Iraq

(WaPo) Same Shit. Different Day. A WaPo reporter rides along with US troops working with the Iraqis.

(NYTimes, WaPo, TimesOnline) The Iraqis are no more excited about the Bush plan than we are. (Friday prayers today.)

(Reuters) A very telling piece on the Iraqi government's expectations regarding Sadr. Short, cryptic, and worth a read.

(Reuters) Khalilzad repeats the meme that Iraqis must act now because Americans might leave. (Very interesting play by the White House to use the anti-war sentiment to pressure the Iraqis.)

(AP) The Guardsmen will have to go back to Iraq.

And, remember how this plan was supposedly constructed on the theories of Frederick Kagan and Gen. Jack Keane? (Keane and Kagan, Dec 27, 2007, WaPo.)

We need to cut through the confusion. Bringing security to Baghdad -- the essential precondition for political compromise, national reconciliation and economic development -- is possible only with a surge of at least 30,000 combat troops lasting 18 months or so. Any other option is likely to fail.

Also: (SFChron) People at Brookings, Cato, AEI, and Heritage, all voice their misgivings about Bush's plan.