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US plans last big push in Iraq — Strategy document calls for extra 20,000 troops, aid for Iraqi army and regional summit — President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning …
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Top General Warns Against Iraq Timetable — The top American military commander in the Middle East warned today against setting a timetable for withdrawing United States troops from Iraq and raised the possibility that more might be needed, if only temporarily, to help that country's security forces …
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Dean's World, CNN Political Ticker, Instapundit.com, Wake up America and One Hand Clapping

General Warns of Risks in Iraq if G.I.'s Are Cut — The top American military commander for the Middle East said Wednesday that to begin a significant troop withdrawal from Iraq over the next six months would lead to an increase in sectarian killings and hamper efforts to persuade …

Guardian: Bush to send more troops in "last big push" to stabilize Iraq
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New York Times

Carville Says Dems Should Dump Dean over "Rumsfeldian" Incompetence — Democratic strategist James Carville says his party should dump Howard Dean as chairman of the Democratic Party because of incompetence. — Carville, during coffee and rolls with political reporters today …
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Another GOP Maalox moment — Just when the MSM focus had fixed on the Democrats' culture of corruption and business-as-usual, along come Beltway Republicans to remind us of how lame the GOP leadership is. — Trent Lott is back. — Flashback 2002: I called Trent Lott the Republican Party's eternal Maalox moment.
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McCain Explores 2008.... Sen. John McCain will formally open his 2008 presidential exploratory committee by tomorrow a.m., an adviser said today. — The committee has already built a website — http://www.exploremccain.com/ — and it will stream live his speech to GOPAC, a conservative grassroots group with a strong pedigree.


Rep. John Murtha defends his ethics — "Hardball" host Chris Matthews asks Murtha about leadership, Iraq, ethics … Host of 'Hardball' — In his first interview since reportedly calling a Democratic bill on lobbying and ethics "total crap," Rep. John Murtha told "Hardball" …
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Breaking: Murtha says he's got the votes to beat Hoyer; Update: Bumbling Abscam apologia video added! — Two minutes ago on Hardball; the video's coming. While you wait, chew on the latest from Kucinich, who's supporting him over Hoyer for majority leader.
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Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others — Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report: — As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) …
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What motivated man accused of sending threats? — Chad Castagana linked to several right-wing blogs … MSNBC TV — Anchor, 'Countdown' — Keith Olbermann — Anchor, 'Countdown' … OLBERMANN: Federal authorities still expect the preliminary hearing for Chad Conrad Castagana to continue day after tomorrow.
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Does idolizing Malkin turn you into a terrorist?
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Firedoglake

One More Time for Judicial Nominees — After calling for bipartisanship, President Bush surprised Senate Democrats with plans to renominate a controversial list of judges - some of whom may be unacceptable even to a few Republican senators. "It's an unfortunate signal," said one senior Democratic Senate aide.
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The Carpetbagger Report, The Reaction, Balloon Juice, The Democratic Daily and How Appealing


Afghan women seek death by fire — Increasing numbers of Afghan women are committing suicide by setting fire to themselves to escape difficult lives, according to NGOs based in the country. — They say women forced into marriage or suffering chronic abuse are killing themselves out of desperation.

James Baker and the Desert Storm Legacy — Iraqis haven't forgotten the aftermath of Desert Storm. With Saddam's troops forced to retreat from Kuwait, Shia Arabs throughout southern Iraq rose up against Saddam's tyranny. Kurds in the north also rebelled.
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The Corner

Larry King Admits He's Never Used The Internet: 'Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things?' » — Last night CNN's Larry King confessed to Roseanne Barr that he's never used the Internet. King expressed doubt that the Internet was a viable political medium because "there's 80 billion things on it."

Soldier pleads guilty in Iraq rape and killings — FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) — One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping and killing a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her family, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Kentucky military court. — Spc. James P. Barker also agreed to testify …
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Kiko's House