Thursday's global agenda: Petraeus returns to Capitol Hill

Your morning global affairs speed-read

Fallen CIA Director David Petraeus returns to Capitol Hill this week to brief lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence panels about the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi, Libya. The appearance comes amid new revelations that Defense and State department officials were critical of Petraeus's decision to publicly defend his agency's response on the night that Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died. [The Wall Street Journal]

And the House Foreign Affairs Committee is holding this week's first open hearing on Benghazi this morning, although the witness lineup lacks punch. In addition to think-tank types, the hearing on “Benghazi and Beyond: What Went Wrong on Sept. 11, 2012 and How to Prevent it from Happening at other Frontline Posts” will hear from Michael Courts, the acting director of International Affairs and Trade at the Government Accountability Office.

Second-term jobs: Looking for a job? The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition today releases its Global Plum Book outlining the “100 key political appointed positions in an administration that will shape and manage development and diplomacy policy.”

Out of Africa: Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin wraps up his Africa trip with a visit to Botswana today. He is scheduled to meet with the vice president, finance minister and other finance officials in the stable, middle-income country. Wolin has visited the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola during his trip.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon travels to Georgia for meetings with senior Georgian officials to emphasize the United States' “continued commitment to the U.S.-Georgia relationship.”

In other news: 

Xi Jinping today took control of both the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission during China's once-in-a-decade leadership transition. [The New York Times]

Three Israelis were killed Thursday as Israel's aerial offensive against Gaza intensified overnight. [The Washington Post]

The Obama administration issued long-awaited guidance on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. [The Wall Street Journal]

What you might have missed on Global Affairs:

US sides with Israel in Gaza strike

Obama defends UN Amb. Rice, invites critics to 'go after me'

Royce gets colleagues' support for leadership race on House Foreign Affairs panel

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