Cheat Sheet - Blackwater Founder Repents Over War on Terror

Today: Dozens Killed in Beirut Blasts , NSA Gets Record Requests , 'Apocalyptic' Storm Hits Sardinia November 19, 2013 NATIONAL SECURITY 1. Blackwater Founder Repents Over War on Terror Blackwater's Erik Prince is not a person you would expect to be calling for less national security. "America is way too quick to trade freedom for the illusion of security," Prince told The Daily Beast's Eli Lake. "I am all in favor of killing terrorists," Prince said. "But the fact that [Anwar] al-Awlaki was killed and his 16-year-old son, born in Colorado, was killed with no due process other than that he got on the 'kill list' is troubling to me." Prince's new book, Civilian Warriors, recounts some of his most high-profile battles at Blackwater—and complains about media bias. But now he says the country would be better off with less spending on defense and intelligence. Read it at The Daily Beast TERRORISM 2. Dozens Killed in Beirut Blasts At least 23 people were killed and 150 more were injured Tuesday as twin bomb blasts rocked the Iranian embassy in Beirut. Security officials said that among the dead was Iranian cultural attaché Sheikh Ibrahim Ansari, who only joined the Iranian contingent in Lebanon's capital a short time ago. According to local media, a suicide bomber was behind the first blast, while the second came from a car bomb. Firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames while at least six bodies lay strewn in the street. The attack follows two bombings in the Beirut suburbs this summer. Read it at Lebanon Daily Star BIG BROTHER 3. NSA Gets Record Requests The National Security Agency has been flooded with an 888 percent increase in requests from Americans who want to know if they're being spied on. Former defense contractor Edward Snowden's shattering disclosures about the ultrasecret agency have led to a spike in inquiries, officials said. But here's the catch: Anyone requesting open records gets a form letter in response that says NSA cannot confirm or deny any information has been gathered. And don't expect a decrease in these requests: The Supreme Court upheld the controversial spying program on Monday. Read it at USA Today EXTREME WEATHER 4. 'Apocalyptic' Storm Hits Sardinia A cyclone described as "apocalyptic" hit Italy's Sardinia on Tuesday, submerging homes and bridges in floodwaters as deep as 10 feet as rescue workers from Rome struggled to reach the island. Italy's civil-protection chief, Franco Gabrielli, said at least 16 people had been killed, and one person was still unaccounted for. A family of four is allegedly among the dead, along with a local policeman who reportedly died while helping to escort an ambulance. Olbia Mayor Gianni Giovanelli described the storm as "apocalyptic." Read it at Associated Press TERRORISM 5. The Mad Gunman of Paris Paris is on edge with a gunman on the loose, who is believed to be responsible for a string of shootings this weekend that seemed to target journalists. The suspect, captured on closed-circuit videos, allegedly walked into the office of the daily newspaper Libération and opened fire, shooting a photographer's assistant in the heart. It appears the same man had barged into the BFMTV cable news station Friday and tried unsuccessfully to fire a shotgun twice. Shootings like this might seem commonplace in the U.S., but they're still rare in France—and luckily for Paris, the alleged gunman has no semi-automatic weapon, writes The Daily Beast's Christopher Dickey. Read it at The Daily Beast JUDGMENT Methodist Pastor Found Guilty Of officiating gay son's wedding. THE POLITICIAN John Edwards Opens Law Firm With former partner and daughter. ALL GOOD THINGS... 'Spider-Man' to Close in January Next destination: Las Vegas. STAY CLASSY Emerson Honors Ron Burgundy Will name communications school after him for his visit. BAD IDEAS 'It's a Wonderful Life' Sequel? Reportedly in development for 2015. PopSugar Starbucks's Festive Fall Drinks: Which to Skip and Which to Sip Conde Nast Traveler The Most Beautiful Islands in the World MiniTime Top Post-Thanksgiving Vacation Deals 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. How Lincoln Wrote Gettysburg by Martin P. Johnson Jackie's Last White House Nights by Jacqueline Kennedy 'Money Honey' Flees to Fox by Lloyd Grove

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