Libya Showdown; Japan Fallout; Budget Ideologies

The Libyan government has called an immediate cease-fire in the face of the imminent threat of international military intervention. This, after a no-fly zone was authorized by the UN Security Council. Japan is dealing with three enormous and overlapping crises: the earthquake and tsunami which have left thousands dead and disrupted life for millions, the battle to keep a lid on the nuclear accident at Fukushima power station, and the economic disruption within Japan and around the globe. Also, in the fight over the budget on Capitol Hill, how many of the specific skirmishes have more to do with ideology than economics? (Guest moderator Terrence McNally sits in for Matt Miller, Ed Kilgore sits in Arianna Huffington.)

Banner image: Japanese soldiers pray for victiims found in debris after the current tsunami and earthquake in Minamisanriku prefecture, on March 18, 2011. Photo: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images