Midday Open Thread

• Dick Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said we should set aside the health care debate and focus on Afghanistan.
• Four Washington police officers were gunned down in an ambush at a coffee shop this morning. None of the patrons or employees were hurt.
• A Canadian researcher claims there is evidence the "permanent" arctic ice is vanishing.
• A newly released Senate report says Osama bin Laden was unquestionably within reach of U.S. troops, holed up in Tora Bora in December 2001.
• Senator James Inhofe spouted off against retired generals calling for climate change action (in the name of national security), saying they are merely craving "the limelight."
• The Virginia couple accused of crashing the White House state dinner last week is reportedly seeking payment for news interviews.
• New study said to bolster the case for ancient Martian life. HT Bob Telecaster -- DS