A few reads from this morning

1. In the latest Newsweek, Fareed Zakaria provides a detailed, historical look at the Iranian regime and how in the past week its “ideology has suffered a fatal blow.”   Meanwhile, the cycle of protest and crackdown persists in the streets of Tehran. 
2. Explaining the disconnect between Obama’s vow to lower healthcare costs and Congress’ pledge to expand coverage: how to achieve a critical balance.
3. The Washington Post reports that a projected climb in unemployment taints Obama’s message of optimism on the economy, where are the innovative solutions towards boosting employment? 
4. President Asif Ali Zardar of Pakistan issues an urgent plea for international cooperation on combating terrorism, refusing to accept the dire consequences of allowing Taliban and al-Qaeda forces to flourish. “Democracy must succeed. The forces of extremism must be vanquished. Failure is not an option; not for us, not for the world.”   This morning, a top al-Qaeda official claimed the terrorist group would use Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal in its battle against the U.S. 
5. While a U.S. Navy Destroyer trails a North Korean ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons, North Korea reminds the U.S. that it has nuclear weapons and is not afraid to strike back if provoked. 
6. Al Hunt assesses Obama’s communicating abilities, likening him to Ronald Reagan and claiming, “An effective communicator doesn’t assure a successful presidency; without it, success isn’t possible.”