Meanwhile in Iraq

Powell, Democratic leaders reject boosting Iraq troop levels: Former US secretary of state Colin Powell and top Democratic lawmakers rejected reported White House plans to hike US troop levels in Iraq, with Powell calling the US military "about broken" by the pressure on their numbers.

At least 21 killed in another bloody day in Iraq: Gunmen who kidnapped about 30 people at a Red Crescent office in Baghdad on Sunday have freed 17 hostages

Top Marine Says More Troops For Iraq Possible: Gen. James T. Conway said a meeting with President Bush left him convinced that the president was considering a "strategy change" that could send five more brigades — about 17,500 troops — to Iraq

Democrat backs Iraq troop increase: The senate's top Democrat politician has offered qualified support for a plan to increase US forces in Iraq, saying it would be acceptable as part of a broader strategy to bring combat forces home by 2008.

Clinton Wants "Larger Plan" For Iraq: Clinton again defended her vote to authorize military intervention in Iraq, but criticized President Bush's handling of the war and other issues.

About Face: Soldiers Call for Iraq Withdrawal: For the first time since Vietnam, an organized, robust movement of active-duty US military personnel has publicly surfaced to oppose a war in which they are serving. Those involved plan to petition Congress to withdraw American troops from Iraq.

Bush administration elaborates plans for bloodbath in Iraq: Reports on the Bush administration’s discussions on a change of course in Iraq indicate that Washington is preparing a major new bloodbath as part of a desperate attempt to salvage its nearly four-year-old bid to conquer the oil-rich country.

Gates sworn in as US defense secretary: Former CIA Director Robert Gates was officially sworn in as U.S. secretary of defense on Monday, replacing embattled Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, who was under fire for his handling of the Iraq war.

Former Iraqi Cabinet minister escapes police custody in Baghdad: A dual U.S.-Iraqi citizen and the country's only postwar Cabinet minister to be convicted of corruption has escaped police custody for a second time, an Iraqi official said Monday.

Iraqi ex-minister spirited from police custody: Plain-clothes Americans have taken a former Iraqi electricity minister, who is a dual U.S. citizen, from Iraqi police custody where he was awaiting trial on corruption charges, Iraqi officials said on Monday.

Former U.S. Detainee in Iraq Recalls Torment: Detainee 200343 was among thousands of people who have been held and released by the American military in Iraq, and his account of his ordeal has provided one of the few detailed views of the Pentagon’s detention operations since the abuse scandals at Abu Ghraib.