Cheat Sheet - Blackwater’s Secret CIA Past

Today: Francis Embarks on First Day , CPAC: March Madness on the Potomac , Troops in Afghanistan on Alert March 14, 2013 EXCLUSIVE 1. Blackwater's Secret CIA Past It was the U.S. military's most notorious security contractor—but it may also have been a virtual extension of the CIA. Eli Lake reports. Read it at The Daily Beast READY OR NOT, HERE GOES 2. Francis Embarks on First Day In a world gone to hell, thank God, a pope. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio began his tenure as Pope Francis on Thursday, embarking on a journey that many fear will be plagued with insurmountable challenges. Pope Benedict XVI left behind what many believe to be a broken church, plagued by continued sex scandals and viewed as out of touch with reality. As the first Jesuit pope elected, Francis is already making waves. But as one of the safer choices among the candidates up for pontiff, few expect him to foster major changes in the church during his term. Read it at The New York Times CPAC 3. March Madness on the Potomac The annual conservative gathering is always bad, says Michael Tomasky, but this year's choices of main speakers seem designed to alienate as many Americans as possible. Read it at The Daily Beast SAFETY FIRST 4. Troops in Afghanistan on Alert Following Afghan President Hamid Karzai's incendiary speech criticizing the United States, American commanders are warning their troops to "intensify security measures" in case an attack is imminent. In his speech, Karzai claimed that the government may attempt to overtake the U.S.'s notorious detention center Bagram Prison. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. issued an official referendum to his forces alerting them to the severity of the comments, saying that Karzai's "remarks could be a catalyst for some to lash out against our forces—he may also issue orders that put our forces at risk." Meanwhile, the war-torn country remains plagued with violence; most recently, a suicide bomber detonated his bomb in the midst of a large crowd in the Kunduz province. Read it at The New York Times HABEMUS HIGGS 5. Scientists Confirm Higgs Boson OK, for real this time, guys. On Thursday scientists announced that they are confident that an elementary particle discovered in July 2012 was most likely the elusive Higgs boson. The European Organization for Nuclear Research's July 4 announcement of the discovery thrilled the science world, ending a decade-long hunt for what came to be known as the "God particle." Scientists say a gray area that remains lies in determining whether the particle was the simplest form of Higgs or an "exotic" version. A meeting on the topic in Italy points toward the simply theory. Insert your own pope joke here. Read it at Associated Press #DADPROBLEMS Fathers Spend Less Time With Kids An estimated 46 percent claim it's not enough. OPEN HAPPINESS China: Coca-Cola Stealing Intel Illegally using GPS. MAKE IT WORK CFDA Announces 2013 Nominees Among honorees are Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs. IT'S HAPPENING 'Veronica Mars' Raises $2M in Six Hours On Kickstarter. LEADERS WHO LUNCH Putin, Seagal Meet in Russia No, really. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. 7 Cool Facts About the Jesuits by Caroline Linton No Shirt, No Shoes… by Kara Cutruzzula James McAvoy's Grisly 'MacBeth' by Abby Haglage

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