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November 14, 2013 | | CALM DOWN Newly released data from the Obama administration reveals that only 2 percent of the 7 million people expected to sign up for Obamacare have done so. The numbers are terrible, but the Daily Beast's Michael Tomasky says President Obama needs to crack the whip, stop the panicking within his own party, and make the system work. Admittedly, the stressed-out Democrats have reason to be concerned. During its inaugural month, roughly 106,000 people signed up for Obamacare coverage. Of those, 79,391 used state-run exchanges, and 26,794 signed up on the problematic Healthcare.gov site. The total number is far below the predicted half-million expected to sign up this past month. 'tragic accident' A range maintenance operation went wrong at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday, when four U.S. Marines were killed. The California base is investigating the incident but did not provide any other details or names of the dead pending notification of family. "We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the families of the Marines lost today in this tragic accident. Our first priority is to provide the families with the support they need during this difficult time," said Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard. Less than a year ago, seven Marines were killed in Nevada by a mortar explosion during a live-fire training exercise. Nukes According to a U.S. government estimate of sanctions relief to be proposed this weekend in Geneva, President Obama is prepared to allow Iran to recoup up to $10 billion in revenue lost to sanctions. Compared to the losses Iran has suffered through isolation from the world economy, this is fairly modest—but it matters. A recent report from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Roubini Global Economics estimates Iran's government has access to only $20 billion in overseas foreign reserves that it can spend with no restrictions. Eli Lake and Josh Rogin on why Israel and Congress think the president is giving away much more than he is letting on. CHEAPOS With a GDP of more than $8.2 trillion, making it the second largest economy in the world, China's initial aid to the storm-ravaged Philippines was a measly $100,000. In comparison, the U.S. is sending $20 million, the U.K. $16 million, Japan $10 million, New Zealand $1.7 million, and the Vatican $4 million. A dispute over the South China Sea, which has pitted the Philippines against China, has soured relations of late. After the outcry, Chinese state media said Beijing will be sending an additional $1.64 million in supplies. AWKWARD Talk about a bad association. Ford Motor Co., the second-largest car manufacturer in the U.S., has asked supporters of crack-smoking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to stop using its oval logo and advertising script. The mayor has been seen autographing supporting T-shirts with the words "Ford Nation," and the company logo. "Ford did not grant permission for use of its logo," Jay Cooney, a company spokesman, said. "We view it as an unauthorized use of our trademark and have asked it to be stopped." Ford has only recently regained control of the famous blue logo, after putting it up as collateral for a $23.4 billion loan during the financial crisis. | | 
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