The Note’s Must-Reads for Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News Digital News Associates and Desk Assistants Jayce Henderson, Claudia Morales, Jacqueline Fernandez and Amanda VanAllen

PRESIDENT OBAMA / FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
The Washington Times’ Kara Rowland: “Obama presses Assad; Syrian violence rises” The White House on Monday stepped up its response to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s violent crackdown on protesters there, threatening “targeted sanctions” and condemning the slaughter of activists — but pointedly resisting calling for the sort of coalition now aiding rebels in Libya. LINK

Bloomberg’s Bomi Lim: “Carter Arrives in North Korea to Push Nuclear Disarmament Talks” Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter arrived in North Korea on his second trip to the country in less than a year to help push forward stalled multinational talks on curbing the regime’s development of atomic weapons. The arrival of Carter, 86, was reported by North Korea’s official Korea Central News Agency today. LINK

The Hills’ Sam Youngman and Ian Swanson: “Obama Considers New Syrian Sanctions as Crackdown Tightens” The White House is considering new sanctions against Syria amid a crackdown by that country’s government against pro-democracy demonstrators. Syria is one of only four countries on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List and is already subject to heavy sanctions, limiting U.S. options. LINK

New York Daily News’ Helen Kennedy: “Syrian President Bashir al-Assad orders tanks to battle protesters” Syrian President Bashir al-Assad sent tanks and troops against his citizens Monday in an attempt to crush the heart of a month-long uprising against his autocratic regime. At least two dozen people were reported killed in the southern city of Deraa, where witnesses said tanks began rumbling into the center of town just after dawn prayers. LINK

LA Times’ Paul Richter: “Egypt Optimistic About its Future, but not Warm Toward U.S.” Egyptians are optimistic about the future after their revolution, but they are not feeling warm toward the United States in spite of White House efforts to show support for their political reforms, according to a new poll. The poll from the Washington-based Pew Global Attitudes Project showed two-thirds of Egyptians are optimistic about the future, and an overwhelming number said they are glad former President Hosni Mubarak is gone. LINK

GOP / 2012 ELECTION:
ABC News’ Michael Falcone: “Ron Paul Will Announce 2012 Presidential Exploratory Committee Tomorrow” Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who made waves as a favorite of the Republican grassroots during the 2008 election cycle, will announce the formation of a presidential exploratory committee in Des Moines, Iowa tomorrow, a source close to Paul confirmed to ABC News. Paul, the Texas Republican with a libertarian bent still has a devoted online following that has stuck with him since his failed attempt at the GOP nomination three years ago. LINK

USA Today’s Jackie Kucinich: “Barbour’s exit leaves void in wide open GOP field for President” Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s decision to pass on a 2012 presidential bid has done little to narrow the Republican field, which remains wide open even in his absence. LINK

The Washington Post’s Dan Balz: “With Barbour out, new questions for 2012 Republican field” Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s surprise decision on Monday not to run for president set off a scramble inside the Republican Party for pieces of his financial and political network. It also raised questions about the challenges the party may face in trying to unseat President Obama. LINK

Politico’s Jonathan Martin & Maggie Haberman “Why Haley Barbour pulled the plug” Haley Barbour had his presidential announcement plan lined up: A May 2 launch, followed by a fly-around to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Florida, before winding up in in Jackson on Saturday the 7th for a big home-state fundraising bash. He had lined up a likely campaign manager. Rob Collins, a longtime GOP operative who had already traveled with the putative candidate in Florida earlier in the month and was preparing to move his family to Mississippi. LINK

TEA PARTY:
The Wall Street Journal’s Jennifer Levitz: “Tea Party Heads to School” Trying to plug a $3.8 million budget gap, the York Suburban School District, in the rolling hills of southern Pennsylvania, is seeking to raise property taxes by 1.4%. No way, says Nick Pandelidis, founder of the York Suburban Citizens for Responsible Government, a tea-party offshoot, of the plan that would boost the tax on a median-priced home of $157,685 by $44 a year to $3,225. LINK

OTHER:
The New York Times’ Scott Shane and Benjamin Weiser: “In Dossier, Portrait of Push for Post-9/11 Attacks” He peers out from the photo in the classified file through heavy-framed spectacles, an owlish face with a graying beard and a half-smile. Saifullah Paracha, a successful businessman and for years a New York travel agent, appears to be the oldest of the 172 prisoners still held at the Guantánamo Bay prison. His dossier is among the most chilling. LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:
“Boehner: Gas Prices Could Cost Obama Election” LINK
“Gas Prices: Blumenauer Says No Change Soon” LINK

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