Meanwhile in Iraq

The Way Out Of War: We should find a way to express our condolences for the large number of Iraqis incarcerated, tortured, incapacitated, or killed in recent years. This may seem a difficult gesture to many Americans. It may strike them as weak, or as a slur on our patriotism. Americans do not like to admit that they have done wrong.

At least 29 killed as U.S. occupation grinds on: Six Iraqis, including three women and two children, were killed in Ramadi on Saturday in what police and a hospital doctor said was a dawn airstrike.

Rebel ambush kills 24 Iraqi policeme: A vicious battle between Iraqi police and insurgents north of Baghdad left at least 24 officers, 18 rebels and one civilian dead, the US military said yesterday.

US airstrike kills six civilians in occupied Iraq: Six Iraqis, including three women and two children, have been killed in a US air strike in the city of Ramadi in western Iraq, a doctor said.

October a dark month for US as toll hits 98: OCTOBER became the deadliest month for US soldiers in Iraq in nearly two years with the announcement of the death of a US Marine in the western Anbar province.

In private, al-Maliki criticizes U.S. policy: The Iraqi prime minister sharply criticized U.S. policy during a private meeting with the U.S. ambassador Friday, pointing to American failure to either reduce violence or give his government authority over security matters.

Why Iraq's Leader Balks at U.S. Demands: Interview: An expert on Shi'ite politics explains why Maliki feels let down by the U.S. ? and why Iran should be seen as an ally, not an oponent, in the effort to stabilize Iraq?,

Soldiers 'hit Iraqis if they forgot nicknames': Mr Mutaira said that if one of the detainees had fallen asleep, he would be woken and asked to repeat his footballer nickname. “If we were not able to recite our respective nickname we would be kicked and beaten.

Confession That Formed Base of Iraq War was Acquired Under Torture: Journalist : An Al-Qaeda terror suspect captured by the United States, who gave evidence of links between Iraq and the terror network, confessed after being tortured, a journalist told the BBC.

Fiasco Then, Fiasco Now: Why Baghdad Will Keep Burning: The neocons and other top Bush officials were dazzled by American military power. They believed that, as the leaders of the planet's only "hyperpower," its last imperial superpower, its New Rome, they could do just about anything. Now, having attacked two weak countries, one among the poorest on the planet, and finding that they can achieve nothing they want, they -- and others in Washington -- are sitting around desperately dreaming up further hopeless solutions to the Iraqi catastrophe.

12 Bodies Found: Authorities imposed a vehicle ban in the northern city of Mosul after the bodies of 12 people, including four police officers.

Iraq's Prime Minister Blames U.S. For Chaos: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki continued his open dispute with American officials Thursday, blaming the United States-led coalition for Iraq's chaos and faulting its military strategy.

Iraqi PM, U.S. Envoy Back Timetable : There also was rampant speculation in Baghdad that the United States was preparing to dump al-Maliki, who was the compromise candidate for prime minister from among the dominant Shiite Muslims in parliament. His government has been in power five months.

Why U.S. lost Baghdad battle: For all previous U.S. official predictions and timetables for progress in Iraq have proven to be unfounded fantasies with no tangible connection to evolving political and security realities on the ground there. There is no indication that the latest projected "timetables" will be any different.

All eyes in Iraq turn to the ticking time bomb of oil-rich Kirkuk: Though it is largely free of the sectarian wars taking place in Baghdad and its surrounding area, observers say the ethnic faultlines running through the city, which lies atop Iraq's second-largest oilfield, make it a time bomb that could pit Kurd against Arab and draw in neighbours such as Iran and Turkey.

T-V station identifies missing U-S soldier : The T-V station says he was born in Iraq, and that his mother is appealing to the kidnappers to show him mercy as a fellow Muslim.

Sen. McCain Calls for 20,000 More Troops in Iraq: Republican Sen. John McCain, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, said Friday the United States should send another 20,000 troops to Iraq.

U.S. evangelical support for Iraq war slipping: A new poll shows support for the war in Iraq is slipping among white evangelical Protestants, previously a key pillar of support for President George W. Bush's conduct of the conflict.

'Stability First': Newspeak for rape of Iraq: Iraq is not simply a US electoral issue. It's a human tragedy of biblical proportions. Hence the urge at this point to situate the tragedy in a historical context.