What Caught My Eye Today

Syria - In a highly anticipated meeting, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Syria's foreign minister of U.S. concerns about his country's porous border with Iraq Thursday — the two nations' first Cabinet-level talks in years. The 30-minute session with Syria marks a diplomatic turning point for the Bush administration, which had resisted talks with Syria and Iran despite the recommendations of allies abroad and the Iraq Study Group and lawmakers from both parties at home. The carefully orchestrated meeting overshadowed the modest initial accomplishments here from a 50-nation gathering devoted to improving Iraq's security and financial bottom line. Iraq's embattled prime minister was among those leaning on the Bush administration to engage Syria and Iran, arguing that those neighboring nations could help lessen violence in Iraq. Whoa, wait just a second here. We were doing so well by ourselves. Why would we reach out to Syria now? You know they're just going to try and take credit for all our carefully orchestrated nation building.

Queen Elizabeth II - Queen Elizabeth II arrived Thursday for the commemoration of Jamestown's 400th anniversary and praised the cultural changes that have occurred since she last visited America's first permanent English settlement 50 years ago. Before she departs for Williamsburg, the queen will meet privately with some of those wounded in the Virginia Tech shooting and the families of some of the 32 students and faculty slain. Classy move meeting with the victims at Virginia Tech, Your Highness, but don't think for one minute we're giving the colonies back to you. We won them fair and square.

Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez threatened to nationalize the country's banks and largest steel producer, accusing them of unscrupulous practices. It was not clear if Chavez was only referring to Venezuelan banks or if he was also aiming the threat at major international banks with subsidiaries in the country. Chavez initiated a nationalization drive in January that is bringing the country's largest telephone company CANTV and the electricity sector under state control. The state oil company also took over the last privately run oil operations in the country from major international oil companies on Tuesday. Who knew that Chavez was such an accomplished businessman? I certainly didn't. At this rate, we'll soon have to refer to the nation as Venezuela Inc.

2008 Presidential Race - Two items today.

Ten Republicans face each other at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in the first GOP debate of the 2008 race. Republican top-tier contenders Rudy Giuliani, John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and Mitt Romney — as well as some of their underdog rivals — have embraced the conservative icon's legacy and called for their party to return to the limited-government that Reagan espoused in the 1980s, effectively distancing themselves from Bush. I forgot to mention that the Democrats held their first debate last week. I'm guessing this will be just as memorable as that one was.

The Secret Service said that Barack Obama was being placed under its protection, the earliest ever for a presidential candidate. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized Obama's protection after consultations with the bipartisan congressional advisory committee. According to a senior law enforcement official, the security detail was prompted by general concerns about the safety of a prominent black candidate. Although there was no direct threat to Obama, several factors raised concerns, including some racist chatter on white supremacist Web sites. I'm on the fence here trying to figure out if this is a good or a bad development. It certainly seems as if this action is racially motivated. Still, I'm guessing that Obama isn't complaining much. Nothing says 'presidential' like a Secret Service detail. A picture in front of Airforce One with a sign saying, 'Like my ride?' wouldn't hurt either.

Indecent Exposure - This is a good one. Cable giant Comcast is investigating how one of its local facilities in New Jersey ended up airing hardcore pornography instead of popular preschool cartoon Handy Manny - an educational show about a young, Latino repairman and his box of unruly, talking tools - on the Disney Channel's slot on Tuesday morning. Maybe it's just me, but doesn't Handy Manny sound like a pornstar name?