Cheat Sheet - Will Iran and al Qaeda Team Up?

Today: Why the GOP Caved, German President Quits, Robbers Raid Greek Museum February 17, 2012 SHADOWY 1. Will Iran and al Qaeda Team Up? Sunni al Qaeda and Shia Iran despise each other, but in a scenario where the "enemy of my enemy is my friend," they could ally against the U.S. and Britain, writes Bruce Riedel. Read it at The Daily Beast PAYROLL TAX 2. Why the GOP Caved Tired of watching the president claim the mantle of middle-class protector, Republicans in Congress caved on the payroll-tax extension vote. John Batchelor tries to find out what happened. Read it at The Daily Beast DISGRACED 3. German President Quits German President Christian Wulff announced Friday that he was quitting over a scandal that he allegedly received favors before taking up his post in 2010, when Chancellor Angela Merkel nominated him for the job. The scandal began in December, when it was revealed that when Wulff was the governor of Lower Saxony, he had received a large loan from a wealthy businessman friend's wife. On Thursday, prosecutors took the unprecedented step of asking Parliament to lift Wulff's immunity, as they allege that he might have accepted benefits from David Groenwold, a German film producer. German presidents primarily function as a moral authority, and this latest affair doesn't help. Read it at Associated Press BY ZEUS! 4. Robbers Raid Greek Museum First the fear of default and deep austerity cuts, then the riots and now this. Armed robbers overpowered a female guard Friday and broke into the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, stealing artifacts, police said. They tied and gagged the guard and took up to 68 small clay and brass statues and a gold ring, then left. The museum is built on the birthplace of the ancient Olympic games, and is considered one of the most important cultural institutions in Greece. But recent cuts to the museum staff show security is being affected, and Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos has submitted his resignation. The gods at Mount Olympus must not be pleased. Read it at CNN MO' MONEY 5. Santorum Made $3.6 Million By Lobbying An outsider he is not. Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum might have a tough time painting himself as a warrior against the status quo in Washington now that he's released his tax returns. It turns out Santorum made $3.6 million as a "consultant" and also claimed a German luxury sedan as a business expense. Santorum has tried to paint himself as an average American and has focused on his humble roots as the grandson of a coal miner to connect with voters. He has tried to downplay his wealth on the campaign trail, highlighting instead his social conservatism. Read it at The Washington Post TRAGIC New York Times's Anthony Shadid Dies Was paper's Beirut bureau chief. SHOOTOUT Federal Agent Kills Colleague At California office building. DAMAGE CONTROL Murdoch Visits Angry 'Sun' Staff Promises to launch Sunday version of paper. ROUNDUP NY Fashion Week Offers Some Crazy Threads Common theme in all the shows. TRIBUTE Aretha, Stevie to Sing at Houston Funeral In Newark Saturday. 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 The Yes List Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. The GOP's Chaotic Primary Calendar Makes Early Nomination Clinch Tough by John Avlon Is Contraceptive Debate GOP's New 'Terry Schiavo Moment'? by Michelle Goldberg Eastbound & Down's Kenny Powers Lists His Favorite Things by Kenny Powers

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