECRET CIA PRISON CONFIRMED- A Lithuanian government investigation has confirmed an exclusive ABC News report that the CIA operated a secret black site prison in the country, according to a report on Lithuanian television. According to Lithuania's LNK TV, sources have told investigators that state security was involved in coordinating the construction of the prison, and have also provided the code name of the operation to transport terror detainees to the prison. Arydas Anusauskas, head of the parliamentary committee investigating the prison, did not respond to an ABC News request for comment, but has previously said the results of the probe will be made public Dec. 22. You can read the full story on the blotter http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/investigation-confirms-secret-prison/story?id=9209929  (Matthew Cole/Mark Schone)
–ENSIGN RESPONDS TO NIGHTLINE INTERVIEW-Nevada Republican Senator John Ensign gave his most extensive interview since he admitted to having an affair and it’s his first comments since NIGHTLINE’s Cynthia McFadden interview with Doug Hampton aired last week. Highlights include his pledge not to resign, his suggestion that Republicans (whom he doesn’t name) want him campaigning with them in 2010, and his contention that the help he gave Doug Hampton in setting up his brief lobbying career was legal and “common practice.” (Rick Klein)
–MOLTE BENE/ITALY TAKES TUNISIANS- Italy's justice minister says two Tunisians who had been detained at Guantanamo have arrived in Italy following lengthy negotiations with Washington. The minister said in a statement late Monday that Adel Ben Mabrouk and Mohamed Ben Riadh Nasri would be tried in Italy on unspecified charges. The Justice Department released a statement late this afternoon confirming. There are still 213 detainees remaining at Gitmo. (Jason Ryan/AP)
–DETAINEE ABUSE PHOTOS STAYING PRIVATE- The Supreme Court dashed the hopes of the ACLU today by sending a case regarding the release of photos depicting the abuse of detainees by US military in Afghanistan and Iraq, back to a lower court today in light of the fact that Congress recently passed legislation banning the public release of such photos. The ACLU was hoping that the high court would uphold a lower court ruling ordering the release of the photos— but once Congress passed legislation it became clear the court was not going to take up the case. (Ariane DeVogue)
–SLOW ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON OVER-So NOAA tells us the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season is over. Fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997. El Nino getting part of the blame(credit?). (Ned Potter)