Top Items:
Karen DeYoung / Washington Post:
Experts Doubt Drop In Violence in Iraq — Military Statistics Called Into Question — The U.S. military's claim that violence has decreased sharply in Iraq in recent months has come under scrutiny from many experts within and outside the government, who contend that some of the underlying statistics …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, TPMmuckraker, Think Progress, The Agonist, Democratic National Committee, Taylor Marsh, Booman Tribune, unbossed.com, Middle Earth Journal, rochesterturning.com, The Next Hurrah, The Belgravia Dispatch, AMERICAblog, Prairie Weather, democracyarsenal.org, Greatscat!, Corrente and No More Mister Nice Blog
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Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Democrats Newly Willing to Compromise on Iraq — With a mixed picture emerging about progress in Iraq, Senate Democratic leaders are showing a new openness to compromise as they try to attract Republican support for forcing at least modest troop withdrawals in the coming months.
Discussion:
Washington Post, USA Today, The Moderate Voice, The Swamp, ColoradoPols.com, Jules Crittenden, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Comments From Left Field, Daily Kos, The Hill, MyDD, TPM Election Central, Empire Burlesque, The Strata-Sphere, Prairie Weather, Connecting.the.Dots, Brilliant at Breakfast and The Poor Man Institute
Faiz / Think Progress:
Report: Massive U.S. 'Footprint' In Iraq Conveys 'Permanence,' 'Opposite Impression Is Needed' — A report released yesterday by a 20-member commission, headed by retired Marine Gen. James Jones, reported it will be at least 12 to 18 months before Iraq's army and police can take charge.
Karen DeYoung / Washington Post:
Jones Report: Iraqi Security Forces Not Ready — Logistical Self-Sufficiency Is at Least Two Years Away — Iraq's Interior Ministry is "dysfunctional," filled with sectarianism and corruption, according to an independent assessment of the Iraqi security forces to be published tomorrow.
Susan Saulny / New York Times:
Thompson Declares His Candidacy for President — After months of false starts, staff shake-ups, and questions about the seriousness of his intention to run for president, Fred Thompson rolled out his presidential candidacy this evening with a two-pronged, guerrilla-style entry into the race …
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, New Hampshire Union Leader, Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Fox News, Comments From Left Field, Macsmind, The Politico, MSNBC, Forbes, The Moderate Voice, TIME, Right Wing Nut House, Associated Press, Tennessee Guerilla Women, The Democratic Daily, CNN Political Ticker, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, PoliBlog (TM), Right Wing News, Washington Times, Fred File, Flopping Aces, Instapundit.com, Crooks and Liars, Gateway Pundit and Shakespeare's Sister
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New York Times:
Transcript of the Fox News Republican Presidential Candidates Debate — The Fox News Republican Presidential Candidates Debate in Durham, N.H. with candidates: Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas); the former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani; the former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee …
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Open thread: Fred announces on Leno; Update: Web announcement video now live; Update: Leno announcement video added — Late night for the big A. If you're staying up for it, feel free to sound off. If you just can't be bothered, Geraghty has a sneak peek at the transcript.
Washington Post:
Fred Thompson Makes A Late-Night Late Entry
Fred Thompson Makes A Late-Night Late Entry
Discussion:
MSNBC, Boston Globe, Washington Times, Associated Press, Fausta's blog, New York Post, The Politico and Democratic National Committee
CNN:
Tenor Luciano Pavarotti dead at 71 — (CNN) — Famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who appeared on stage with singers as varied as opera star Dame Joan Sutherland, U2's Bono and Liza Minnelli, died Thursday in Italy after suffering from pancreatic cancer, manager Terri Robson said in a statement.
Discussion:
Comments From Left Field
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L. Paul Bremer III / New York Times:
How I Didn't Dismantle Iraq's Army — "The Iraqi Army of the future cannot be an extension of the present army, which has been made into a tool of dictatorship." — Report by the Department of State's Future of Iraq Project, May 2002 — IT has become conventional wisdom that the decision …
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David S. Cloud / New York Times:
Panel Sees More Than a Year Before Iraq Can Handle Security
Panel Sees More Than a Year Before Iraq Can Handle Security
Discussion:
Sweetness & Light
Jerusalem Post:
Syria: Air defenses fired at Israeli aircraft over our airspace — Syrian air defenses opened fire on IAF aircraft that violated Syrian airspace overnight Thursday, a Syrian military spokesman said. — "We warn the Israeli enemy government against this flagrant aggressive act …
RELATED:
Khaled Yacoub Oweis / Reuters:
Syria says Israel bombs territory as Israel silent
Syria says Israel bombs territory as Israel silent
Discussion:
Outside The Beltway
S.A. Miller / Washington Times:
Dems already dismissing Iraq war report — Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, talked with reporters yesterday in Washington. "We know what is going to be in it," he said of the Iraq war report next week. "I expect the Bush report to say, 'The surge is working.
New York Sun:
Petraeus for President? — "Senators and distinguished guests, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to testify in respect of progress in the Battle of Iraq. Before I do however, there are a few things I'd like to get off of my chest. Although your house of Congress confirmed …
David S. Broder / Washington Post:
The Making of the Front-Runner — As the serious stage of the presidential campaign begins this fall, Hillary Rodham Clinton has clearly established herself in the lead of the race for the Democratic nomination. That makes her the most worthy subject for examination among all the White House prospects.
Sidney Blumenthal / Salon:
Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction — Salon exclusive: Two former CIA officers say the president squelched top-secret intelligence, and a briefing by George Tenet, months before invading Iraq. — (Clockwise from top left) Naji Sabri, George W. Bush, Colin Powell and George Tenet.