Problem: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- The United States knows that the leader of Pakistan's Taliban is dead because he has not appeared in public to prove that he is alive, the top U.S. envoy to the region told CNN on Monday.

Baitullah Mehsud, right, and a bodyguard arrive at a meeting in South Waziristan, Pakistan, in 2004.

Richard Holbrooke said that the Pakistani Taliban have not confirmed the death of Baitullah Mehsud because of an ongoing power struggle over his successor.

"The reason it's clear he's dead is that if he weren't dead, he'd be giving TV and radio interviews to prove he's not dead," Holbrooke told CNN's Cal Perry.

Mehsud rarely gave news conferences or appeared before the media. There has been conflicting information from the Pakistani Taliban about whether Mehsud died in a suspected U.S. missile strike earlier this month. Watch Holbrooke say Mehsud is dead "

Last week, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar told CNN that Mehsud is alive, but ill, and will speak to reporters when he feels better.

Other media reports have quoted another spokesman for the group as saying Mehsud is dead and a mourning period is underway.

U.S. and Pakistani government officials have said they are confident that Mehsud was killed in the August 5 strike.

DNA tests were reportedly being conducted to back up those claims, but U.S. officials have expressed doubt that enough genetic material would be left behind, considering the enormity of the strike.

Holbrooke said Mehsud's death has sparked "a succession crisis" among the Pakistani Taliban.
1. Who is known to have died?
2. How do they know?
3. Has the death been confirmed?
4. Why not?
5. What was the leader's name?
6. When was Mehsud allegedly killed?
7. How is the government testing the claim?
8. Does the government think they'll be successful?
9. Why not?
10. Does anyone claim Mehsud isn't dead?
11. Who?
12. Who is he?
13. What does Umar say about Mehsud?
14. Did Mehsud often go on tv?
15. How did he allegedly die?
16. What's the name of the U.S. envoy making the claim?
17. What does he say the death has caused?
18. Does any other Taliban spokesman disagree with Umar?
19. Who?
20. What does the other spokesman say?
Answer: 1. the leader of Pakistan's Taliban
2. because he has not appeared in public to prove that he is alive
3. No
4. because of an ongoing power struggle over his successor
5. Baitullah Mehsud
6. August 5
7. DNA tests
8. No
9. not enough genetic material would be left behind
10. Yes
11. Maulvi Umar
12. a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban
13. he is alive, but ill
14. No
15. in a U.S. missile strike
16. Richard Holbrooke
17. a succession crisis
18. Yes
19. unknown
20. Mehsud is dead and a mourning period is underway

Problem: (CNN) -- Wednesday night's CNN debate lands at a critical moment in the Republican race.

This season, each debate has set the tone for the primary to follow. Newt Gingrich's savaging of the media helped propel him to victory in South Carolina. Mitt Romney's savaging of Gingrich helped him to clinch Florida. The current uncertainty about the race, and the extraordinary elasticity in the polls, is partly due to the fact that we haven't had a debate for a whole month.

It's important, then, for each of the candidates to make a powerful impression in this last confrontation before Arizona and Michigan vote on February 28. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich will compete over who is the most conservative, and Ron Paul will push his unique brand of libertarianism. Same old, same old. But we might see something new from Mitt Romney: a glimmer of humanity.

The latest CNN/Time/ORC International Poll shows that Santorum is closing the gap on Romney in Arizona, but it's probably in Michigan that he stands the best chance of scoring an upset. A week ago, polls put Santorum as much as 10 points ahead in the Great Lakes State. But now they call it a statistical dead heat between him and Romney.

So it would serve Santorum well to hit Mitt hard in the debate. This is Rick's natural style -- he gets a thrill out of counting the flaws of his opponents. But Santorum also probably recognizes that the only way he'll win Michigan is by reminding voters of the doubts that they have about Romney's conservatism. That's what he's been doing in the western part of the state all this week, where he has hit out repeatedly at Romney's "well-oiled weathervane" stance on issues like abortion and Iran.
1. On what night was the debate?
2. On what network?
3. Was the debate Democratic?
4. What party was it related to?
5. Who won in South Carolina?
6. To what was his victory attributed?
7. Who won in Florida?
8. What was his victory attributed to?
9. How much time had passed since the last debate?
10. How many points ahead was Santorum in one of the polls a week ago?
11. In what state?
12. What is the actual name of that state?
13. What outlets were associated with the international poll?
14. Are there states holding a vote in February?
15. What is the first state?
16. And the second?
17. On what day in February?
18. What branch of politics is Paul associated with?
19. What is his first name?
20. What does Santorum like counting regarding his opponents?
Answer:
1. Wednesday
2. CNN
3. no
4. Republican
5. Newt Gingrich
6. savaging of the media
7. Mitt Romney
8. savaging of Gingrich
9. month
10. 10
11. Great Lakes State
12. Michigan
13. CNN/Time/ORC
14. yes
15. Arizona
16. Michigan
17. 28
18. libertarianism
19. Ron
20. flaws of his opponents