Iraq

(LATimes) The Hadley plan is dead as Sistani refuses a breaking of the Shia coalition. Sistani recognized that a "moderate" governing coalition would give the Kurds and Sunnis de facto veto power over the Shia leadership. His goal is to make Iraq a Shia state.

(LATimes) December is already the second deadliest month for US personnel in Iraq this year.

(AP) 4 more deaths announced since that article.

(AP) Iraqi snipers gaining skill, techniques, tactics, and equipment.

(LATimes) The guys doing the current training of Iraqi forces are pretty hopeless about their prospects.

(BBC) Interior Minister Bolani announced that Iraqi Police deaths have "hit 12,000."

(NBC) A supervising security contractor apparently went off the deep end and started killing innocent Iraqis.