What to Watch for:

U.S. Secretary of Defense Gates makes surprise visit to Afghanistan to meet with U.S. troops and Afghan leaders (Wall Street Journal)

President Obama holds a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to discuss economic interests in the Asia-Pacific (Politico)

Oil prices continue to climb amidst Libya fighting (Yahoo! Finance)

Libyan plane hits oil town, over one million people need aid (Chicago Tribune)

Former GOP lawmaker Heather Wilson to run for Senate (USA Today)

Today on the Main Site:

Front-Runner Failure by W. James Antle, III: The early anointment of Mitt Romney or any other presidential candidate will repeat a common GOP mistake.

Who’s On First? by Larry Thornberry: Once again Washington Republicans are telling Florida Republicans what choices to make.

What Makes Jordan and Bahrain Different by Micah N. Levinson: For the U.S. the stakes are enormous.

Two and a Half Meltdowns by Robert Stacy McCain: Sitcom star Charlie Sheen’s madness is no laughing matter.

Men Are Biggest Losers in U.S. Economic Downturn by Tom Pauken: The disparity in job opportunities for men in America has both economic and societal consequences.

Running on the Race Track by Jay D. Homnick: The president’s subterranean mean street blues.

Solving Your Aching Back by Peter Hannaford: A new approach that avoids surgery.

Clip of the Day:

According to Michael Moore, “America is not broken,” but apparently America should give unions its cash