SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:29 P.M. ET:

IRAN IN THEIR SIGHTS? –  There are stories circulating today speculating that Israel's recent swap of large numbers of Arab prisoners for two Israelis was meant to clear the decks in preparation for an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear installations.  Leon Panetta was recently dispatched to Israel to warn that the U.S. would not back unilateral action against Tehran.  But some say that Israel, faced with what it sees as an existential threat, may decide to act on its own.  Personally, I'm skeptical of reports of Israeli action, but the Iranian threat is growing, and sanctions applied by the West so far have not stopped it.

ANOTHER DEFENSE WARNING – The assistant commandant of the Marine Corps warned, in congressional testimony, that proposed budget cuts could make it impossible for the Corps to carry out its assigned missions.  And the Air Force vice chief of staff testified that his service is flying the oldest fleet of aircraft in its history, and has fewer planes than during the 1991 Gulf war.  Further, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, cautioned that we're now repeating a mistake we've made before – cutting defense to the point where we're unprepared for future threats.  We did it after World War II.  We did it after Vietnam.

PARTY FEUD – Fissures within the Republican Party are starting to grow more prominent.  Michele Bachmann is now accusing Rick Perry of instigating a call by a Tea Party faction that Bachmann withdraw from the race.  Bachmann concedes she has no proof, but that she'd heard "talk."   Bachmann has gotten into trouble before by stating rumors or "stories" as fact.  This charge, whether true or not, will not help her cause.  At the same time, Perry shows no signs of discouragement and appears ready, and financially able, to fight on for the nomination despite declining poll numbers.

HERMAN ON HEALTH – Herman Cain has gotten plenty of heat from those who feel his campaign has been sloppy, uninformed, and focused too narrowly on Cain's 9-9-9 tax-reform proposal.  Cain will speak for 45-minutes on Capitol Hill next week, giving his perspective on health care.  He promises to unveil new health-care proposals, which undoubtedly will make news, simply because they are coming from Herman Cain.  While Cain is leading in some polls, few seriously expect him to be the GOP nominee, and he has displayed little ability to discuss a wide range of issues, foreign or domestic.

October 28, 2011