SPB News for Monday.

Barney Frank wants AIG bonuses back

Administration Is Open to Taxing Health Benefits — WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is signaling to Congress that the president could support taxing some employee health benefits, as several influential lawmakers and many economists favor, to help pay for overhauling the health care system.

Barack Obama told: help Pakistan or risk a repeat of 9/11 in America or Britain --The US president is to be told that to avoid a repeat of the devastating 9/11 attacks on America or Britain he must dramatically step up aid to Pakistan. A team headed by Bruce Riedel, a former CIA Middle East expert, asked to overhaul US policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, has concluded that stabilising Pakistan is now the higher priority, a source familiar with the discussions has revealed. The report, prepared in conjunction with the National Security Council... will also urge a sharp increase in military and civil assistance. But The Sunday Telegraph has learned that the need to prevent a repeat of the September 11 attacks has become the driving force behind the review, which could be published as early as this week.

Top officials urge dialogue with Hamas Nine former senior US officials and one current adviser are urging the Obama administration to talk with leaders of Hamas to determine whether the militant group can be persuaded to disarm and join a peaceful Palestinian government, a major departure from current US policy.

Clinton announces Guantanamo Bay facilitator US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has named a senior US diplomat to a post whereby he will be involved in the closing of Guantanamo Bay. Daniel Fried, who is Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, has been chosen to expedite the closure and to persuade other countries to accept detainees from the prison.

Liberty City Six Judge Refuses to Pay Private Investigator After He Speaks Out By Bob Norman How much does freedom of speech cost when applied to the now-infamous Liberty City terror trial? For one private investigator who worked long and hard on the case, Rory McMahon, the bill came to $9,000. For making the mistake of speaking his mind, the veteran P.I. was also banned from the case. That's the punishment levied against McMahon by U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard, who handled the two previous Liberty City terrorism trials and is presiding over the third that's playing out now at the federal courthouse in Miami... McMahon's crime: He had the nerve to criticize the judge during the first trial in a story of mine in New Times ("Have Terror, Will Travel," November 22, 2007).

Key House Democrat: AIG "Trying to Play the American People for Fools" Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, a member of the Joint Economic Committee, today renewed his calls for AIG CEO Edward Liddy to resign after the company said it will move forward with paying out $121 million in bonuses for senior executives. "For months, I have been calling on Edward Liddy to step down from his position leading AIG, and I loudly and clearly renew that call today," Cummings said Sunday in a paper statement. "...Mr. Liddy continues to display reckless and irresponsible behavior at the helm of this company, and we simply cannot afford to accept it any longer." Cummings first called for Liddy to resign in November. Today the Maryland Democrat accused AIG of "trying to play the American people for fools."

Biden mother in hospital after fall

Few details; Hospital won't describe condition but suggests she's well.

Last week's poll had asked:

World leaders are meeting in London next month to discuss plans to tackle the current economic crisis. Do you think that G-20 summit will be successful? Majority of readers answered no. This week's poll is now open.