Quickhits

(BBC) "A Canadian Senate committee says the government should consider withdrawing from Afghanistan unless its Nato allies provide additional troops there." (The Canadians play a huge role in Afghanistan.)

(Reuters) The Iraqi General chosen to be "in charge" of the latest Baghdad security operation was himself chased from his home under sectarian threat two months ago.

Reuters reports fatal bombings in Lebanon and Algeria.

The BBC asks the question, since the British have been complaining about Iranian IED's since October 2005, why is the US making it a major issue now?

That article also makes an interesting point on the language, "Previously they ("EFP's") had been lumped in the generalised description of IEDs - improvised explosive devices. The implication is that now they are less improvised and more planned."

(BBC) Italian police say they have broken up a major arms trafficking ring that was planning to supply thousands of weapons to insurgents in Iraq. (But the Iranians are shipping in serial numbers?)

(CNN via ANN?) The US military says the CH-46 helicopter downed in Anbar last week was likely "brought down by some sort of surface-to-air-missile."

(FT) "Iran will be able to develop enough weapons-grade material for a nuclear bomb and there is little that can be done to prevent it, an internal European Union document has concluded."

And, no one is willing to go on the record to support the Iran weapons in Iraq claims. No one wants to attach their name to this rock solid analysis. That says a whole lot.