Obama Declares Plans for Iraq, Supreme Court Limits Idea-Based Patents, Ron Paul to Appear in Atlas Shrugged: P.M. Links

• 

  Creative Commons

  President Barack Obama announced that he was dispatching 300 military "advisers" to Iraq to try to help fight the insurgency there, but would not be sending troops to the country. He said he'd consider more "targeted" action in the country, so watch the skies for drones in Iraq and avoid weddings and funerals.

• The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in three cases today. One afforded a public employee protection from retaliation after testifying against his employer, a community college. The court also limited the ability for companies to claim a patent for an "abstract idea" for software applications.
• Iran has sentenced a professor to 18 months in prison for the crime of questioning the wisdom of the country's nuclear program.
• As expected, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will replace Eric Cantor as majority leader.
• A march for "traditional marriage" (as in, no gays) drew the likes of former Sen. Rick Santorum and former Gov. Mike Huckabee to Washington, D.C., but not, apparently, large crowds.
• Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) will introduce a Senate version of legislation to prohibit the Drug Enforcement Administration from going after medical marijuana facilities in states that have legalized its use.
• Ron Paul will be appearing in the third chapter of the film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged, as will Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and don't forget to sign up for Reason's daily updates for more content.