International: The former president of Liberia and former warlord, Charles G. Taylor, was sentenced on Wednesday to 50 years in prison for his role in atrocities committed in Sierra Leone during its civil war in the 1990s. He was founded guilty in participation on heinous and brutal crimes that are considered to be some of the worse in human history.
Taylor is currently 64 and the sentence will likely mean that he will be spending the rest of his life in prison. Taylor’s legal team said that they would file an appeal.

International: This week the United States ambassador to the United Nations suggested Wednesday that there is little hope left for a political settlement in Syria after a weekend massacre of villagers. According to the U.S. the conflict is likely to develop into a regional sectarian war. The analysis reflects a new level of pessimism about a possible diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis which is going into its 15th month. The United Nations sent a special envoy, Kofi Annan, to Syria a few months ago to try and craft a peace plan that was brokered but has not been followed since considering the continuation of atrocities against citizens.

National: More moderate voices in the Jewish community, specifically J Street, a Washington lobbying group, are expanding their ability to generate money and political capital for pro-Israel candidates who favor a less confrontation approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other regional issues. In the past political contributions tended to support Congressional candidates who were the most fervent supports of Israel and its security. J Street plans to announce its support this week for Senator Dianne Feinstein for re-election.