SPB News for Sunday.

Pakistan Rebuffs Secret U.S. Plea for C.I.A. Buildup The top two American intelligence officials traveled secretly to Pakistan early this month to press President Pervez Musharraf to allow the Central Intelligence Agency greater latitude to operate in the tribal territories where militants are active, according to several officials who have been briefed on the visit. But in the unannounced meetings on Jan. 9 with the two American officials -- Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, and Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the C.I.A. director -- Mr. Musharraf rebuffed proposals to expand any American combat presence in Pakistan, either through unilateral covert C.I.A. missions or by joint operations with Pakistani security forces.

Pakistan's Musharraf Says No US Troops Pakistan's president said Friday U.S. troops cannot do a better job than his forces in routing the Taliban and al-Qaida [al-CIAduh], and the United States should increase its presence in Afghanistan instead to deal with the growing 'insurgency' there. Pervez Musharraf reiterated that Pakistan opposes any foreign forces on its soil and said "the man in the street will not allow this -- he will come out and agitate."

Cheney's attorneys trying to prevent VP from testifying in lawsuit Dick Cheney's attorneys want to stop an attempt to force him to testify in a lawsuit where a man claims he was arrested after telling the vice president [sic] his policies in Iraq were "disgusting." Cheney is not a defendant in the lawsuit against five Secret Service agents, but attorney David Lane says he's the best eyewitness in his client's case. Cheney's attorneys filed a motion today in federal court opposing Lane's request to subpoena him.

Exxon-Mobil Makes $75,000 a Minute By Young Turks In the midst of record profits for oil companies we are giving them a $14 billion subsidy. That's insane. That's money straight out of our pockets and into Exxon-Mobil's pockets. Outside of politicians who get their elections financed by these guys, no one in the country should be in favor of this. This is not a conservative or liberal position, this is plain old robbery... And now, because of this insane economic stimulus package, businesses are going to get another $50 billion in tax breaks.

Brattleboro to vote on arresting Bush, Cheney Brattleboro residents will vote at town meeting on whether President [sic] George Bush and Vice President [sic] Dick Cheney should be indicted and arrested for war crimes, perjury or obstruction of justice if they ever step foot in Vermont. The Brattleboro Select Board voted 3-2 Friday to put the controversial item on the Town Meeting Day warning. According to Town Clerk Annette Cappy said residents will get to vote on the matter by paper balloting March 4.

American Woman Kidnapped in Afghanistan Gunmen kidnapped an American aid worker and her driver in southern Afghanistan's largest city early Saturday, snatching the woman from a residential neighborhood as she was on her way to work. Cyd Mizell worked in Kandahar for the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation.


RUDY CAMP SHAKEN BY CRIST NEWS — From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger — ORLANDO, FL — Charlie Crist is on the agenda for the Orange County Lincoln Day Dinner, just below Giuliani as the guest of honor. But an endorsement is not on the menu. — Crist did not appear at the dinner …