Top Items:
Christine Hauser / New York Times:
White House Disputes Iraq Is Sinking Into Civil War — Three years after the American-led invasion of Iraq, top Bush administration officials today reiterated their upbeat assessment of the American military effort and political progress in the country, insisting that the violence plaguing Iraq did not amount to civil war.
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Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:
Bush Marks Anniversary, Never Says 'War' — WASHINGTON - President Bush marked the anniversary of the Iraq war Sunday by touting the efforts to build democracy there and avoiding any mention of the daily violence that rages three years after he ordered an invasion. — The president didn't utter the word "war."
White House:
President Remarks on Third Anniversary of Beginning of Iraq Liberation — Fact Sheet: Operation Iraqi Freedom: Three Years Later — THE PRESIDENT: This morning I had a phone call with our ambassador to Iraq. And the ambassador informed me of the progress that the Iraqis are making in forming a unity government.
Paul D. Eaton / New York Times:
A Top-Down Review for the Pentagon — DURING World War II, American soldiers en route to Britain before D-Day were given a pamphlet on how to behave while awaiting the invasion. The most important quote in it was this: "It is impolite to criticize your host; it is militarily stupid to criticize your allies."
Discussion:
Main and Central, Solomonia, Obsidian Wings, Copeland Institute …, AMERICAblog, The Agonist and firedoglake
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Greg Mitchell / Editor and Publisher:
On 3rd Anniversary: Editorials Dither While Iraq Burns — Anyone who hoped that this landmark would inspire the country¿s leading newspapers to finally editorialize for a radical change in war policy has to be disappointed, again. Calling for "urgent diplomacy" is about as strong as the proposals get.
Jane Hamsher / firedoglake:
Let's Play Strategery — Ryan Lizza isn't a complete idiot, his piece on Gold Bars Luskin is the best I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed his portrait of McCain's unprincipled backdown from the steel-caged death match with Grover Norquist now that he's eyeing the white house.
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Benjamin Sand / Voice of America:
Afghan Man Faces Execution After Converting to Christianity — An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system. The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government.
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Dean Calbreath / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Congressman Doolittle, wife profited from Cunningham-linked contractor — Commissions taken on campaign cash — A week before former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham was sentenced to prison, he stressed to the court that a number of other lawmakers also helped arrange federal funding for the defense contractors who bribed him.
Discussion:
Obsidian Wings, Captain's Quarters, Talking Points Memo, War and Piece, TPM Muckraker, Ezra Klein, Nite Swimming and Calitics
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Jeffrey H. Birnbaum / Washington Post:
Lobbyists Foresee Business As Usual — Post-Abramoff Rules Expected to Be Merely a Nuisance — Some of Washington's top lobbyists say that they expect to find ways around congressional efforts to impose new restrictions on lobbyists' dealings with lawmakers in the wake …
Discussion:
BrothersJudd Blog
Timothy L. O'Brien / New York Times:
Why Do So Few Women Reach the Top of Big Law Firms? — HUNDREDS of feet above Manhattan, the reception area of Proskauer Rose's headquarters boasts all of the muscular, streamlined ornamentation that symbolizes authority and power in a big city law firm — modern art, contemporary furniture …
Zev Chafets / New York Times:
Ministers of Debate — Correction Appended — The slogan of Lynchburg, Va., is engraved on the tile floor of its modest airport: "The most interesting spot in the state." This was the assessment of an early resident of Lynchburg, Thomas Jefferson, who also suggested that someday Lynchburg would be a great metropolis.
Discussion:
AtlanticBlog
Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:
Republican 2006 Strategy Will Be To Define Foes And "Change The Subject" (UPDATED) — Independent voters, those who believe elections are job performance reviews, and those who want to see the quality of political debate elevated in this country will not be heartened by a piece …
Chitra Ragavan / US News:
The Letter of the Law — The White House says spying on terror suspects without court approval is ok. What about physical searches? — In the dark days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a small group of lawyers from the White House and the Justice Department began meeting …
Discussion:
Balkinization, The Mahablog, Pensito Review, AMERICAblog, Booman Tribune, firedoglake, The Heretik, Majikthise and Copeland Institute …
Fox News:
Transcript: Sen. Dick Durbin on 'FOX News Sunday' — The following is a partial transcript of the March 19, 2006, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace": — "FOX NEWS SUNDAY" HOST CHRIS WALLACE: Joining us now to discuss Iraq and other national security issues is the number …
Jonathan Alter / Newsweek:
The Democrats' Disciplinarian — Emanuel's approach is giving Democrats the feeling they might not blow it this time. That's what worries him now: overconfidence. — March 27, 2006 issue - Lyndon Johnson was famous for something called "the treatment," where he would loom over cowering colleagues …
Sarah Baxter / Times of London:
'Impeach Bush' chorus grows — THE movement to impeach President George W Bush over the war on terror began with a few tatty bumper stickers on the back of battered old Volvos and slogans such as "Bush lied, people died" on far-left websites. But as Democrat hopes rise of gaining control …
Editorials & Commentary:
The Iraq War: Three Years Later An incomplete mission, a war-weary nation — At the onset of the war in Iraq, Americans were anxious but supportive of President Bush sending the U.S. military to the Persian Gulf to topple the dangerous regime of Saddam Hussein. That invasion began three years ago today.
Telegraph:
Iran's secret talks with Iraqi militants spark fears of proxy war — Iran held secret talks with Shia militant leaders from Iraq and Lebanon only days before the country's nuclear negotiators threatened America with "harm and pain", independent sources in Teheran have revealed.