This Week’s Agenda: Libya, Middle East, Unemployment

With support from coalition forces in the air, Libyan rebel forces have been able to recapture recent losses and are pushing towards Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s strongholds. However, the U.S. is committed to passing responsibility on and Defense Secretary Robert Gates told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “beginning this week or within the next week or so, we will begin to diminish the commitment of resources that we have committed to this.” Marcus Mabry, editor-at-large of the International Herald Tribune, looks at how the impact of a U.S. drawdown could impact the situation in Libya. The recent turmoil in Northern African, the Middle East, and Japan, it seems has taken Washington’s attention away from matters at home, especially jobs and the economy. Unemployment figures are expected to be released Friday. Charlie Herman, economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC, looks ahead to how these numbers might affect the economy’s recovery. Congress is also back in session this week and Herman looks at whether the stalemate over the budget will end as the expiration of the current spending bill fast approaches.