Top Items:
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 …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, Political Animal, the talking dog, Blue Crab Boulevard, Outside The Beltway, The Moderate Voice, The Next Hurrah, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, About U.S. Politics, The Democratic Daily, First Draft, Liberal Values, Intrepid Liberal Journal, AMERICAblog, Democrats.com, Hullabaloo, Lawyers, Guns and Money, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Don Surber, Rising Hegemon, Alternate Brain, Informed Comment and Roger Ailes
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Captain's Quarters, Blue Crab Boulevard, Matthew Yglesias and Clarity & Resolve
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Hot Air, Matthew Yglesias, jules crittenden and PrairiePundit
Salad Duhul / Associated Press:
Islamic forces abandon Somalia's capital — MOGADISHU, Somalia - Clan militiamen poured into the streets of Somalia's capital Thursday after the Islamic movement that has controlled Mogadishu for months abandoned the city and government forces advanced to within striking distance.
Discussion:
Secular Blasphemy
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.
RELATED:
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.
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.
RELATED:
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Reid On Ford Funeral: I'm Busy — The death of a former President usually means that the leadership of all three branches of the government gather to mourn on behalf of the nation and to pay final respects to those once chosen to lead it. These events come rarely and allow for a moment of ceremonial unity in the political world.
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
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Belarus Doubles Down — Belarus has decided to call Vladimir Putin's bluff on the standoff over energy prices and transit rights. Instead of acquiescing to Putin's demand for half of Belarus' revenues from its pipeline service to Europe and a doubling of their own energy prices …
Discussion:
Spiegel Online
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Bush and Security Advisers to Meet Today on Iraq Strategy — President Bush's top national security advisers arrived here to hone a new Iraq strategy that administration officials said seems increasingly likely to include a surge of additional troops to try to help stabilize the country.
RELATED:
brusselsjournal.com:
Blair on Islam: Standard-Bearer of Tolerance — A quote from Tony Blair in Foreign Affairs, January/February 2007 — To me, the most remarkable thing about the Koran is how progressive it is. I write with great humility as a member of another faith. As an outsider, the Koran strikes …
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 …
Discussion:
TPMCafe blogs
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 — 
