Top Items:
Julian E. Barnes / Los Angeles Times:
Generals: More troops needed in Iraq — Commanders made their decision before meeting with Defense Secretary Gates. — WASHINGTON — Top U.S. military commanders in Iraq have decided to recommend a "surge" of fresh American combat forces, eliminating one of the last remaining hurdles …
RELATED:
Kevin Drum / Political Animal:
ONE LAST PUSH....Guess what? Our commanders on the ground have met with their superiors and decided that we do need more troops in Iraq after all. They're now backing the "surge" plan: … So we're not quite sure what we're going to do with them, but after meeting with the new SecDef we're suddenly quite sure we need them.
Atrios / Eschaton:Wrong — I'm sympathetic to Kevin's thinking about this stuff …
Discussion:
Political Animal
Associated Press:
5 Soldiers Killed by Iraqi Insurgents — BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Insurgent attacks killed five more American troops west of the Iraqi capital, the military said Friday, making December the second deadliest month for U.S. servicemen in 2006. — So far this month, 76 American troops have died in Iraq …
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias
RELATED:
Qassim Abdul-Zahra / ABCNEWS:
Shiite Cleric Won't Support Coalition — Iraq's Most Revered Shiite Cleric Withholds Support for Plan to Construct Broad Coalition — BAGHDAD, Iraq Dec 23, 2006 (AP)— Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric withheld support Saturday for a U.S.-backed plan to build a coalition across sectarian lines …
Discussion:
Riehl World View
Randy Hall / CNSNews:
Islamic Group Has Mastered Victimization Game, Critic Says — (CNSNews.com) - The Republican lawmaker who sparked a storm with comments about Muslims and the need to tighten immigration laws is the latest target of an Islamic advocacy group's "victimization game," a political analyst said Thursday.
Discussion:
Jihad Watch
RELATED:
Jason Straziuso / Associated Press:
U.S. strike kills Afghan Taliban leader — KABUL, Afghanistan - A top Taliban military commander described as a close associate of Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar was killed in an airstrike this week close to the border with Pakistan, the U.S. military said Saturday.
RELATED:
Edith M. Lederer / Associated Press:
U.N. to sanction Iran over nuclear program — UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to impose economic sanctions on Iran for refusing to end a uranium enrichment program that the United States says is aimed at building nuclear weapons. — Iran immediately rejected the resolution.
RELATED:
Washington Post:
'Nyet' on Iran — THE U.N. Security Council took up the Iranian nuclear program this year to pressure Tehran to suspend its work on enriching uranium. But in the past few months, something entirely different has happened. While Iranian enrichment has continued with impunity …
The Big Trunk / Power Line:
THE MULLAHS AT WAR — Yesterday Michael Ledeen posted another installment of his continuing comments on the Iranian war against the West in general and the United States in particular: "The mask comes off the mullahs. Again." This installment is based on Con Coughlin's Telegraph column: "War on two fronts in Afghanistan."
RELATED:
Independent:
Independent Appeal: 'What would happen if the Virgin Mary came to Bethlehem today?' — Johann Hari on the plight of pregnant women in the West Bank, where babies are dying needlessly — In two days, a third of humanity will gather to celebrate the birth pains of a Palestinian refugee in Bethlehem …
Washington Post:
How Free Trade Hurts — Fewer and fewer Americans support our government's trade policy. They see a shrinking middle class, lost jobs and exploding trade deficits. — Yet supporters of free trade continue to push for more of the same — more job-killing trade agreements …
Robin Wright / Washington Post:
Royal Intrigue, Unpaid Bills Preceded Saudi Ambassador's Exit — Policy Dispute Regarding Iran Loomed Large — For more than a year, Saudi Arabia's ambassador journeyed to college campuses, chambers of commerce, town halls and world affairs councils across the United States in an ambitious campaign to improve his country's image.
Sabrina Tavernise / New York Times:
Shiites Remake Baghdad in Their Image — As the United States debates what to do in Iraq, this country's Shiite majority has been moving toward its own solution: making the capital its own. — Large portions of Baghdad have become Shiite in recent months, as militias press their fight …
Steve Dillard / Southern Appeal:
SA: The curtain closes — I realize that this will come as a shock to SA readers, but for professional and personal reasons I have decided it is time for Southern Appeal to call it quits. In doing so, I cannot even begin to express how much I appreciate the contributions of my co-bloggers …
Discussion:
The Debate Link
Senior Data Journalist, NY — 
Manager - Publishing Editorial, Manila — 
Oil Reporter, Singapore — 
Newsperson - State Govt. & Politics, CA — 
Business Reporter, SC — 
State Government Reporter, WA — 
Climate Crisis Columnist — 
Multimedia Journalist, CA — 
Community Engagement Mgr., DC — 
Senior California Politics Reporter, CA — 
Staff Writer - Business, NY — 
Team Editor - Opinion, ON — 
Assistant Correspondent, DC — 
Climate & Weather Reporter, MN — 
Senior Tech Editor, Remote US — 
Lead Business Reporter, TN — 
Managing Editor, WA — 
Private Credit Reporter, NY — 
Trending News Reporter, TX — 
City Correspondent, London — 
Legislative Reporter, CA — 
Reporter, PA — 
Visual Editor, Remote — 
Staff Writer, MI — 
Senior Political Reporter, DC — 
California Playbook Writer, CA — 
National Investigative Reporter, NY — 
Business & Gaming Reporter, NV — 
Coastal Climate Reporter, SC — 
Environment & Energy Reporter, CT — 
Coordinating Editor, OR — 
Editor, Remote US — 
Business Reporter, WA — 
Editor-in-Chief, AZ — 
