memeorandum: Islamist Forces in Somalia Are on the Retreat (Jeffrey Gettleman/New York Times)

12:15 AM ET, December 27, 2006

Top Items:

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: Captain's Quarters, All Spin Zone, The Moderate Voice, Riehl World View and PoliBlog (TM)

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 …

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 ™, A Blog For All and Bill's Bites

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

Discussion: Reuters

Reuters:
Iraq court says Saddam should hang within 30 days

Discussion: The Washington Note

Hindrocket / Power Line: SADDAM TO DIE? — Iraq's High Tribunal, its highest appellate court …

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 …

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

Discussion: Fraters Libertas

Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters: Strib Goes In A Half-Price Fire Sale

The Big Trunk / Power Line: A BAD INVESTMENT TOO? — McClatchy Co., the California-based owner …

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, toohotfortnr, In the Bullpen, Wake up America, Hot Air, Secular Blasphemy 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: Gateway Pundit, Time, 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: Norwegianity, Discourse.net, Old War Dogs and Political Animal

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, The Carpetbagger Report, Booman Tribune, DownWithTyranny!, Political Animal, BlondeSense, The Impolitic, Macsmind, Prairie Weather and Think Progress

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

Discussion: Firedoglake and Daily Pundit

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, Hot Air and Ace of Spades HQ

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

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

The Big Trunk / Power Line:

TROOPS HALP JON CARRY IN IRAK — On his visit to Iraq, Senator Kerry apparently got something like the silent treatment from the troops who are "stuck" there. WDAY's Scott Hennen quotes a message from a friend serving in Iraq: … Scott comments:

Discussion: Opinion Journal, areavoices.com and Captain's Quarters

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 …

Tim F. / Balloon Juice:

The ISG's Rhetorical Impact Begins To Sink In — Republicans care quite a lot about the political concept of the Overton Window and, not coincidentally, Republicans have messaged the pants off of Democrats at least since the rightiwng revolution of 1994. The concept is pretty simple; read about it here if the idea is unfamiliar.