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It shows how bad a spot we're in in Iraq, when the good news is that an aid to Muqtada al Sadr vows to send Americans home in body bags. Nobody wants Americans to come home in body bags, but this signals al Sadr's intention to fight American troops - a battle he cannot win. Al Sadr's wisest move would be to lay low until this new offensive is over; that way he can use Maliki to keep his Mahdi army intact. The only reason al Sadr and his Mahdi army are alive is because they've been protected by politics. Given Bush's new strategy, if al Sadr intends to attack Americans, he'll be destroyed, and victory in Iraq is possible. Blair support the plan. The New York Times calls Bush's plan the least bad approach. If Maliki restricts our troops, we're in big trouble. But that gets back to Bush's way out - if Maliki restricts our troops, Bush can save face in a pull-out. A sobering look at Bush's plan.

Reason magazine points out the inherent problem in trying to wage a war in Iraq by navigating the Washington minefield. Reason stops short of pointing out that the Democrats laid the minefield instead of debating how to win. Their complete failure as the minority party sabotaged every American effort for 6 years. They vacated the field of ideas, and mined it as they pulled out.

Russia upset about raid on Iranian office. They don't want us finding out what how much they're supporting Iran in the new Cold War of Terror.

Al Qaeda active in Bangladesh. They're on the run in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, so they're desperately looking for a home to destroy. New Prime Minister sworn in as caretaker.

Or maybe Al Qaeda has a secure base in Pakistan, as Negroponte claims.

Gunship attack in Somali nets al Qaeda targets, but misses top terrorists.

Rocket fired at U.S. embassy in Athens. No injuries.

Amid much partisan squabbling, Democrats fail to deliver on promises. Pelosi exempts major company in her district from minimum wage law. Barbara Boxer takes shot at Condi because she has no children. And some people thought it couldn't get worse than the Republicans.

Bomb threat on American Eagle flight in Toledo. Hoax.

Germany calls for EU wide initiative to better integrate Muslims. Why did it take this long?

Socialized medicine Arnold style - giant growth in the welfare state hiding behind platitudes of personal responsibility.

New Orleans residents march on City Hall. But I bet they re-elect Ray Nagin again anyway.

Does income inequality matter? Of course it does. The have nots get madder the bigger the difference. The question is what to do about it, and the answer is to get government out of the free market so competition can drive up wages.

Seattle schools restrict Gore's global warming movie as propaganda.

Teacher arrested for zooming camera in on girls' crotches during public wrestling matches. Arrested for zooming in the camera? Girls' wrestling?

Hillary and others heading to Iraq. It'll be interesting to hear what she says afterward.

Video game industry is now a $12 billion business.

14 Carter board members quit over Carter book. Everybody else in America quit on Carter in 1977. What took these 14 so long?

Mona Charon ask why we need 119,000 troops in Europe instead of Iraq? We have troops in Japan and South Korea too. If we have all these combat troops in non-combat theaters, how come we're not rotating units into Iraq and back to those non-combat theaters? Why are our units being deployed so many times instead? And why can't we draw on these other theaters to increase our troop levels in Iraq to as many as necessary?