Humility and Honesty About Iraq Can Inspire Trust  —  Later today, President Obama will speak to the American people about Iraq.  No doubt he will laud the “end of major combat operations” by the date he randomly selected some 18 months ago.  His press secretary Robert Gibbs also gave us …

The “nobody-could-have-known” excuse and Iraq  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  The predominant attribute of American elites is a refusal to take responsibility for any failures.  The favored tactic for accomplishing this evasion is the “nobody-could-have-known” excuse.

A Note to My Fellow Hawks  —  President Obama opposed the war in Iraq.  He still thinks it was a mistake.  It's therefore unrealistic for supporters of the war to expect the president to give the speech John McCain would have given, or to expect President Obama to put the war in the context we would put it in.

Drunkblogging Obama's Iraq Speech  —  One way or another, Absolut Victory will be declared tonight.  —  4:53PM Tonight, after 18 tumultuous months in office, President Obama faces his toughest challenge yet: To claim credit in Iraq without driving a thankful nation to laughter and tears, but mostly laughter.

Murkowski Concedes Alaska Primary Defeat  —  ANCHORAGE — Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska conceded late Tuesday in her Republican primary race against Joe Miller, a lawyer from Fairbanks who was backed by Tea Party activists, Sarah Palin and other conservatives.

Murkowski concedes GOP Senate race to Miller  —  Incumbent Lisa Murkowski has conceded to challenger Joe Miller in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.  —  Speaking at a news conference broadcast on live television from her campaign headquarters in Anchorage, Murkowski said …

Counting of absentee ballots begins  —  From Sean Cockerham at the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage —  Joe Miller's lead over Lisa Murkowski just grew slighly with absentee and questioned ballots from the Mat-Su.  —  Miller now leads Mukowski by 1,460 votes.