Top Items:
Evan Kohlmann / The Counterterrorism Blog:
Al-Qaida Takes Casualties in Iraq — But Apparently Not Zarqawi — Despite recent reports to the contrary, Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq has suffered numerous casualties during recent combat operations in northern and western Iraq — including both native and foreign fighters.
Discussion:
BLACKFIVE
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Washington Post:
Officials Probing Whether Raid in Mosul Killed Zarqawi — BAGHDAD, Nov. 20 — An Iraqi police commander said Sunday that U.S. and Iraqi officials were certain that seven men who fought to the death in a house in northern Iraq were members of al Qaeda but were still trying to determine whether …
Edward Wong / New York Times:
Widespread Violence Kills Dozens Across Iraq — BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 20 - The Marine Corps said today that 15 Iraqi civilians and a United States marine were killed on Saturday when a roadside bomb exploded in the town of Haditha, 140 miles northwest of Baghdad.
New York Times:
Chinese Leader Gives President a Mixed Message — BEIJING, Nov. 20 - In a day of polite but tense encounters, President Hu Jintao of China told President Bush on Sunday that he was willing to move more quickly to ease economic differences with the United States, but he gave no ground on increasing political freedoms.
Discussion:
Rantingprofs
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Peter Baker / Washington Post:
The China Opening Of 2005: Don't Ask — For Bush in Beijing, It's Hard to Get Out — BEIJING, Nov. 20 — After all the pomp and circumstance, after all the mind-numbing statements in all the mind-numbing meetings, President Bush finally seemed happy. — He slipped into athletic shorts …
John F. Burns / New York Times:
It's Still a Mystery — Photograph by Christoph Bangert/Polaris, for The New York Times; illustration by Brian Rea — AT a lunch with a senior American commander here last week, the raid that uncovered a secret Interior Ministry torture center in Baghdad prompted a question …
Discussion:
The Heretik
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Andrew / www.AndrewSullivan.com:
LOST? John Burns has been a pretty reliable guide to reality in Iraq. His piece today makes sobering reading. The next phase looks messy, but not necessarily more disastrous than what has happened up till now. (Yeah, I know that's not exactly a high standard). I'm hanging in there with David Brooks.
David Adesnik / OxBlog:SULLIVAN ON MURTHA: Given that Andrew's stance on the both the war …
Discussion:
Shakespeare's Sister
Ellen Knickmeyer / Washington Post:
Under U.S. Design, Iraq's New Army Looks a Good Deal Like the Old One — TAJI, Iraq, Nov. 20 — Clad in the olive-green uniform of old, his heart rising to the sound of the lilting march to which he once went to war for President Saddam Hussein, Sgt. Bashar Fathi, a veteran …
Los Angeles Times:
How U.S. Fell Under the Spell of 'Curveball' — The Iraqi informant's German handlers say they had told U.S. officials that his information was 'not proven,' and were shocked when President Bush and Colin L. Powell used it in key prewar speeches. — BERLIN — The German intelligence officials responsible …
Discussion:
The American Street
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CNN:
Powell aide: Torture 'guidance' from VP — Former staff chief says Cheney's 'flexibility' helped lead to abuse — WASHINGTON (CNN) — A former top State Department official said Sunday that Vice President Dick Cheney provided the "philosophical guidance" and "flexibility" that led to the torture of detainees in U.S. facilities.
Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:
Bush Tries To Cool Fiery Iraq Debate A Few Notches — TMV NOTE: We often repost posts done the night before on the next day's blog, to make sure they get maximum readership. The post below ran mid-day yesterday — but we're reposting it today due to some of the important issues involved.
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The Australian:
Muslim fanatics terrorise a nation — Islamist murders and threats have transformed the once-tolerant Netherlands into a place of armed bodyguards and fear, writes Anthony Browne — A FILM about gay rights should hardly raise an eyebrow in The Netherlands, which for centuries has prided itself …
Ralph Peters / New York Post:
HOW TO LOSE A WAR — November 21, 2005 — QUIT. It's that simple. There are plenty of more complex ways to lose a war, but none as reliable as just giving up. — Increasingly, quitting looks like the new American Way of War. No matter how great your team, you can't win the game if you walk off the field at half-time.
Discussion:
Betsy's Page
CNN:
CNN LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER — Interview With Donald Rumsfeld; Interview With Lawrence Wilkerson — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. — WOLF BLITZER, HOST: It's 11 a.m. in Washington, 8 a.m. in Los Angeles, 7 p.m. in Baghdad, and midnight in Beijing.
Discussion:
Think Progress
Rowan Scarborough / Washington Times:
Military fears critics will hurt morale — Pentagon officials say they are increasingly worried that Washington's political fight over the Iraq war will dampen what has been high morale among troops fighting a tenacious and deadly enemy. — Commanders are telling Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld …
Discussion:
I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!
Reuters:
Washington Post rebukes Bob Woodward — Programming Note: Bob Woodward discusses the CIA leak probe and his silence, Monday on Larry King Live at 9 p.m. ET — WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The Washington Post's ombudsman rebuked journalist Bob Woodward on Sunday for withholding what he knew …
