R&D: Haley Barbour Decides Not to Run for President, the Arab Spring Puts Washington on the Defensive, and a Look at President Obama’s Re-Election Strategy

Here is your R&D for April 26th:

How Haley Barbour’s move shakes up 2012 from Politico
Yesterday, Misssissippi Governor Haley Barbour announced that he would not be running for president.  Barbour was considered as one of the favorites to win the nomination if he had pursued it.

Washington on the rocks from Le Monde Diplomatique
Is the Arab Spring a sign that America’s reign over global affairs it at an end?  The answer is yes according to this article from Le Monde.

Messina Provides a ‘Sneak Peek’ at Obama’s Strategy for 2012 Re-Election from Bloomberg
Jim Messina, who is in charge of Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, has shared some tidbits with the media concerning what strategies the President may adopt to return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Syria’s Future Worries U.S. Allies from the Council on Foreign Relations
The outbreak of political violence in Syria worries Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel who would prefer that Bashar al-Assad remains in power.

Nigerians elect state governors amid bombings from the BBC
Nigerians are heading to the polls again today to elect state governors.  Nigeria has 36 state governors and all of them enioy a great deal of power, making the elections a potential powder keg for the country’s competing religious groups.