"Insane, Irrational Panic"  —  This is how Bill Kristol describes the view of those who have followed this war closely for four years of drift, mishap and recklessness and concluded that some kind of withdrawal or redeployment is now our least worst option.  It is based on Kristol's judgment that, for reasons unspecified,

Report: Wars cost US $12 billion a month  —  WASHINGTON - The boost in troop levels in Iraq has increased the cost of war there and in Afghanistan to $12 billion a month, and the total for Iraq alone is nearing a half-trillion dollars, congressional analysts say.

Official: Iraq gov't misses all targets  —  WASHINGTON - A progress report on Iraq will conclude that the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reform, speeding up the Bush administration's reckoning on what to do next, a U.S. official said Monday.

Lebanon 'to erupt in 1 week'  —  Syria calls on citizens to evacuate Lebanon, reports say; Expert: Civil war possible  —  Syria has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon ahead of an expected "eruption" in that country, Arab and Iranian press reports have said.