Week In The News: Pentagon Cuts, Iowa Results, Attacks In Iraq

A photo-finish in Iowa. Cutbacks for the Pentagon. A fire starter arrest in L.A. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

GOP politics front and center this week.  In Iowa, where 120,000 voters put religious Rick Santorum in a statistical tie for victory.  But Mitt Romney claimed it, with his eight-vote lead.  In New Hampshire, where the first full primary uncorks on Tuesday, and Newt Gingrich says he’ll land a blow for truth.

Meanwhile, in the big world, new strategy and new cutbacks at the Pentagon.  More bombings in Baghdad, in Syria.  An arrest in LA’s fire starter spree.  And fracking takes the rap for earthquakes in Ohio.

This hour, On Point:  our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
-Tom Ashbrook

Howard Fineman, editorial director of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group.

Kimberly Strassel, columnist and editorial board member at the Wall Street Journal.

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst.

New York Times "Former Senator Rick Santorum’s campaign in Iowa conducted no polls or focus groups, employed no speechwriter and had no security presence until a few days ago. “We don’t have a bunch of guys with earpieces running around doing nothing,” he would boast. "

Politico "Three years after pledging a new era of post-partisan cooperation, President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared war with congressional Republicans by unilaterally installing his nominee to head a new consumer protection bureau."

Wall Street Journal "President Barack Obama unveiled a new defense strategy Thursday that creates a "leaner" and "agile" military that relies on smaller conventional ground forces amid cuts in federal spending. "