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Bob Woodward / Washington Post:
Ford Disagreed With Bush About Invading Iraq — Former president Gerald R. Ford said in an embargoed interview in July 2004 that the Iraq war was not justified. "I don't think I would have gone to war," he said a little more than a year after President Bush had launched the invasion advocated …
Jeffrey Gettleman / New York Times:
Islamist Forces in Somalia Are in Retreat — Ethiopian-backed forces continued to beat back Islamist fighters in Somalia today, advancing to within 15 miles of Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, as diplomatic pressure increased for the Ethiopians to pull out. — The African Union …
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Washington Post, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Matthew Yglesias, PrairiePundit and jules crittenden
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Jeffrey Gettleman / New York Times:
Islamists Seem to Give Up Grip on Somali City — The Islamist forces who have controlled much of Somalia in recent months suddenly vanished from the streets of the capital, Mogadishu, residents said Wednesday night, just as thousands of rival troops massed 15 miles away.
Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:
John Edwards joins presidential race — WASHINGTON - Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards jumped into the presidential race Wednesday a day earlier than he'd planned, prodded by an Internet glitch to launch a candidacy focused on health care, taxes and other domestic issues.
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MSNBC:
John Edwards joins presidential race — Senator who ran in 2004 bidding for Democratic nomination, campaign says — Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards volunteers in New Orleans on Wednesday, a day before his scheduled presidential run announcement. — Slide show
Associated Press:
Edwards' Web site jumps gun on presidential run … WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards is running for president for a second time, his campaign said Wednesday. — The former North Carolina senator plans to formally announce his candidacy Thursday …
Discussion:
Democrats.com
Washington Post:
Close Adviser to Sadr Dies in U.S.-Iraqi Raid — A top deputy of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was killed Wednesday during a raid by U.S. and Iraqi troops in the southern holy city of Najaf, sparking protests from Sadr's followers and complicating an already tense relationship with the powerful anti-American leader.
Discussion:
Hot Air
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Marc Santora / New York Times:
Sectarian Ties Weaken Duty's Call for Iraq Forces — The car parked outside was almost certainly a tool of the Sunni insurgency. It was pocked with bullet holes and bore fake license plates. The trunk had cases of unused sniper bullets and a notice to a Shiite family telling them to abandon their home.
Discussion:
Informed Comment
New York Times:
Gerald R. Ford — Gerald R. Ford was an accidental president, his tenure brief, his legacy limited. Yet he was the right man summoned at the right time to begin the necessary process of healing a country exhausted by war abroad and scandal at home. Elevated to the nation's top job …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
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Jerusalem Post:
Exclusive: Hizbullah paying terrorists for Kassam attacks — Hizbullah is paying Palestinian splinter groups "thousands of dollars" for each Kassam rocket fired at the western Negev, The Jerusalem Post has learned. — According to Israeli intelligence information, Hizbullah is smuggling cash …
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Dennis Conrad / Associated Press:
Reid to miss Ford funeral — WASHINGTON - Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will miss the state funeral for former President Gerald Ford at the Capitol Rotunda on Saturday night, opting instead to lead a delegation to South America with an expected stop at the Machu Picchu Inca ruins.
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Wizbang
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Justin Rood / TPMmuckraker:
At The Corner, Iraq News That Isn't — Reader SB points us to an entry today at The Corner, a blog belonging to National Review magazine, entitled "FROM IRAQ: A MARINE'S NOTES." — Among other things, the unnamed Marine tells the National Review that:
Discussion:
The RBC, TBogg, The Carpetbagger Report, Political Animal, Wonkette and This Modern World
Associated Press:
Hussein Urges Iraqis Not to Hate U.S.-Led Forces — BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Saddam Hussein urged Iraqis to embrace ''brotherly coexistence'' and not to hate U.S.-led foreign troops in a goodbye letter posted on a Web site Wednesday, a day after Iraq's highest court upheld his death sentence and ordered him hanged within 30 days.
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John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Huff Post blogger on THIS WEEK and George Will is a complete Ass — On "This Week,' with George Stephanopoulos, HuffPo's new political editor, Melinda Henneberger, joined ABC National Security Correspondent Jonathan Karl and columnist George Will to discuss the politics of the surge and the very despicable Virgil Goode.
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Firedoglake
DefenseLINK:
Contract — On the Web: — Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132 — Public contact: or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1 — FOR RELEASE AT — 5 p.m. ET — No. 1320-06 — CONTRACTS — ARMY — Honeywell International Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., was awarded on Dec. 21, 2006 …
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