memeorandum: Larger military a costly proposal (Los Angeles Times)

Qassim Abdul-Zahra / Associated Press:

Court: Execute Saddam Within 30 Days — Iraq's highest appeals court on Tuesday upheld Saddam Hussein's death sentence and said he must be hanged within 30 days for the killing of 148 Shiites in the central city of Dujail. — The sentence "must be implemented within 30 days," chief judge Aref Shahin said.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, All Spin Zone, Riehl World View and PoliBlog (TM)

Deb Riechmann / Associated Press:

Bush in Texas to rethink Iraq course — CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush went to his ranch Tuesday to rethink U.S. involvement in Iraq as his spokesman hailed a Baghdad court's decision upholding the death sentence for former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. — Saddam, who was deposed …

Discussion: The American Street, Daily Kos and NewsHog

Christine Hauser / New York Times:

Court Upholds Death Penalty for Hussein — An Iraqi appeals court today upheld a death sentence for Saddam Hussein in a decision that clears the way for his execution within 30 days, Iraqi officials said. — The announcement came as at least 20 people were killed and dozens were injured in bomb and mortar attacks in the capital.

Discussion: the talking dog, Gun Toting Liberal ™ and A Blog For All

Christopher Torchia / Associated Press:

Iraq Court Upholds Saddam Death Sentence — BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's highest court rejected Saddam Hussein's appeal Tuesday and said the former dictator must be hanged within 30 days for ordering the killing of scores of Shiite Muslims in 1982. — The sentence has already stoked Iraq's sectarian rage …

CNN:
Iraqi appeals court upholds Hussein death sentence

Discussion: The Impolitic and AMERICAblog

Nancy Trejos / Washington Post: Court Upholds Saddam's Death Sentence

Reuters:
Iraq court says Saddam should hang within 30 days

Discussion: The Washington Note

Jeffrey Gettleman / New York Times:

Islamist Forces in Somalia Are on the Retreat — Islamist forces in Somalia beat a hasty retreat today to their stronghold in Mogadishu, Somalia's battle-scared capital, crumbling faster than anyone expected after a week of attacks by Ethiopian forces. — Burhakaba, a large inland city …

Discussion: Riehl World View, Wake up America, toohotfortnr, In the Bullpen, Secular Blasphemy, Hot Air and Matthew Yglesias

International Herald Tribune:

In Somalia, a reckless U.S. proxy war — NAIROBI: Undeterred by the horrors and setbacks in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, the Bush administration has opened another battlefront in the Muslim world. With full U.S. backing and military training, at least 15,000 Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia …

Discussion: Time, Gateway Pundit, Larisa Alexandrovna's …, About U.S. Politics, Associated Press, A Blog For All and Outside The Beltway

Bryan Bender / Boston Globe:

Military considers recruiting foreigners — Expedited citizenship would be an incentive — An Armed Forces center in Plymouth. US officials are trying tactics to find recruits; one involves attracting noncitizens. (JULIA CUMES/ASSOCIATED PRESS) — WASHINGTON — The armed forces …

Discussion: Discourse.net, Norwegianity, Old War Dogs and Political Animal

John Reinan / Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Star Tribune being sold to private equity firm — A private equity firm has reached an agreement to buy the Star Tribune from the McClatchy Co., publisher Keith Moyer announced today. — Avista Capital Partners, an investment group focused on media, health care and energy companies …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Power Line

Joshua Freed / Associated Press: Star Tribune to Be Sold to Private Group

Julie Hirschfeld Davis / Baltimore Sun:

Bush is bracing for new scrutiny … WASHINGTON // President Bush is bracing for what could be an onslaught of investigations by the new Democratic-led Congress by hiring lawyers to fill key White House posts and preparing to play defense on countless document requests and possible subpoenas.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Booman Tribune, The Carpetbagger Report, DownWithTyranny!, BlondeSense, Political Animal, Macsmind, The Impolitic and Think Progress

Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
War Critics See New Resistance by Bush

Discussion: Firedoglake, Daily Pundit and Prairie Weather

Douglas Burns / carrollspaper.com:

NEWS ANALYSIS: Why Barack Obama can win the Iowa Caucuses — It goes without saying that when Barack Obama is on the television screen or behind the political podium we see a black man. — That is, after all, what he is. — But when you listen to Obama, the substance of thinking …

Press Association:

UK to give reasons for police station raid — The UK is to explain why it demolished a notorious Iraqi police station in a bid to avert elements of the local council ending co-operation with British forces. — The Foreign Office said there would be discussions over yesterday's dramatic raid …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Washington Post and Ace of Spades HQ

David Lightman / Hartford Courant:

Lieberman Defends Video-Game Money — WASHINGTON — It has become a holiday ritual: Joe Lieberman and family-research officials hold a well-attended press conference to decry the impact on children of excessive video game sex and violence. — And, again in 2006, Lieberman indulged …

Discussion: ConnecticutBLOG, The Carpetbagger Report and The Left Coaster

Anne Flaherty / Associated Press:

Biden vows to fight any Iraq troop boost — WASHINGTON - Incoming Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joseph Biden, a potential Democratic presidential candidate, said Tuesday he would oppose any effort by President Bush to increase U.S troops in Iraq as part of a new war strategy.

Discussion: The Huffington Post

Nick / Blogborygmi:

Grand Rounds 3.14 — Welcome to Grand Rounds, the collection of the best posts in medical blogging! — Grand Rounds has come a long way since the last time it was hosted here. By my count, eighty-nine unique bloggers have hosted 118 editions. This includes doctors, nurses, students …

Jerusalem Post:

Iran may declare major enrichment feat — Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reportedly told members of the Iranian parliament on Tuesday that Iran would soon announce that it had managed to enrich uranium using 3,000 centrifuges, an Iranian MP told the FARS News Agency on Tuesday.

Discussion: Townhall.com Blog's …