Top Items:
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.
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Jeffrey Gettleman / New York Times:
Opponents of Islamists Seize Somali Capital — Just hours after the Islamist forces abandoned Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, militias loyal to the transitional government seized the city today in a stunning reversal of fortunes. — According to residents, troops from the transitional government …
Bryan / Hot Air:
The Fall of Islamist Somalia — It's been tough over the past couple of days not to stand up and do a little dance of joy over Ethiopia's so far masterful efforts in Somalia. Ethiopia very correctly recognized that the United Islamic Courts, the al Qaeda-backed Islamist movement that took control …
Discussion:
BLACKFIVE, New York Times, Euphoric Reality, Blogs of War, Counterterrorism Blog, jules crittenden and Ynetnews
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.
StrategyPage:
Ethiopians Blitz Their Way Across the Country — Ethiopian troops have stood aside so that Somali gunmen representing the Transitional Government can enter Mogadishu. The surviving Islamic Courts fighters have fled south, from whence they came. This does not solve the basic problem …
David Crossland / Spiegel Online:Ethiopia's Invasion Seen Worsening Somali Chaos
Discussion:
Washington Post, Associated Press, Lawyers, Guns and Money, Redstate and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
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:
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Newsweek:
From Watergate to Monicagate — Like Gerald Ford, George W. Bush believed his mission was to restore honor and integrity at the White House. The striking parallels between two administrations. — To understand Gerald Ford's place inside the Bush administration, you need to turn the clock back six years.
James Risen / New York Times:G.O.P. Senator in Spotlight After a Critical Iraq Speech
Discussion:
the talking dog
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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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.
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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.
Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
Message Delivered — The US has delivered a message to Moqtada al-Sadr in the ongoing struggle to contain the violence in Baghdad and end the sectarian militias. A raid by US and Iraqi Army forces killed a high-ranking aide to Sadr who had supplied IEDs used in attacks against Iraqi forces:
Jackie Calmes / Wall Street Journal:
Edwards's Theme: U.S. Poverty — Amid Iraq Talk, White House Hopeful Sticks to '04 Issue in '08 Run — For the roughly two dozen candidates considering a run for the White House, it is perhaps the jackpot question: What might be the winning message in a contest whose first nominating vote is still more than a year away?
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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 …
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Tony Blair / Foreign Affairs:
A Battle for Global Values — Summary: The war on terrorism is not just about security or military tactics. It is a battle of values, and one that can only be won by the triumph of tolerance and liberty. Afghanistan and Iraq have been the necessary starting points of this battle.
Discussion:
Euphoric Reality
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 …
Yuras Karmanau / Associated Press:
Belarus Braces for Russia to Turn Off the Natural Gas Spigot — Residents of Belarus's capital stocked up on warm clothes and electric heaters as fears rose Tuesday that Russia would soon cut off the natural gas supply on which the country depends. — Russia says Belarus must pay …
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Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:Belarus Doubles Down — Belarus has decided to call Vladimir …
Discussion:
Spiegel Online
US Department of State:
Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, Volume E-6, Documents on Africa, 1973-1976 — Released by the Office of the Historian — THE SEIZURE OF THE SAUDI ARABIAN EMBASSY IN KHARTOUM — In the early evening hours of 1 March 1973, eight Black September Organization (BSO) terrorists seized …
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