Iraq (several)

A Sadrist Shia mob of "About 50 gunmen stormed the office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, headed by President Jalal Talabani, beat up the guards and set the building on fire." Stratfor says that it's in response to the PUK newspapers criticism of a Shia cleric, Ayatollah Mohammed al-Yaqoubi.

Heads up. This might be a big deal as the Shia and Kurds represent the largest fighting forces in Iraq and have thus far been peaceful towards each other. (It might just be an isolated incident, too.)

Remember a few days ago, "Talabani said he told Casey "it is in no one's interest to have a confrontation" with al-Sadr's movement." (Also remember as we talk about this, that the US is trying to use the Kurds against Iran and that Sadr is tied to Iran.)

And, I know it's Moonie WashTimes, but I found the telling of the US Baghdad offensive from an Iraqi civilian's experience interesting.

Then there's this little bit from a Reuters article on the Baghdad offensive as the war approaches the absurdist.

The operation is unusual because it combines a crackdown on militants and criminals with a hearts and minds-winning regeneration scheme to provide essential services and clean up the rubbish-strewn streets of the predominantly Sunni district.

When U.S. troops break down doors or smash windows to enter homes in search of illegal weapons, explosives and wanted insurgents, they are followed shortly afterwards by local contractors who repair the locks or replace the windows.

I don't know why that sounds so insane to me, but it does.