Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy The CIA is assessing the composition and capabilities of the Libyan opposition.

(Satellite image after 2003 Bam, Iran earthquake; photo courtesy of Digital Globe) Yesterday I mentioned that Freedom House and the Progressive Policy Institute had launched a new Iran Strategy Task Force to look at Iran’s human rights record and raise awareness and concerns about Iran’s conventional military capabilities.

Sean Kay authored this guest note for TWN. Kay is a professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University and an Associate at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at the Ohio State University.

(photo credit: Valerie Clemens, former Miss Maine; click image for larger version) Tonight at a gathering of “The New Republican Majority”, approximately 15 Miss America contestants from around the nation sang the national anthem before 2,000 Republican devotees.

Today an interesting new “Iran Strategy Task Force” was launched jointly by the Progressive Policy Institute and Freedom House. The focus of the task force will be to increase the spotlight on Iran’s dismal human rights record and to raise awareness about Iran’s conventional weapons capacity and over-its-border misdeeds supporting non-state terror movements.

Recently at a dinner hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, former National Security Adviser to two US Presidents Brent Scowcroft stated in response to a question about what Barack Obama should do given the tumult in the Middle East, “President Obama should slow things down, move slowly, cautiously and not get swept into the emotional…

This is a guest note by Harlan Ullman, Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business as well as Senior Advisor to the Atlantic Council. ILLUSIONS AND DELUSIONS OF WAR Wars too often are created by illusions and delusions. This is what is happening in Libya.

This is a guest note by Francesco Femia, Program Director at the Connect U.S. Fund, where he directs programs ranging from climate and development policy, to mass atrocity prevention and response.

TODAY at 3:30, please join New America Foundation/American Strategy Program senior fellow Steve Clemons in a discussion with Ralf Fuecks, Co-President of the German Heinrich B

Tune in TODAY at noon for a discussion between New America Foundation/American Strategy Program senior fellow Steve Clemons and Ayman Mohyeldin, the Cairo-based Middle East correspondent for Al-Jazeera English.