"The code word is imminent!"

To borrow a line from Thunderball (the movie version): "The code word is imminent!"

The Associated Press is reporting:

(02-27) 18:41 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) –

Israeli officials say they won’t warn the U.S. if they decide to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, according to one U.S. intelligence official familiar with the discussions. The pronouncement, delivered in a series of private, top-level conversations, sets a tense tone ahead of meetings in the coming days at the White House and Capitol Hill.

Israeli officials said that if they eventually decide a strike is necessary, they would keep the Americans in the dark to decrease the likelihood that the U.S. would be held responsible for failing to stop Israel’s potential attack. The U.S. has been working with the Israelis for months to persuade them that an attack would be only a temporary setback to Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak delivered the message to a series of top-level U.S. visitors to the country, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House national security adviser and the director of national intelligence, and top U.S. lawmakers, all trying to close the trust gap between Israel and the U.S. over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

What's flat and black and glows in the dark?

Iran.

Twitter Causes Global Uproar

The news that Twitter plans to allow censorship has caused the "fit hitting the shan" globally:

According to the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Twitter, a tool of choice for dissidents and activists around the world, found itself the target of global outrage Friday after unveiling plans to allow country-specific censorship of tweets that might break local laws.

It was a stunning role reversal for a youthful company that prides itself in promoting unfettered expression, 140 characters at a time. Twitter insisted its commitment to free speech remains firm, and sought to explain the nuances of its policy, while critics - in a barrage of tweets - proposed a Twitter boycott and demanded that the censorship initiative be scrapped.

If allowed to go through this will only benefit dictators in their efforts to stifle dissent. So much for Twitter's commitment to free speech.

To read the full story, go here.

Romney Wins New Hampshire GOP Primary

The voters of New Hampshire have made their presidential primary decision.

From the Associated Press:

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Mitt Romney cruised to a solid victory in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, picking up steam from his first-place finish in the lead-off Iowa caucuses and firmly establishing himself as the man to beat for the Republican presidential nomination.

Returns from 52 percent of New Hampshire precincts showed Romney with 37 percent of the vote, followed by Texas Rep Paul with 23 percent, former Utah Gov. Huntsman with 17 percent and former House Speaker Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum with 10 percent each.

To read the full article go here.

NOTE: While there is an active (and heated) primary season, I am refraining from endorsing any candidate. In 2008, each candidate during the primaries fell by the wayside when I did. Call me superstitious.