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New York Times:
Gaps in Training Iraqi Forces Worry Top U.S. Commanders — American commanders said Friday that the effort to train Iraqi Army and police units had slowed in recent months and would need to be expanded to enable any large-scale reduction in American force levels.
Bushra Juhi / Associated Press:
Iraq PM: Country Can Manage Without U.S. — BAGHDAD - — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country when American troops leave "any time they want," though he acknowledged the forces need further weapons and training.
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The Atlantic Online
Josh White / Washington Post:
White House Denies Request for Documents in Ex-NFL Player's Death — The White House has refused to give Congress documents about the death of former NFL player Pat Tillman, with White House counsel Fred F. Fielding saying that certain papers relating to discussion of the friendly-fire shooting …
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New York Times:
Contempt for Congress — The Bush administration's disregard for the rule of law hit another low this week when Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel, defied a Congressional subpoena. Ms. Miers, who was called to testify about the United States attorneys scandal, refused even to show up at the Capitol.
Discussion:
Macsmind
Richard Allen Greene / The Politico:
Kucinich challenges Edwards and Clinton — Dennis Kucinich has challenged Hillary Clinton and John Edwards each to debate him one on one. — He has been on the warpath since the two were caught on open mics yesterday at the NAACP debate, apparently proposing to have debates without the long-shot candidates.
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The Daily Background
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Tunku Varadarajan / Wall Street Journal:
Happy Blogiversary — It's been 10 years since the blog was born. Love them or hate them, they've roiled presidential campaigns and given everyman a global soapbox. Twelve commentators — including Tom Wolfe, Newt Gingrich, the SEC's Christopher Cox and actress-turned-blogger Mia Farrow — on what blogs mean to them.
Bob Geiger:
The Saturday Cartoons — Oh, boy, are you all in for a good time with today's animation. Our friend Nick Anderson at the Houston Chronicle does some unique mixing of cartoon animation and still pictures and comes up with a winner that's both poignant and funny. Have a look:
Discussion:
Firedoglake
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Rove Strategy Paper Found in Nixon Archive — The year was 1973, and Karl Rove was looking for help — from the Nixon White House. — Tucked away inside 78,000 pages of documents from the Nixon administration, released by the National Archives earlier this week, is a little gem …
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the talking dog
Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
AP Poll: Public gives Congress low marks — WASHINGTON — In the eyes of the public, Congress is doing even worse than the president. — Public satisfaction with the job lawmakers are doing has fallen 11 points since May, to 24 percent, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll.
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Riehl World View
Ynetnews:
Iranians arrest 14 squirrels for spying — Islamic Republic's intelligence agents allege rodents were carrying advanced Western spy gear — Iranian intelligence operatives recently detained over a dozen squirrels found within the nation's borders, claiming the rodents were serving as spies …
Media Matters for America:
"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser — The same old story, same old act — Last week, Media Matters' Paul Waldman wrote: … The part about "extended discussion" is worth a bit more attention. Had a news organization or two reported the original GOP claim about Gore and the Internet …
Discussion:
Open Left
Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:
G.O.P. Senators Press to Change Strategy in Iraq — With the Senate stymied so far in its bid to assemble enough votes to sway the White House on Iraq, two leading Republicans offered a new approach on Friday that would require President Bush to present a strategy by October that began limiting the involvement of American forces.
Washington Post:
Rivalries Split McCain's Team — After Months of Staff Fights, Rick Davis Emerges as the Leader of a Diminished Campaign — After weeks of internal struggles over who would run John McCain's presidential campaign, three key aides went to the candidate in January and told him he had to take action.
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Panel Accord on Increasing Cigarette Tax — Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee reached agreement Friday on a bipartisan plan calling for a big increase in the cigarette tax to pay for a $35 billion expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program over the next five years.