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July 23, 2012 | | RECOUNT A former White House chief of staff put it to Obama’s top campaign aides: are you ready for recounts? James Warren reports on Bill Daley’s Bush v. Gore flashback. DISENGAGED Shooting suspect James Holmes spent the majority of the last 13 months in Aurora, Colo., a city of 332,000 people. Christine Pelisek and Eliza Shapiro talk to neighbors and local store owners about the man who would bum cigarettes, drive around in his white Hyundai, and visit bars—all while keeping to himself and plotting a massacre. NEGOTIATING In an effort to end the violence that has raged across Syria for over a year, the Arab League’s secretary-general offered Bashar al-Assad, the country’s president, a “safe exit” if he steps down. The organization also offered $100 million for Syrian refugees who’ve had to flee to other countries. This isn’t the first such offer the despotic president has received. Back in February, the president of Tunisia offered Assad asylum in exchange for ending conflict in his country, but he refused, and just this weekend, his military continued to attack rebel areas in Damascus, showing no signs of quitting. In fact, in his first public statements since his top security officers (including his brother-in-law) were killed in a rebel bombing, Assad urged his new Army chief to “continue the armed forces’ pursuit of terrorists.” VIOLENCE Monday marked Iraq’s bloodiest day so far this year, as 93 people died from bombings and shootings. Just a few days prior, the leader of the country’s al Qaeda faction declared a new offensive in an attempt to take advantage of the disorganized Baghdad government U.S. troops are leaving behind. Monday’s violence suggests al Qaeda is much more powerful than U.S. and Iraqi officials admit. Security forces and government offices were the two most common targets of the day’s attacks. The worst part of the offensive took place in an town 12 miles north of Baghdad, where 41 people were killed after bombs exploded around five houses and the police who arrived to help were attacked by a suicide bomber. CRISIS CONTINUES The euro reached its lowest level since 2000 Monday, making it 1 percent against the yen. The slip seems motivated by fear of an impending bailout for Spain. This also brought yields for Spanish bonds to their highest level since the euro was created. Against the dollar, the European Union currency also dipped to $1.2093, nearing 2010’s low of $1.1876. “With such strong risk version it is the yen and the dollar that will keep gaining against risk currencies,” said the currency analyst at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in Tokyo. “The Spanish scenario hasn’t been priced in yet.” At least one Spanish region confirmed over the weekend that it will ask for financial aid, and around six others are expected to follow suit. | | 
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