Under the cover of a thick sandstorm Sunday, suspected Shiite militiamen unleashed a barrage of rocket or mortar fire at Baghdad's fortified Green Zone and attacked U.S. and Iraqi soldiers.
The U.S. military said this morning that its forces had killed at least 38 gunmen in a series of clashes since Sunday, some of the fiercest fighting in days in Shiite-dominated parts of the capital.
They included 22 fighters killed with tank and gun fire, when a large group swarmed a checkpoint manned by U.S. and Iraqi soldiers Sunday, the military said in a statement. At least one other checkpoint, a combat outpost and several patrols were also attacked with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, the military said.
Hospital officials in Sadr City, the vast Shiite district that has been the focus of recent fighting, said they had received 24 dead and more than 100 wounded since 8 a.m. Sunday. The victims included women and children, they said. The hospitals regard all patients as civilians unless they arrive in military uniform, making it impossible to determine how many of the victims may have been fighters.
The U.S. military said this morning that its forces had killed at least 38 gunmen in a series of clashes since Sunday, some of the fiercest fighting in days in Shiite-dominated parts of the capital.
They included 22 fighters killed with tank and gun fire, when a large group swarmed a checkpoint manned by U.S. and Iraqi soldiers Sunday, the military said in a statement. At least one other checkpoint, a combat outpost and several patrols were also attacked with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, the military said.
Hospital officials in Sadr City, the vast Shiite district that has been the focus of recent fighting, said they had received 24 dead and more than 100 wounded since 8 a.m. Sunday. The victims included women and children, they said. The hospitals regard all patients as civilians unless they arrive in military uniform, making it impossible to determine how many of the victims may have been fighters.
The above is from Alexandra Zavis' "Mortars rain on Green Zone during Iraq sandstorm" (Los Angeles Times). On the issue of war funding, Zachary Coile (San Francisco Chronicle) reports the following:
House Democratic leaders are putting together the largest Iraq war spending bill yet, a measure that is expected to fund the war through the end of the Bush presidency and for nearly six months into the next president's term.
The bill, which could be unveiled as early as this week, signals that Democrats are resigned to the fact they can't change course in Iraq in the final months of President Bush's term. Instead, the party is pinning its hopes of ending the war on winning the White House in November.
Bay Area lawmakers, who represent perhaps the most anti-war part of the country, acknowledge the bill will anger many voters back home.
"It's going to be a tough sell to convince people in my district that funding the war for six months into the new president's term is the way to end the war," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, a leader of the Out of Iraq Caucus who plans to oppose the funding. "It sounds like we are paying for something we don't want."
As long as we're posting videos, here's one of The CBS Evening News reports from last week on the VA scandal (text can be found here).
And Jonah notes Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Calling for Lincoln-Douglas Style Debates" (HillaryClinton.com):
Calling for Lincoln-Douglas Style Debates: Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams sent a letter yesterday to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe calling for Lincoln-Douglas style debates between Senators Obama and Clinton: "It is the American way to place our would-be leaders side by side to hear them articulate and defend their ideas; to challenge each other on their visions for the future ...In the spirit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, we make this proposal: Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will participate in a 90-minute debate in an open public forum. Just the two of them -- no questioners, no panelists, no video clips." Read more.
By the Numbers: Yesterday’s daily Gallup poll "shows Clinton and Obama tied at 47% [with] Clinton…ahead of McCain in the general election." Hillary leads Sen. McCain by 3 (47-44) whereas Sen. Obama leads only by 1. According to a new Newsweek poll, Hillary "has reduced [Sen. Obama's] lead by more than half," to just seven points (46-38). The poll also shows Hillary leading Sen. McCain nationally, (51-47). Read more and more.
Tougher, More Resolute: New York Times’ Bob Herbert writes: Hillary "is now widely seen as the tougher of the two candidates, the one who is more resolute, who will fight harder.” In contrast, Senator Obama has been thrown completely off his game...You can almost feel the air seeping out of the Obama phenomenon." Read more.
Ground Work in Indiana: The Washington Post writes “Clinton Intensifies Ground Work in Indiana.” Read more.
'Wowing 'Em' in Fort Wayne, IN: Yesterday, Hillary "roared into Fort Wayne" where over 3,000 people packed a local venue, awaiting her arrival. Said one observer: "'I actually gave money to McCain for the primary, but I'm leaning more toward Hillary right now.' Another voter said, 'I'm not a Hillary supporter, but I came out to see what she was about, and I was actually impressed with what she had to say.'" Read more and more.
"Why I Support Hillary Clinton" Oregon Rep. Darlene Hooley writes in an op-ed today: "I support Hillary Clinton -- not because she is a woman, but because she is knowledgeable, experienced and tenacious. She has been through political fire in the relentless attacks thrown at her in the '90s. She has studied the issues, as an advocate for families, as first lady, and as a U.S. senator." Read more.
Standing Up for Hardworking Families: Bonnie Brown, a WV delegate writes in an op-ed today: West Virginians need a president who will stand up for hardworking families - starting Day One. Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to lead us to a future where all workers are valued equally and all Americans have a chance to succeed. I encourage support of her presidency. Read more.
Previewing Today: Hillary returns to North Carolina, hosting a "Solutions for America" rally this evening in Wilmington, NC.
House Democratic leaders are putting together the largest Iraq war spending bill yet, a measure that is expected to fund the war through the end of the Bush presidency and for nearly six months into the next president's term.
The bill, which could be unveiled as early as this week, signals that Democrats are resigned to the fact they can't change course in Iraq in the final months of President Bush's term. Instead, the party is pinning its hopes of ending the war on winning the White House in November.
Bay Area lawmakers, who represent perhaps the most anti-war part of the country, acknowledge the bill will anger many voters back home.
"It's going to be a tough sell to convince people in my district that funding the war for six months into the new president's term is the way to end the war," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, a leader of the Out of Iraq Caucus who plans to oppose the funding. "It sounds like we are paying for something we don't want."
As long as we're posting videos, here's one of The CBS Evening News reports from last week on the VA scandal (text can be found here).
And Jonah notes Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Calling for Lincoln-Douglas Style Debates" (HillaryClinton.com):
Calling for Lincoln-Douglas Style Debates: Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams sent a letter yesterday to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe calling for Lincoln-Douglas style debates between Senators Obama and Clinton: "It is the American way to place our would-be leaders side by side to hear them articulate and defend their ideas; to challenge each other on their visions for the future ...In the spirit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, we make this proposal: Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will participate in a 90-minute debate in an open public forum. Just the two of them -- no questioners, no panelists, no video clips." Read more.
By the Numbers: Yesterday’s daily Gallup poll "shows Clinton and Obama tied at 47% [with] Clinton…ahead of McCain in the general election." Hillary leads Sen. McCain by 3 (47-44) whereas Sen. Obama leads only by 1. According to a new Newsweek poll, Hillary "has reduced [Sen. Obama's] lead by more than half," to just seven points (46-38). The poll also shows Hillary leading Sen. McCain nationally, (51-47). Read more and more.
Tougher, More Resolute: New York Times’ Bob Herbert writes: Hillary "is now widely seen as the tougher of the two candidates, the one who is more resolute, who will fight harder.” In contrast, Senator Obama has been thrown completely off his game...You can almost feel the air seeping out of the Obama phenomenon." Read more.
Ground Work in Indiana: The Washington Post writes “Clinton Intensifies Ground Work in Indiana.” Read more.
'Wowing 'Em' in Fort Wayne, IN: Yesterday, Hillary "roared into Fort Wayne" where over 3,000 people packed a local venue, awaiting her arrival. Said one observer: "'I actually gave money to McCain for the primary, but I'm leaning more toward Hillary right now.' Another voter said, 'I'm not a Hillary supporter, but I came out to see what she was about, and I was actually impressed with what she had to say.'" Read more and more.
"Why I Support Hillary Clinton" Oregon Rep. Darlene Hooley writes in an op-ed today: "I support Hillary Clinton -- not because she is a woman, but because she is knowledgeable, experienced and tenacious. She has been through political fire in the relentless attacks thrown at her in the '90s. She has studied the issues, as an advocate for families, as first lady, and as a U.S. senator." Read more.
Standing Up for Hardworking Families: Bonnie Brown, a WV delegate writes in an op-ed today: West Virginians need a president who will stand up for hardworking families - starting Day One. Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to lead us to a future where all workers are valued equally and all Americans have a chance to succeed. I encourage support of her presidency. Read more.
Previewing Today: Hillary returns to North Carolina, hosting a "Solutions for America" rally this evening in Wilmington, NC.
And Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Working Class Barack" went up yesterday.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
alexandra zavis
the los angeles times
the cbs evening news
zachary coile
the san francisco chronicle
