U.S. commanders in northern Iraq announced it had begun the start of a major offensive in Baqubah, the capital of Diyala province, involving some 10,000 soldiers as well as attack helicopters. At least eight militants were killed in the first hours of the fighting, the U.S. military announced Monday.
The above is from Julian E. Barnes and Raheem Salman's "Car bomb kills 60 in Baghdad" (Los Angeles Times). That's on today's violence.
Remember that, if you're a member of the community, you can note who you are supporting (Dem, Green, etc.) just by e-mailing and writing that you want it noted. (You can also -- and many are more comfortable with this -- write it up for one of the community newsletters.)
From an AP article (by Nedra Pickler), Melanie wanted this noted by Bill Richardson:
"With all due respect to my outstanding Democratic colleagues -- Senators Clinton, Obama, Dodd and Biden -- they all voted for timeline legislation that had loopholes," the New Mexico governor said. "Those loopholes allow this president, or any president, to leave an undetermined number of troops in Iraq indefinitely. And this is the same legislation that former Senator Edwards says we should send back and back to the president over and over again until he signs it."
Bill Richardson is running for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Melanie asked that we note she is now supporting him. Richardson is speaking of the toothless, non-binding, bringing no troops home Pelosi-Reid measure from March. Melanie notes that there is a petition at Richardson's website to deauthorize the illegal war by August.
TODAY: NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY for Iraqi refugees. Refugees International (who is not being endorsed or non-ednorsed)is asking people to call in (use the link).
Ava and I are on the road speaking and right after this goes up, the thing the community goes up. Any delays in posting this morning result from having to carve out time for that.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
julian barnes
bill richardson
