White House Staffer Caught Flu in Mexico

Flights kept hush-hush because they're probably illegal

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration has begun sending high-altitude spy drones deep into Mexican territory to keep an eye on the movements of drug traffickers, the New York Times reports. The information is intended to be shared with Mexican law enforcement, and Felipe Calderón formally agreed to the flights in his March 3 meeting with President Obama, but they’ve been kept secret because of legal and political considerations in Mexico. More»

That nuclear summit looked a lot like a waste of time, didn't it?

(NEWSER) - President Obama convened the biggest meeting of world leaders on US soil since the founding of the UN in 1945. And what did this week's historic gathering accomplish? Well, it generated a nonbinding statement saying that Ukraine, Chile, Mexico, and Canada will get rid of some enriched uranium. “What a relief,” writes Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post . “I don’t know about you, but I lie awake nights worrying about Canadian uranium.” More»

Please, stop falling for that Nigerian scam

(NEWSER) - The founders of Snopes.com started out investigating the origins of urban legends like the serial killer with a hook for a hand; 14 years later, their site is a major source of information for people seeking the real story behind political rumors. “When you’re looking at truth versus gossip, truth doesn’t stand a chance,” Barbara Mikkelson tells the New York Times ; husband David adds, “People keep falling for the same kind of things over and over again.” More»

McChrystal report could help the Pentagon, or the White House, or...

(NEWSER) - The question du jour in Washington is who leaked Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s report advocating an increased troop presence in Afghanistan to Bob Woodward, Ben Smith writes on Politico. But the outcome of this tried and true “capital parlor game” is far from certain. Some Beltway insiders think the leak is a coup for the Pentagon, while others believe it can’t but help the White House. And without a clear motive, all bets are off. More»

Taitz shares theories on Obama (he's gay), conspiracies, flu shots

(NEWSER) - President Obama or one of his operatives has tried to kill birther leader Orly Taitz many times—according to Taitz. The lawyer/dentist/real estate agent gives Gabriel Winant of Salon an earful of accusations, including:

• Obama may have had his gay lovers killed. Taitz says a few homosexuals from Obama’s church died under mysterious circumstances. “I don’t want to say that Obama did it. But those are the facts.”